Bod-Kin Broadheads

[wildschwein]

#2667

So I was cruising the 3 Rivers website after ordering my latest batch of cedars, when I came upon the Bod-Kin three blade broadhead. And since they were only $24.99 for a six pack I figured I’d pick up a dozen. Haven’t received them yet, but figured I’d ask you folks about their history. I kinda remember reading about a similarly named head in older archery periodicals, including the last issue of TBM when they were mentioned as one of the first successful bow fishing points. Anyhow just wondered if anyone had some stories or info to share. Not sure if they are good enough for the big stuff, but they should work nicely on Hares and beavers and such.

[David Petersen]

#12306

Justin — I’m no broadhead historian, but do have some personal experience with Bodkins. I think the similar head you refer to is the M3 (MA3? ME3?). The Bodkin is convex and the M3 straight, if I recollect. They were massive, heavy heads for their heyday but popular due to ease of sharpening–very soft steel by today’s standards. I kill my first deer with one, from a 43# recurve. It was a small doe and a good hit and it did the job. Fast forward several decades and a few years ago I got the inexplicable brainstorm to use one on a Coues hunt, simply because I had it in the drawer and I wanted to revisit 3-blades (hadn’t used them since forever) and figured the Coues was so tiny, etc. End result was lousy penetration with a center chest shot, two days of tracking and the coyotes got the meat before I did. There were other problems with that shot, including primarily that for whatever reasons I don’t think I got to full draw. So, based on my experience I would say you are right to use them only for smaller game. I know there have been one or two who have posted here in the past who love them, but I personally rank the Bodkin as the least effective fixed-blade broadhead I know of. Harder steel would help a lot. One man’s opinion …

[James Harvey]

#12566

edit:

Haha, I just went and looked at these on the 3 rivers site. I thought bodkin was the style of head (ie medieval armor penetration) not the brand. Making my comment entirely null and void 😳 🙂

Sorry!

Jim

[William Warren]

#12854

3 Rivers used to have a Bodkin brand broadhead which I bought for small game hunting since the reviews of it were suggestive that they were good for that. I found them to be inconsistent in quality compared to other broadheads but for small game it was no matter. Last fall I saw the MA-3 advertised as the Bodkin and they looked better so I bought 2 sizes of those. The 130 gr heads were easy to align, were very uniform in quality and fly like darts from my 45# Hoyt Huntmaster. There are way better than the old Bodkin. The old bodkin was straight edged and as Dave mentioned the MA-3 is convex and the steel is somewhat softer but sharpens easily. I would use them for small game or deer sized game any day.

I have heard that the MA-3 has been the darling of broadhead tournament shoots everywhere because of their consistent accuracy even out to longer tournament ranges. did I say mine shoot like darts right out of the package? 😀

[wildschwein]

#14410

David Petersen wrote: Justin — I’m no broadhead historian, but do have some personal experience with Bodkins. I think the similar head you refer to is the M3 (MA3? ME3?). The Bodkin is convex and the M3 straight, if I recollect. They were massive, heavy heads for their heyday but popular due to ease of sharpening–very soft steel by today’s standards. I kill my first deer with one, from a 43# recurve. It was a small doe and a good hit and it did the job. Fast forward several decades and a few years ago I got the inexplicable brainstorm to use one on a Coues hunt, simply because I had it in the drawer and I wanted to revisit 3-blades (hadn’t used them since forever) and figured the Coues was so tiny, etc. End result was lousy penetration with a center chest shot, two days of tracking and the coyotes got the meat before I did. There were other problems with that shot, including primarily that for whatever reasons I don’t think I got to full draw. So, based on my experience I would say you are right to use them only for smaller game. I know there have been one or two who have posted here in the past who love them, but I personally rank the Bodkin as the least effective fixed-blade broadhead I know of. Harder steel would help a lot. One man’s opinion …

Thanks for the heads up Dave. I’m guessing the Bod-Kin was the anonymous 3 blade you were referring to in your latest article featured in TBM?

Just wondering though was it one of the older original Bod-Kins or one of these newer ones being sold by 3 Rivers? I have noticed that they do differ in appearance, and I’m hoping they might differ in steel as well.

[wildschwein]

#14414

Duncan wrote: 3 Rivers used to have a Bodkin brand broadhead which I bought for small game hunting since the reviews of it were suggestive that they were good for that. I found them to be inconsistent in quality compared to other broadheads but for small game it was no matter. Last fall I saw the MA-3 advertised as the Bodkin and they looked better so I bought 2 sizes of those. The 130 gr heads were easy to align, were very uniform in quality and fly like darts from my 45# Hoyt Huntmaster. There are way better than the old Bodkin. The old bodkin was straight edged and as Dave mentioned the MA-3 is convex and the steel is somewhat softer but sharpens easily. I would use them for small game or deer sized game any day.

I have heard that the MA-3 has been the darling of broadhead tournament shoots everywhere because of their consistent accuracy even out to longer tournament ranges. did I say mine shoot like darts right out of the package? 😀

Thanks Duncan, look forward to flinging these little devils at the local Chucks, and maybe if I’m lucky a flying Duck or two.

[Dennis Sundborg]

#17282

Seems to me the old MA-3s had laminated blades. Three identical pieces of steel pressed together to make a three blade head. That means two of the pieces of steel came together right where the cutting edge should be. Not sure if the new ones (Bodkins or MA-3s) are still built that way but there was no chance in putting a shaving edge on the old ones due to the laminations.

[David Petersen]

#17313

Welcome here, Ontario! And you are absolutely correct, they were laminated. A friend guy who lives near here used to run the spot welder. In those days, with those heads, there was no copper melt fill, either, and I think “hardness” was in the low 40s. I don’t know anything about todays version (or about much of anything else these days:P). What I do know is that for big game, broadhead choice should not be made by price. It’s like taking a sandwich to a banquet, considering all the other expenses, ethics aside. Dave

[Jason Wesbrock]

#17864

Ontario,

You are correct about the construction of MA3s. Bodkins are made with asymetrical pieces, eliminating that problem.

[OldbowKY]

#51231

The original Bodkin was made by Larry Wiffen in Milwaukee,WI. They date back to the 40s. We would glue Shick injector razor blades to them. used them in the early 60s

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