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Best obsidian design?
gutpile:
I am more partial to the triangular shape side notch bottom notch aka cahokia... I am partial to that style because I believe the penetration is slightly better with that type of design.. side notches are fairly easy to accomplish over corner notches.IMO.. plus the bottom notch gives a better hafting spot for the point to set in arrow or in my case foreshaft ... just an opinion.. I have taken deer with both styles that are in my quiver and wouldn't hesitate to sling either.. the main thing to consider when hafting your point is to have that smooth transition from shaft to point.. no bulge at arrow where it transitions to point.. I literally bounced an arrow off a doe once, because I had failed to smooth out the transition.. lesson learned and it hasn't happened since. as for length the cahokia is 3 to 1 or even 2 to 1..mine are closer to 2.5 to 1 .. I like to keep width at 1" and below.. just so less chance of hanging up in ribs and some states require that it not be over an inch at base .. gut
Russ:
--- Quote from: Sagebrush on April 14, 2021, 12:07:26 am ---Im just trying to figure out the benefits of different designs and why you arrived at your favorite go to point. Triangular vs spade shaped? Length versus width? Side notched vs base notched versus corner notched? I have made a half dozen. As soon as I make one that isnt so embarrassing I promise I will post a pic. :)
--- End quote ---
Sage, don't worry about posting an "embarrassing" point. i promise you we all have made wacky, wonky, fishbellied, ect. points lol. no matter what the point looks like, its not embarrassing, its just the stage of learning your in right now ;D
I haven't hunted with any stone points so i don't have any personal experience, but i see a lot more Cahokia type points used. Long, and narrow, with the sides like a straight line going straight to the point.
Watch out with the corner notches. I believe in some states they are considered barbs and are illegal to use.
Hawkdancer:
Read the hunting regulations for the state(s) you plan to hunt. Some don't allow stone points for big game.
Hawkdancer
Parnell:
I’ve always figured that straight flat edged points, i.e. not serrated, are more for artful appearance or simply left to be touched up when actually going to be hunt. My understanding is the name of the game is death by exsanguination.
Seems to me that “flat edged” points pierce more than cut. Would a dull piercing point do the job? Maybe...so may a field point for that matter? If a dead elk is my goal, I’d want the sharpest edges I can flake out. Heck, I take the time to razor sharpen steel broadheads before a hunt...my thought is a stone/glass point should not be put to less scrutiny...actually more!
That said, obsidian sure can get sharp. Lately, the more I work it the more I like it.
Cheers, guys.
gutpile:
flat edge as you called them can be sharper than a serrated edge and penetrate better also.. really depends on the skills of the knapper...serrations can be effective and extremely sharp but they can also grab hide and hinder penetration if not executed well... granted serrations look more deadly but looks can be deceiving.. literally its the hole that kills the animal.. I have found many an arrowhead that was as dull and a brick corner.. but I guarantee you it got the job done when placed in right spot. the sharper the head, the better the blood trail, penetration, and quicker bleed out... that is what we strive for .. ethical kill and respect to our quarry.. my heads nearly always have drawn blood before they get hafted ...hahahaha....gut
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