Does anybody use a flat bastard file for sharpening broadheads?  I picked one up today and it puts lots of little serrations in the blade.  Just curious.  Thanks.

jf

Think mine is always a mill bastard.  Try shifting the angle of your file that might help, more parallel to the blade.

Yes! The little serrations are ok. If you use very light strokes (move the broadhead over the file if it's a 3 blade) the serrations will be light as well. I think file sharpened blades keep their edge better than finely honed ones. I'm kinda in the Fred Bear camp on that.

I do carry a medium diamond stone for emergency touch-up though. It's easier to pack than a file. I usually go back to the file once I get home though.

That is what I use on my heads, when I have them sharp I just go over them maybe three strokes with a accusharp. I can tell that there ready for that when the accusharp feels like it is cutting good, then they shave hair.

Yep, flat file sharpening has killed more critters than anyone can count. It takes practice but it works as well as anything else, and when done correctly, better than most, imho.

Yup.  Flat Bastard.

What JC said

Gosh, this is good to hear.  I've struggled with the mill bastard.  Picked up this short little file today and wow that edge reaches out and grabs ya!  I think with a little practice, I will get very good at it!!


jf

Yes, the flat mill bastard file the best.  It's been the sharpener of choice for Pope, Young, Hill, Bear, and all kinds of hunters for a hundred years.  The light serrations are what make it so deadly.

10 mil bastard...finish up with ceramic sticks.

I've always heard (from oldtimers) that a filed edge doesn't dull or roll the edge as quickly as a honed edge on muddy hides and bone.  Dr. Ashby tests on fiberous buffalo hides proved a honed edge penetrates better.  It does seem to me that if you shoot a filed bh and a honed bh into a foam target a couple of times, the filed bh will still cut your finger while the honed edge feels dull.  Lots of discussion on this one.  Do a "search".  Lots of good points,pro and con.  I like a filed edge myself.

I use a 16" Nicholson  mill bastard file. Heavy and bulky at 16" long and 1 1/2" across.The WW heads do nicely on it, and don't slide off the edges of the file since it's 1 1/2" across. I touch it up on a medium Arkansas stone with oil. Shaves hair easily.

I've used the exact method as BOFF on WW & SnufferSS, it takes aprox 10 min per head. Every other day I touch them up on the Arkansas stone to keep the great edge there! There's sort of a bond between the Hunter & his heads, kinda like your bow! (grin)

 ElkNut1