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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ozy clint on April 29, 2020, 05:08:00 AM

Title: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on April 29, 2020, 05:08:00 AM
I came across a STOS BH today that was given to me and couldn't help but admire the design. great width to length ratio, thick tip and glue on, which gives so many weight options.

shame they are no longer made. they would be among my BH arsenal.

anyone out there sitting on a lifetime supply? ;)
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: SlowBowinMO on April 29, 2020, 09:14:19 AM
I have three of the fancy ceramic coated ones in one of my quivers, I think that's all I still have.  Yes they were very good broadheads, it's a shame they (and a number of other glue on heads) are no longer around. 
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Tucker on April 29, 2020, 10:56:02 AM
Hey Clint,
Those STOS would be pig and buffalo killing machines!
I’ve got a few of them and wish I had more.
Someday Tracy and I will have to come down there for a Cape York trip.
All the best,
Tucker
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: David Mitchell on April 29, 2020, 11:04:48 AM
Oh yeah, I love them and wish I had more.  I have killed a lot of hogs with them. One of the best heads I have used.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Wudstix on April 29, 2020, 11:38:20 AM
Impressive 2 blade heads.  Used them for years.  I still have one left.  Mounted on a tapered Cedar waiting for a ride.
 :bigsmyl:
I’m a three blade addict now.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Bill Leeming on April 29, 2020, 12:30:06 PM
still using some 160's
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on April 29, 2020, 04:37:05 PM
Tucker- that would be great!

seems everyone is on their last STOS heads.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: cacciatore on April 30, 2020, 08:04:12 AM
I have always wanted to buy some because I was aware of their quality,unfortunately they went out of stock before ordering some
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: MnFn on April 30, 2020, 07:53:03 PM
I really like them especially in 160 grains and paired with Surewoods Douglas Fir shafts. A nice well built broadhead that sharpens up nicely with file and jewel stick.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Lucas K on May 01, 2020, 12:36:22 PM
I have 6 left, what happened to the company that was making them?
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 01, 2020, 04:56:43 PM
i believe the owner just wound up the business. didn't sell it or anything. all the gear is probably sitting in a shed somewhere.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Sam McMichael on May 01, 2020, 05:02:04 PM
I have often thought if I was young enough to embark on a business enterprise, I might make inquiries about purchasing one of these defunct broadhead companies. It could be a lot of fun. I miss 'em.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 01, 2020, 05:04:02 PM
shame, because here in Australia there is only one head that is in the 3 piece laminated and brazed glue on style but it has a 5/16" ferrule instead of 11/32" :banghead:

if you want a simple BH of that style like a zwickey, magnus classics etc, then you have to order overseas. the STOS looks so good with it's length width ratio and ferrule which extends to the tip.

everything seems to be going the way of one piece machined screw in at $50/3 pack.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 01, 2020, 05:06:06 PM
thought the same thing Sam. probably the best time right now to pick up a defunct business really cheap. might not be the best time to try and re-establish one though. ??
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 01, 2020, 05:10:58 PM
modern business promotion seems to be constant facebook and instafame content too. having to do that is a deal breaker!
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: flyonline on May 01, 2020, 11:34:03 PM
shame, because here in Australia there is only one head that is in the 3 piece laminated and brazed glue on style but it has a 5/16" ferrule instead of 11/32" :banghead:

if you want a simple BH of that style like a zwickey, magnus classics etc, then you have to order overseas. the STOS looks so good with it's length width ratio and ferrule which extends to the tip.

everything seems to be going the way of one piece machined screw in at $50/3 pack.

Which one is that Clint?

Tusker do their range other than the spirit in 11/32 glue on. Kayuga are assembled here too, might be worth a shot seeing if you can get some old schools without the adapter glued in (not sure what size they would be though). Blackstump also look like they do an 11/32 glue on if they're still around.

