I just found a bunch of old 4-blade Zwickey's that have been in a forgotten stash since the 1980's. I thought it would be fun to sharpen them and put them back into action this season. However, I'm finding it difficult to get those permanent bleeder blades sharp enough to suit me. I'm wondering if I need them at all. They could easily be ground off. If I did so, do you think the big hole left behind would whistle when the broadhead is on its way to the target? Are these Zwickey bleeders worth keeping or not?

Grind them off. No need for them, especially when dull.

If you really can not sharpen them, grind 'em. The hole will be filled by the shaft and glue, no whistle.

I file-sharpened the ones on my 4-blade eskimoes. Guess I was convinced by Fred Bear's argument that the extra cutting edges were an advantage.

I've seen slotted zwickey heads in the past not sure of the thickness of either bear or Magnus blades but that and option too

It takes a little more time and effort to sharpen 4 blades, but it's not that hard to do. I prefer the 4 blade heads. MP

Most of mine are ground off.

I just broke mine off with a pair of pliers. Work fine now.

either would work,, up to you,

The best way I found to sharpen the bleeder blades was with a set of inexpensive needle files I picked up at wallyworld. I then finished them off with a Smiths needle shaped diamond stone. It looks like a ink pen. One end is tapered to a fine needle point. The needle files and this diamond needle file allows you to get right up next to the ferrel. That being said, most of mine I broke and filed the bleeder blades off. According to the blood trail survey done here, most folks said that after location with a sharp broadhead the next most important factor in getting a good blood trail was an exit wound. I have to agree with that. At the poundage that I'm shooting, I'm sticking with a 2 blade.

I was playing around with my work sharp and tries some old 4 blade Zw's and it did a great job as long as you kept the pressure light.

Grinding them off is fine, but if your 5 degree BHA isn't long enough they will make a whistling sound. I sharpen them to a ragged edge.

I'm not a fan of the bleeder blades either, so I just buy the 2 blade versions.

The bleeder blades on the zwickies can be filed sharp with a small file.A gentleman on the wall showed me his years ago, and he's killed plenty of deer with them.

Use long screw in adapters or if using wood shafts, leave a long taper. If there is still a gap fill with hot melt glue. Clamp main blade in vise and sharpen bleeders with file from front, working burr off. The blade is small enough it will be hard to tell if if shaves hair....but it does not have to, you should be able to tell with your thumb if it will cut.

If you don't want them as 4 blade sell or trade for two blades. 50 years tells me a multiple blade is better, MHO.Take it or leave it, not trying to start debate.

Ron you sent me some pics of some with bear blades in them and they looked great as soon as I can will be doing that on mine

Ron you sent me some pics of some with bear blades in them and they looked great as soon as I can will be doing that on mine

I always use the 4 blades whether Eskimo or Deltas. They are very easy to sharpen with a 6" mill bastard file.

They're quite easy to sharpen. I start with a file, then draw the blades backward on a stone. Get them just as sharp as the main blades.

Raghorn has got it right bleeders can make a difference and could even mean recovery or not. With 54 years of bowhunting experience I have seen it happen lots more than once . We used to cut a slot in the Zwickey and put bleeder blades in ourselves we made the bleeders from steele banding what a hole and an instant and short blood trail !! The bleeders arent hard to sharpen and the Zwickey is one of the best heads ever .

Bleeders are only effective if they do not impede penetration and if they do not contribute to clotting. If you can't get them sharp enough, they WILL do both.

But it's an easy fix; if you find them difficult to sharpen, just swap them for 2-blades with someone who doesn't. Or find someone who can teach you how it's done.

Personally, I would shy away from a solution which requires me to fill holes with epoxy or whatever; it's likely a trivial issue, but I'd rather not do anything that would likely increase weight variance from one arrow to the next. It's not that I'm so skilled that a few grains here or there would open up my groups, but I figure consistency aids accuracy, and I will take all the help that I can get...

If bleeders were so great they would make all four blades that way. Don't buy the argument that they open up the hole for easier passage as that would only be a big deal on bone, and I just don't believe that. Plus, there are a ton of people who, particularly before the second Ashby study thought so highly of the 2 blade Zwickey, they used them on the largest African game. Never heard of anyone who went for the four blades "for the extra penetration".

They might provide a critical additional degree of wound channel section, but penetration trumps that for me. While I can sharpen anything, I think they get in the way of easily sharpening the primary blades, the way I like to sharpen them. But for guys who like them, can't see much downside on smaller big game.

Bowlin, we get enough fake news in the States. Don't believe a word you said.

I don't think Fred was shooting carbons. His arrows went on a weight loss program until we have the arrows of today with the diameter of carbons.

Explain to me why you'd have to open the wound channel so the arrow would slide through better. The diameter of the arrow is smaller then the end diameter of the broadhead?

If the bleeder blades are as sharp as can possibly be they are creating friction that impedes penetration.

Bowmania

In the 50's and 60's we would sharpen the back and front of the bleeder blades so when the animal would run, the zwickey would be cutting when the arrow was coming back out. That was the thought. When the wife and I used the compound, we always had pass through, except on a bull moose. The friction of the shaft or the 4 blade zwickey was never a factor. Have had animals with 6 inches of fat sticking out of the arrow hole, and still a blood trail. without the bleeder blades, could be a problem.

If you want to get zwickey bleeders really sharp use a very fine tooth file( you can find them in tackle stores or on line, used for hook sharpening) This is the best I have found.

Either one is fine as long as they are scary sharp.

Don't like 4 I grind down also.

taking the bleeder blades off is the dumbest thing I have read here. Why do you think they are called bleeder blades?

Since Zwickey makes 2 blades in the same models as the 4-blades, and always has, why buy the four blades and file them off?

I like the 4-blades on deer size critters where penetration isn't a problem The extra blades often cut important arteries, etc.

Putting them in a vise and using a 6 or 8 inch single medium cut triangular file works well for me on the 4 blade. Whether it's a 2 or 4 blade Delta, they both are the best in my book. Probably the best reason for using the 4 blade is the fact you get an open hole for blood loss, whereas with the two blade the slot sometimes slides over the entrance hole in the tissue. The Bear razorhead always made a hole with the large bleeder. Doesn't matter if the hit is where it should be however. Deer elk and moose all the same, can't say I ever saw a difference in penetration, always got enough to get the job done with either,if I did my part that is. Love those heads, just today I was getting them ready!!! 4 and 2 blade.

I break them off with pliers. They dont have enough angle to me. The half moon thing looked purty slick tough. RC

It's nice that we live in America and it's a free country and we can do what we want and believe what we want and buy the broadheads we want.

Free country, yes. But that doesn't mean you won't get rode hard for doing so (watch this)

I don't think it matters, 2 or 4 blade, as long as it's shot from a #58 longbow. 45 pounds, yes, but not #58....

I think Papa Bear was on to something with the bleeder blades on the razorheads. I tried the four blade Zwickeys years ago and found that I couldn't get the main blades as sharp as I wanted to with those bleeder blades in the way.

I've been shooting Zwicky's 50 yrs. If I do my part they always did theirs! Sharp and placement is the key! As far as the 4 blade thought, its a personal thing! If it works for you, USE IT! If not DON'T! Good Luck this Fall!

You can sharpen the bleeders with a Dremel tool, but I don't like the angle for use with lighter bows. Four blade heads like the old Herters had better cutting angles. We use Zwickeys in the two blade versions with excellent success.

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