Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: moleman on March 16, 2013, 09:18:00 PM

Title: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: moleman on March 16, 2013, 09:18:00 PM
Having shot Eskimos for yrs, I went to a different head this past yr, but after great luck with the Eskimos for many yrs. I think Im going back. What a great head with a great history of successes.
Who's shootin'em?
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: nineworlds9 on March 16, 2013, 09:27:00 PM
Me!  I like Eskis, Snuffers, STOS, and Silverflames.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Blaino on March 16, 2013, 09:49:00 PM
125g 4 blade eskimos and the original WW are what I prefer.  Fly great and I can put a hell of an edge on both of 'em with ease!
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: moleman on March 16, 2013, 09:57:00 PM
Blaino, ease of putting an edge on them is one of biggest reasons for going back, that and the fact that they fly great, as well as getting the job done in short order.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: evilfirbolg on March 16, 2013, 10:06:00 PM
Only head I have ever used, only one I ever plan to use.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: joe skipp on March 16, 2013, 10:11:00 PM
Been shooting them since 1979. I also like the 135 grain 2 blade Zwickey Deltas.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: pitbull on March 16, 2013, 10:23:00 PM
They are in my top 3 favorite heads, Ive put down several dozen deer with them, I just got some ready for this year.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Three Finger on March 16, 2013, 10:36:00 PM
For the money you can't beat them. I got my first trad kill with a zwickey delta. Then I went to vpa and stos now back with 4 blade deltas and eskimos. I wont ever turn back. They are the best head out there.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Del Savio on March 16, 2013, 10:50:00 PM
I went from Hilbres mounted on Microflights (glass arrows) to Eskimos a long time ago and except for trying Magnus it has been Zwickey all these years.  The biggest animal I regularly  kill however is the whitetail and I shoot low # bows.  They are easy to sharpen, fly right and the two blades give me the penetration I need despite 40#ish bows.  Lou
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Knawbone on March 16, 2013, 11:17:00 PM
Count me in. Eskimo's are my go to head. I'll have to try the Delta's, Iv heard a lot of good comments on them. I do wish they would make a 160 grn. zwickey. Also partial to Ace. The first Bh I shot was the four blade eskimo back in about 1971 or 72
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: RecurveRookie on March 17, 2013, 12:43:00 AM
That's my next broadhead when I need more weight for my new bow.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Bob Stager on March 17, 2013, 09:56:00 AM
It is my favorite broadhead!
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Pops on March 17, 2013, 10:33:00 AM
I have used them for the last 10 years.
No problems they fly true and do a
Good job.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: White Falcon on March 17, 2013, 02:12:00 PM
What I use!
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: SERGIO VENNERI on March 17, 2013, 06:17:00 PM
It's what Paul Schafer used!
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: cacciatore on March 17, 2013, 06:59:00 PM
I am been using them for 25 years,they sharpen so easily and became so scary.Cheap too,you can depend on them.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: TRADSTYK on March 17, 2013, 07:44:00 PM
Been shooting them for several years. The bottom line is they work very well. Yhe last two bucks I shot using them went down in sight and hearing distance.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: JoeM on March 17, 2013, 07:47:00 PM
Eskimos & Deltas
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: soap creek on March 17, 2013, 09:05:00 PM
Been using eskimos for many years. I've tried other heads, but always go back to the eskimos. Good flight, easy to sharpen and inexspensive. Whats not to like?
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: nutmeg on March 17, 2013, 10:01:00 PM
Yes it's one of favorite heads along with Magnus and Eclipse. (nut)
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: RunninWild77 on March 18, 2013, 11:53:00 AM
Love em', also really like the delta's to.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: T Lail on March 18, 2013, 02:10:00 PM
I have shot them for years.....
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: tracker12 on March 24, 2013, 08:37:00 PM
How do you all sharpen them.  I have always shot 3 blades.  Never could seem to get the 2 blade sharp enough.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: dnovo on March 24, 2013, 09:26:00 PM
I prefer the Deltas over the Eskimo as I like a wide 2 blade. Just sharpen up with a file. A lot of experience makes it easy.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: kennym on March 24, 2013, 09:31:00 PM
Yep, shot em forever, but have flirted with Woodsmans a time or 2.

Always back to Big green! Got some Delta 4 blades now.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: BDann on March 24, 2013, 10:37:00 PM
I love my Eskimos!  Easy to get sharp flies great!
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Fletcher on March 24, 2013, 10:46:00 PM
I prefer the Deltas, but the Zwickey has been one of my favorites for many years.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: misfire on March 24, 2013, 10:48:00 PM
Add me to the list of users!
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Arkansas Osage on March 25, 2013, 01:05:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by joe skipp:
Been shooting them since 1979. I also like the 135 grain 2 blade Zwickey Deltas.
This is what I was using my first season. My best chance I had on a deer I missed and if I had remembered my practice sessions with these heads I might have gotten my first deer. What I noticed in practice was a tendency of the arrow to veer left 12-16" at 20 yards. This didn't happen with field points. What I think the problem was, was that the wide flat blade of the delta in conjuction with my left wing feathers rotating the arrow left as the arrow is already moving left out of the riser of my self bow caused the arrow to steer left and not straighten out enough at 15-20 yrds. When I backed up to 30 the problem went away. But at 20 yards the left rotation of the arrow allowed the wide broadhead to steer the arrow to the left. So thats my theory anyway. I'm going to switch to right wing feathers to rotate the arrow to the right, and I may drop back in broadhead size to the eskimos because they aren't as wide as the deltas. This should counter act some of the leftward directionality.

