[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: "New Bad Boy in Town" #8792

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Joe and Steve Sr. #8486

vintage archer wrote:

Please dont worry the TuffHead is not ready to become a collectors item just yet.LOL:lol::lol:

Joe

Ha! Good to hear it, Joe. Here’s to a speedy recovery, followed by more time afield!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Need help with carbon arrow selection #8310

newbreedarcher wrote:

This may be off topic,however, I have to say that you are the most knowledgable group of people I have ever come across. Out of the dozens of archery forums and blogs and threads, this one stands out!

Precisely why I don’t bother with any of the others any more. This is THE place.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Broadhead Sharpening Stones #8178

Another vote for contacting Ron. In fact, here’s the link to the stones he offers:

http://www.kmesharp.com/dans-whetstones.html

And if you’ve never tried a KME system (for knives and/or 2-bladed broadheads), I can’t recommend it enough.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: How Was Your Winter? #8166

Seems like it’s been mild just about everywhere (except for those extreme storms in the midwest recently). Here on the Idaho/Wyoming border, we’re at about 95% of normal snowpack, but it’s certainly been a warmer, wetter snowpack than we’re used to. Not many really cold days (as in sub-zero) at all this winter.

Still, after a few winters in a row of huge snowfall, it’s fine with me. And the wildlife are catching a break. I’ve heard we had something like 90% mule deer fawn mortality last winter, due in large part to a huge amount of snowfall that didn’t let up till the end of May.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Arrow Speed #64023

Every time I see one of those bumper stickers that says “Speed kills” I want to make one that says, “Momentum kills.”

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: It's getting CLOSE! #63824

Now, now, I wouldn’t exactly call it, “cheating.” I simply rigged the system by applying under every pseudonym and false social security number I could think of, and hacked into the F&G mainframe via an offshore server and eliminated all the other applications. But I take offense at the suggestion that I would actually “cheat” to get this tag. 😉

[/joke]

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: It's getting CLOSE! #63797

YES!! In addition to a general spring turkey tag, I put in for our local controlled hunt as well. I got it last year, so I figured I had a snowball’s chance in heck of getting it again this year. And then I went to get the mail today and found this:

Two years in a row. I know folks who’ve put in for this tag for 5+ years and never pulled it. What am I doing wasting my time hunting turkeys? I should be playing the lottery!!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Hunting Knives #63722

Sweet! That first one has an interesting shape to it.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Hunting Knives #63711

Dave –

Those are actually firesteels, not for sharpening. Because of the convex edge on those blades, you can’t use something like a steel (or even a flat stone) to sharpen them.

I’ll admit I was initially a little put-off by convex blades, because I thought they were more complicated to sharpen. I’m now convinced it’s actually the opposite – with a little practice and the right equipment (a foam mouse pad, some superfine sandpaper (1500-2000 grit) and a strop w/compound), they are actually quite easy. A lot of it has to do with the fact that you don’t have to be as concerned about maintaining a very precise angle, as you do with flat edges (which is what makes the KME system so awesome for flat edges). I’m also beginning to think that convex edges are more durable as a result.

Here is a link to an excellent series of videos that talk through how to sharpen convex blades (you can just watch the first one to get a general idea):

http://www.knivesshipfree.com/pages.php?pID=4&CDpath=0

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Hunting Knives #63580

And speaking of small knives that are capable of big tasks, this is my most recent acquisition, and my smallest BRKT, the “Little Caper:”

2.7″ blade, 5.7″ overall. Impala horn scales w/red liners, A-2 steel. Haven’t had much of a chance to play around with this one yet, but the stout (.170″) spine, combined with the fine convex edge and trailing point, make for a very solid little knife that will clearly do a lot of different things well. Might just become my “go to” EDC.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Hunting Knives #63555

I figured it was time to bump this thread again, since, well, it’s the off-season and because I’d love to see more hunting knives and I’m pretty sure there are some sweet ones out there in this community (and because my knife fetish is every bit as bad as my bow fetish).

I’ve become a big fan of Bark River knives lately. Here are two that I’ve been using:

The one on the left is a “Woodland Special” and is my favorite all-around knife, with a 3.2″ blade and is 6.8″ overall.

The other one is a Mike Stewart Custom Hunter, with a 3.7″ blade, 8″ overall.

Both knives have micarta scales, red liners, and A-2 steel blades with convex ground edges. I’m a big fan of smaller knives that are capable of big tasks, and these BRKTs certainly fit that bill.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: "Horse Bows" #63509

Welcome, Swamp Rat. I can’t say I have any experience shooting traditional horse bows, but the history of them, and the cultures they came from, are fascinating to me. Hopefully someone who is more knowledgeable will chime in, as I’d like to learn more about this as well.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Ashby forum reborn — please read! #63028

I think this is a great idea.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

in reply to: Need help with carbon arrow selection #60614

Just wanted to add that I appreciate being able to have respectful, open-minded discussions on this forum. Healthy discussion, and even civil debate, along with relating real-world experience, is how we all benefit from a community such as this.

Having been in the middle of a meltdown on another forum recently over differences of opinion on this very subject, I just ask that we keep it friendly, and remember that one of the things that makes this place great is that we can actually have these kinds of exchanges – that these subjects aren’t taboo, and that we don’t have heavy-handed moderators deleting valuable information they just happen to not agree with. Let’s keep this place a Renaissance rather than the Dark Ages.

[Author]

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