Steve
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 02, 2020, 02:12:41 AM
steve- i didn't think of the tuskers because they are constructed differently in that the outer laminations don't extend to the tip like that of the zwickey, magnus style.

as far as i'm aware the Kayuga old school heads have a 5/16" ferrule. they have limited weights and sizes also.

i cut my teeth on black stumps and still have a dozen originals. i don't even know if you can still get them. heard they are now made in china and have had quality issues. their website seems archaic.

never had good luck with outbacks either. bent the first one i ever shot in a phone book. then a couple of years ago i broke some while sharpening on my jewel stick. snapped like glass. turned out to be a bad batch of heat treatment.
the options for glue on heads in Australia is limited to say the least.

i'm currently running a mix of magnus 1 (no longer made), blackstumps, grizzly and simmons treesharks.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 02, 2020, 02:17:55 AM
just seems that marketing is pushed towards one piece machined screw ins at $40-$50/3 pack. if it isn't the latest and greatest reinvention of the wheel with instafame hashtags they aren't cool.

 
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 02, 2020, 02:20:45 AM
20 years ago if you told old time hunters that your BH cost $17 each they would have thought your crazy. especially on target rich hunts like cape york. you'd go broke!
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: flyonline on May 02, 2020, 03:21:31 AM
steve- i didn't think of the tuskers because they are constructed differently in that the outer laminations don't extend to the tip like that of the zwickey, magnus style.

as far as i'm aware the Kayuga old school heads have a 5/16" ferrule. they have limited weights and sizes also.

i cut my teeth on black stumps and still have a dozen originals. i don't even know if you can still get them. heard they are now made in china and have had quality issues. their website seems archaic.

never had good luck with outbacks either. bent the first one i ever shot in a phone book. then a couple of years ago i broke some while sharpening on my jewel stick. snapped like glass. turned out to be a bad batch of heat treatment.
the options for glue on heads in Australia is limited to say the least.

i'm currently running a mix of magnus 1 (no longer made), blackstumps, grizzly and simmons treesharks.

Fair enough. I had a similar experience with a Javelin and will only shoot Tuskers at small game now.

$17? What about $30-40US+ each for some of the high end stuff  :o Course, you could always go back to ribteks at $2.50 each  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 02, 2020, 04:55:17 AM
yeah, sorry i'm not using uber expensive heads when something like a STOS, zwickey or magnus has been getting it done since before it was cool.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Tim Reese on May 02, 2020, 09:57:49 AM
I have 4 of the 145 grain ones if anyone wants to trade me for the 125 grain ones ? Wish they were still made. Great design.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 02, 2020, 05:05:11 PM
what did the 'STOS' stand for?
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Ted Fry on May 02, 2020, 05:40:10 PM
Phil told me that it stood for "Slicker Than Owl S@#t , great head , sorry to see it go by the wayside
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Canadian_spearo on May 04, 2020, 01:08:53 PM
I still have a dozen 160g STOS
I feel a bit lucky about that  :shaka: :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 05, 2020, 06:10:08 AM
let me do you a favor and help you de-clutter your BH inventory. i'll take your obsolete BH's for free. :biglaugh: :laughing:
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Wudstix on May 11, 2020, 12:50:46 PM
Ribtek is not $2 each any longer company moved to Australia and shipping back to US doubles the cost.   I’ll hang on to the ones I have for when I’m running low on bow bullets!  Really like the 190 grains for woodies and 160 grains on woody weights are brass adapters for skinny arrows.
Do have one 160 grain STOS I could auction off! 
 :coffee: :campfire: :biglaugh:
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Caranthir on May 11, 2020, 05:28:15 PM
Hard to keep producing something folks won't buy. Traditionalist archers are opting for screw-in broadhaeds, and any other arrow shaft material other than wood on a LARGE basis. Roll your own arrows from scratch are few and far between. Alas but it seems to be the current state of affairs.
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: Wudstix on May 11, 2020, 06:18:51 PM
Make your own wood arrows takes time, and life gets busy for many folks.  I still prefer glue-on heads for wood and arrow adapters for when I do shoot non-wood arrows. 
 :coffee: :campfire:
Title: Re: still any love for STOS BH's?
Post by: ozy clint on May 12, 2020, 12:03:10 AM
Give me a glue on with an adapter any day over a screw in. Much more scope for different weights and I can glue them up so they are all indexed the same and any head will go on any arrow and be the same orientation.