Broadheads

Currently, there are three Firenock serieses of broadheads: Traumahawk, Dagger, and SwingBlade.  Each covers different use cases as well as materials and sizes.  For 2020, the Dagger series recieved six new additions while for 2021, the SwingBlade series adopted the Stalker technology designed to suit ultra-slim or 0.166" ID size arrows.

Traumahawk

Utilizing blunt force trauma,  the Traumahawk is our invulnerable broadhead deisgned especially for high speed crossbows.  Designed to work a bit like the Native American's lethal weapon, the tomahawk, this broadhead transfers the maximum amount of kinetic energy in the initial or first contact of an arrow to the game.

Dagger

Using compound single bevels, the Dagger's design provides rotation not only during initial contact with the game but all the way though the animal.  This specific rotation results in cavitation within a high oxygen-enriched organ such as a lung and forces animals to expire quickly.  The upgrade to using Metal Injection Molding (MIM) processes only perfected the effectiveness of this broadhead.

SwingBlade

As its name implies, SwingBlade's three blades deploy by swinging out from their clasped position on and only on impact (US Patent # 9,803,963).  This design allows it be used on high speed projectiles due to a minimum crosswind signature during flight (~3/4").  It is also a completely customizable interchangable series, boasting four unqiue blades as of 2021.

Consider the summaries below for assistance in your purchase decisions.  Note that more details can be found about each product line on their own respective webpages. 

Introduction

After the launch of Aerovane in 2007, we kept hearing that broadheads did not fly well with it.  This is because Aerovane is airfoil-based, meaning that the faster the arrow flies, the faster it will spin due to circular lift.  And as the speed of archery projectiles only continues to get faster, broadhead technology hasn’t held up.  Whether projectiles are fletched with Aerovane or not, a higher degree of aerodynamic efficiency in broadheads was necessary. 

The Traumahawk

Traumahawk, as the first and only blunt force trauma broadhead available on the market, has an edge instead of a point.  If one looks closely, the front of the Traumahawk is an exact replica of a large drill bit tip.  This design is meant to harness the excessive force that a modern crossbow gives out.  According to our research, it only takes about 25lb KE for an arrow with a well-designed broadhead to pass through a typical full-grown North American white-tailed deer.  Today’s high speed, high power crossbow however, easily exerts more than 130lb KE, over four times more power than required! 

     With so much extra energy being wasted, it made sense to develop a broadhead that would transfer as much of that energy as possible.  That broadhead is Traumahawk.  We found that due to its efficiency, Traumahawk transfers about 90lb KE to a target in the same conditions.  Note however, that Traumahawk is mostly only effective when equipped on high speed, high power projectiles.  The only exception is as a small game head for recurve. 

The Dagger Series

After the launch of Traumahawk, we received several customer requests to create a similar broadhead but with less use restrictions.  The answer was Dagger.  While we wanted to maintain its high energy efficiency, Traumahawk’s initial edge required too high of a minimum speed/power.  So we compromised with a point and added another, smaller bevel. This multi- or compond single bevel design requires less energy to penetrate while still being a solid, one-piece design with the majority of its weight on the outer perimeter—still encouraging gyro spin. 

The Phenomenon of Cavitation

During testing for Traumahawk, some-thing very unusual happened.  After a closer look at the game harvested from Traumahawk, we noticed some sort of pink foam had collected around the impact sight.  With some research, we learned what we had stumbled upon: cavitation. 

     Cavitation is the interesting natural occurrence of small vapor-filled cavities (bubbles) wherever there is rapid changes in pressure.  This pressure change occurred because of Traumahawk’s dual cavities.  While we originally added them to keep the weight of the broadhead on the outside, we learned that at high speeds, there was an additional effect: the formation of a low pressure zone.

     With the opportunity to further adjust and perfect the Dagger’s design due to Metal Injection Molding (MIM), we decided to add a rounded, airfoil like edge to the inside of the same dual cavities. This unique and patent-pending design takes advantage of our broadhead’s high rotation, high energy efficiency and optimizes it for the cavitation process, especially when used in tandem with Aerovane II/III.  Now, when the MIM Daggers pass through a high oxygen-enriched organ like a lung, cavitation will force oxygen to be released from the blood, and foam is formed.  Animals will expired quickly as normal breathing becomes extremely hard, if not impossible.  Game will drop within sight, making blood trails moot. 

The SwingBlade Series

SwingBlade was actually originally designed because we were given a challenge: a broadhead that could fly [1] on an Aerovane III fletched shaft, [2] in 35mph plus crosswinds, [3] at 550fps, [4] without the need to broadhead tune, and [5] with accuracy.  It seemed an impossible task.  Traumahawk and Dagger already checked four of the five requirements, but a broadhead that didn’t need practice?  It was unheard of; you can’t just screw your field point off your arrow before a hunt, install a broadhead, and expect success!  At least, not until SwingBlade. 

     SwingBlade, being a mechanical broadhead, still has a legal cutting diameter of ~3/4” when closed.  Unlike other mechanical broadheads however, the three blades operate independently.  Each blade has two single bevel grind surfaces, one on its front and one on its back.  This design ensures that the blades will only engage when it makes contact with the target.  That way, during flight SwingBlade will behave just like a field point. 

     Note that the two newer, larger SwingBlade blades, Talon and Saber, still meet the above requirements but with speed limitations i.e. archery projectiles should not exceed 315fps for Talon or 300fps for Saber. 

The Stalker SwingBlades

In January of 2021, Firenock was issued our 41st US patent on a new insert that uses a stem system that offered an alternative to AeroOutsert for 0.166” ID size shaft.  Utilizing AeroStem Technology and one of the two new Stalker SwingBlade bodies (in stainless steel or aluminum), you can take full advantage of SwingBlade.