Sharpening Single Bevel Broadheads

While many might opt for convenient, disposable broadheads, an increasing number of bowhunters are discovering the significant advantages of resharpenable single bevel broadheads.

Single bevel broadheads are known for their durability and penetration performance.

Cutthroat single bevel broadheads are are built tough to be used over and over. They are machined from a single chunk of solid high-carbon tool steel. There are no inferior components to fail like welds, screws, braze lines, or crooked ferrules.

You won't need to purchase new broadheads after every harvest or practice session, making them more cost-effective in the long run compared to continually buying new packs of disposable broadhead.

Ease of sharpening

Despite some claims that single bevels are difficult to sharpen, it is actually quite easy to get your single bevel razor sharp. 

Some of the rougher points can be made shaving sharp with only a strop and some polishing compound.

For chipped or really rough edges, a KME Sharpening Jig and a Glass Sharpening Float make sharpening single bevel broadheads easy.

Essential Sharpening Tools and Techniques

• Sharpening Jig
  Allows for an adjustable angle to perfectly match the broadhead's bevel. Users work through coarser to finer grits (e.g., 400-grit to 800-grit sandpaper).
  KME Self-Aligning Broadhead Sharpener
  KME Kangaroo Leather Strop
  
  
  
  
• Diamond stone
  An affordable option at about $35, with 750-grit and 350-grit sides, effective for three-blade, cut-on-contact heads by pushing lengthwise and rotating.
  G5 Flat Diamond Stone
  
  
• Ceramic Stone/Stick
  RMSGear demonstrates using a ceramic stick (like from a Spyderco knife sharpening system) for three-blade broadheads, by laying two edges flat and dragging across from rear to tip with light pressure for cleanup and refining. For single bevels, the broad bevel helps locate the correct angle by rocking the broadhead flat on the stone.
  Spyderco Diamond Tri-Angle Stones Pair
  
  
  
  
• Bench Grinder and Cotton Wheel: This is the primary method RMSGear uses for their sharpening service. It involves a treated cotton wheel with white polishing rouge, working primarily on the beveled side, followed by a quick, almost-flat pass on the non-beveled side to fold the burr. This process can take less than a minute per side to get them gliding through paper.
  
  

Advantages of Single Bevel Broadheads

1. Superior Penetration Through Heavy Bone
   
   Single bevel broadheads are specifically designed to penetrate deeply, especially through heavy bone. Their unique edge is ground on only one side, often at a 25-degree angle. As the broadhead moves through an animal, this design causes the edge to leverage and rotate the broadhead in a spiral. This rotation reduces resistance and helps the broadheads split heavy bone, leading to deeper penetration.
   
   Dr. Ed Ashby, a foremost proponent, conducted years of testing, concluding that a long, gently-sloped single-bevel point is the most efficient and deep-penetrating design
   
   For example, the Cutthroat Single Bevel Broadhead has demonstrated exceptional penetration, even through four inches of solid bone, with minimal edge damage.
   
   
2. Enhanced Sharpness & Durability for Reusability
   
   Due to their 25-degree angle, single bevel broadheads can be made sharper than conventional double bevel edges. Many single bevels are designed to be used repeatedly.
   
   Cutthroat Single Bevel Broadhead boasts a one-piece, machined construction with no welds or components to fail, made from highly impact-resistant carbon steel or S7 tool steel.
   
   
3. Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness
   
   While some high-quality single bevel broadheads may have a higher upfront cost they offer significant long-term savings.
   
   You won't need to purchase new broadheads after every harvest or practice session, making them more cost-effective in the long run compared to continually buying new packs.
   
   Hunters often note they may not need to buy new broadheads until they lose them.
   
   
4. Hunter Confidence and Consistency
   
   The act of resharpening your own broadheads instills a unique sense of confidence, as you know exactly how sharp their heads are.  By maintaining your own broadheads, you ensure consistency and readiness for the field. This also mitigates potential quality control issues that can arise with new packs of disposable broadheads, where blades might wiggle or mechanical components might be inconsistently set.
   
   
5. Consistent Flight Characteristics
   
   With a properly tuned setup, single bevel broadheads are reported to fly better and straighter than field points. Unlike double bevels that plunge straight, single bevels rotate through the air, acting similarly to how they cut through flesh.
   
   Using helical fletching that matches the broadhead's (right or left) bevel ensures the vanes and broadhead spin the arrow in the same direction, preventing planing.

Why Disposable Broadheads Fall Short for Serious Bowhunters

• The seemingly low upfront cost of a pack of broadheads quickly adds up over seasons and multiple harvests, becoming surprisingly expensive in the long run.
  
  
• Many disposable broadheads are made from inferior components that can fail like welds, screws, braze lines, or crooked ferrules.
  
  
• Mechanical broadheads, for instance, are essentially "one and done." Once shot through an animal, many bowhunters report they won't trust the broadhead to perform in a second kill. They are typically retired, preventing any opportunity for reuse.
  
  
• Every new pack of constructed broadheads carries the risk of quality control issues, such as loose blades or inconsistent manufacturing, which can only be discovered after purchase. Resharpenable heads eliminate this uncertainty.