QuoteOriginally posted by tracker12:
How do you all sharpen them. Never could seem to get the 2 blade sharp enough.
I'm going to have to second this, I tried every file I had and the only thing that got them close to sharp enough was a chainsaw file and I still couldn't shave with them. I even took several to a  professional knife sharpener at a knife and gun show and although he got them sharper than I did he couldn't put a razor edge on them sharp enough to shave with. He couldn't understand why. I've watched every video on the web about how to sharpen them and I can't seem to get the hang of it, but I could never sharpen knives either, even with a very high quality two sided rough and fine grit wetstone.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Fletcher on March 25, 2013, 10:05:00 AM
AO, the deltas drifting to the left is most likely a "too stiff" spine tuning issue or your release.  Field points won't show it, but a broadhead will.  Try them mounted horizontally, this may help some, but to really fix the issue try a heavier head, 160+ gr, or a lower spine.  You probably aren't far off, as the fletching is getting them straight after 20 yds.  Fletch wing and rotation won't give you this.

Sharpening is a learned technique, so find someone who can walk you thru it.  Raising a bur, consistent angle and light pressure are three keys.  There is a TruAngle kit in the classifieds; Zwickeys will shave hair right off the files.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Arkansas Osage on March 25, 2013, 11:51:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Fletcher:
AO, the deltas drifting to the left is most likely a "too stiff" spine tuning issue or your release.  Field points won't show it, but a broadhead will.  Try them mounted horizontally, this may help some, but to really fix the issue try a heavier head, 160+ gr, or a lower spine.  You probably aren't far off, as the fletching is getting them straight after 20 yds.  Fletch wing and rotation won't give you this.

Sharpening is a learned technique, so find someone who can walk you thru it.  Raising a bur, consistent angle and light pressure are three keys.  There is a TruAngle kit in the classifieds; Zwickeys will shave hair right off the files.

Good luck!
The spine was 35-55 expedition hunters (3555), my bow is 45# so thats as good as it can get for matching spine to bow, as for the weight of the head I was also using the broadheads with 35 grain adapters, taking the total head weight up to 170 grains. My total arrow weight was right around 400 grains. I may be wrong but it seems to be that since the arrow is already moving to the left out of the riser of my self bow and the fletching is rotating the arrow left it only makes sense it would spin and veer to the left. I'm probably wrong, still pretty new to this.

Actually now that I think about it, I was using 55-75 spine arrows Expedition hunters 5575. The guy at the shop told me the heavier spine would help it fly better and I dissagreed and bought one arrow in 35-55 and its the one that flew better. He's not much a traditional bow guy, let alone selfbows so I guess I shouldn't have listened lol. He also fletches like crap which is why I bought my own e-z fletch pro. But the shafts are a pretty good price at his store so I'll get my shafts there.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: tracker12 on March 25, 2013, 11:55:00 AM
For me the 1535 fly better out of a 45# bow.  3555 can still be stiff.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Arkansas Osage on March 25, 2013, 01:13:00 PM
I'll see if he has any, or can get some, thanks.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Fletcher on March 25, 2013, 02:32:00 PM
Most self bows are made with the side plate a good bit out from center and it sounds like yours is made this way too.  No two self bows are the same, but being out from center makes the bow need a lower spine.  Carbons tend to be stiff to start with and those numbers on the side are a SWAG even on a good day.  If you leave them long enuf you might get away with them.

Bows are kinda like good dogs and will do what we ask of them without a complaint, but a self bow is MUCH happier shooting wood, probably in the 35-40 range in your case.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Arkansas Osage on March 25, 2013, 11:47:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Fletcher:
Most self bows are made with the side plate a good bit out from center and it sounds like yours is made this way too.  No two self bows are the same, but being out from center makes the bow need a lower spine.  Carbons tend to be stiff to start with and those numbers on the side are a SWAG even on a good day.  If you leave them long enuf you might get away with them.

Bows are kinda like good dogs and will do what we ask of them without a complaint, but a self bow is MUCH happier shooting wood, probably in the 35-40 range in your case.
Ya, I knew I needed a lighter spine to compensate for paradox but I thought 35lb spine would be ok. I don't know what you mean by SWAG... but I think I get the jist of it lol. I intend to get some wood arrows in the near future, do you prefer douglas fir or port orford cedar for shooting zwickeys?
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: Bruinbow on March 26, 2013, 02:51:00 AM
My favorite , never a problem and not hard to get a good edge on them .

SWAG = Scientific Wild A## Guess .
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: acolobowhunter on March 27, 2013, 02:05:00 PM
I have been using Zwkiee Eskimos for nearly 40 years.  Great success - moose, elk, deer, mt. lions, grizzley,Caribou etc.etc.
Simple to sharpen and touch up and don't break the bank.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: on March 27, 2013, 04:56:00 PM
My wife shoots them on tapered cedars out of 38@26" bows. She has yet to find an Iowa whitetail that can stop them. The only reason I don't use them is because of a preponderance of stiffer cedar shafts that need 160 grains at my draw and I insist on using the broadhead as a draw check, but the Eskimo and Delta have to be as good as anything out there.  When I start someone out in this trad thing, I always target 125 grain up front arrows, just so they can use the Eskimos. They will get hunting sharp for just about anyone with any method. We have never lost a deer hit with a sharp Eskimo and they are easy to get very sharp.
Title: Re: Zwickey Eskimos...., whos shootin'em?
Post by: DamselflyFarm on March 27, 2013, 05:58:00 PM
I have a half dozen Eskimos in the mail to me as we speak. I've not used them yet, but I certainly will this season.