lyagooshka wrote:
Alex,
Can’t argue the 20 yards. I’m up to about 10. BUT…
Just to keep the grey matter active, I pose a rebuttal to your statement above (especially the part in bold). I might be working “backwards” but I started with the X-Bow / Compound, went traditional, and my long-term goal is to take my game with 100% hand-made (my hands) gear (ok, the feathers would be bird-made and sinew/string/glue might be ordered, but you get the idea).
Now, as far as “better”, there are many places on the web and in print that you can find statements like: “at 30 angstrom (i.e., 3 nanometers; that’s three billionth of a meter) obsidian is much sharper than even the sharpest steel blade…” 😉
This is from: http://averyremoteperiodindeed.blogspot.com/2011/03/obsidian-blades-as-surgical-tools.html but there are many other sources.
I can personally attest to how sharp this black stuff is. I am VERY new to flint-knapping. I started playing with some obsidian and made one of the ugliest arrowheads you could ever imagine. After cleaning up, I went in and washed my hands. I was quite surprised when my hands were stinging in several places. On closer exam, I found that I had multiple small cuts all over my pals and fingers. I never felt a single one until I knew they were there.
There is no doubt that a steel blade with a 3:1 ratio, eFOC arrow, etc fired from a well-tuned bow at a distance the archer is very comfortable with will produce a clean, ethical kill. But I would (and I guess have) argue the it is any “better” than what Mother Nature has had billions of years to perfect. IMHO of course. Be well.
Alex
😀
Alex,
I hear you and agree with you. ( In theory and in the best of the best situations :-)) I am only coming from my own limited experience with stone heads. I once made 3 cane arrows with hunting-sharp obsidian (given to me), and could never get as much penetration in my targets as with broadheads. I also have a few “primitive” hunting videos where I’ve seen zero pass thru kills using stone heads, thus my questioning their use in today’s state of bowhunting, where everything is put under a microscope by non hunters hoping to find some dirt.
As far as barbed heads, as a relative newcomer to bowhunting (10 years) My question is: In case of a very poor hit, like neck, butt, or in the back, Isn’t it next to impossible for the arrow to come back out and allow the deer to heal the wound?
Alex
