I've been thinking about using MA3's for hunting deer this year. I've gone through the helpful sharpening instructions in the "How To" section of the Forums here. All the 3 blade sharpening information applies to Woodsman's or Snuffers that have straight edges. The MA3 has curved edges and I guess that is mostly what is throwing me (how to sharpen a curved edge). I sharpen a curved edge on my hunting knife just fine but I use a GATCO sharpening set to accomplish that. I was wondering if anyone here used MA3's and how do you go about getting them shaving sharp (if I can't get them sharp enough, I'm not going to hunt with them)?
I used them for years in the past. I used a belt sander using very fine grit. Then fine stone and then leather. I liked the heads but they were not very tough, bent easy. But very inexpensive.
Because of the laminated construction, I've always sharpened them with a single bevel. I use a homemade "snuffer sharpener".
Back in the day of broadhead tournaments in our area the MA 3 was king. Very inexpensive and held up good in dirt backstops. That was even before 2D.
Back in 1970s everybody I bowhunted with used the MA-3 one of my hunting buddys Mike Monson from Clear Lake,IA shot our state record non typcal buck in 1977 with MA-3 Redwing hunter recurve it scored 222 3/16 that buck also was the largest non typcal taken in 1977 /78 PY scoring period, Mike took his buck to Salt Lake City for the PY Banquet and received award, that buck has been beat out of the top 10 non typ. in Iowa, I don`t know were it ranks now but it was one hellva buck, and MA-3 took that buck out,
I use them. The first step is with 2 round files ste in a piece of plastic. A small ceramic is clipped onto the bottom of the plastic holder. I drag each blade between the files. Rotating after each stroke. (you do not take off to much material) This hollow grinds the blades. The 2nd step I use is sliding a mill bastard file lightly from back to front. (rotating after each stroke) Finish up with a ceramic.
Good Luck