SwingBlade™
SwingBlade is a mechanical broadhead that utilizes a deployment system never before seen. As its name implies, the three blades on a SwingBlade deploy by swinging out from their clasped position upon impact (US Patent: 9,803,963). This design allows it to be used on high speed archery projectiles up to 550 fps with accuracy due to a minimum crosswind signature during flight (~3/4”). Further, designed as a completely interchangeable series, the head, blades, and bodies can be field swapped.
[A] The Head
The SwingBlade standard head is made of stainless steel. It has a sharp pyramid design. The three channels of the head are designed to allow the screws that unite that head with the body to be flush to the base of the head for structural integrity. These channels additionally lower the surface contact, acting instead as air ram chambers and blood flow channels during its cutting phase.
[B] The Blades
All four blades—Falcon, Raptor, Talon, and Saber—utilize our single bevel front and back design. They are also made of 0.5mm thick surgical grade stainless steel hardened to no less than 52 HRC. This specific thicknesss and hardness force the blades to act like a filet knife, slicing cleanly into game. Learn more about deployment via O-ring below and about each blade in-depth further below.
[C] The Bodies
All three bodies, like all Firenock broadheads and field points, are equipped with pre-installed FACT 2.0, our patented Double O-ring system that helps with self-concentricity. The aluminum body weighs 22 grain while the two stainless bodies weigh 47 grains and 72 grains respectively.
Note : The unusual weights of all three bodies is intentional. When any body is matched with the standard head and any SwingBlade blades, the full broadhead will end up being either 100 or 125 grains, +/- 1 grain.
Deployment Method
SwingBlade’s blades will only deploy when there has been a change in density—the only thing actually keeping the blades from swinging open is one rubber O-ring! After contact with something of a different density than air, such as flesh, the blades will open via their hinges which are directly perpendicular to the impact surface. This process of opening overrides the O-ring that originally held the blades tucked. The hinge pin screws, although extremely tiny in diameter (0.175mm), are critical in this application, which is why we choose to make them from HRC60 CRMO steel. These pins also allow one to easily replace or switch out blades.
For illustrative purposes, we've included some references on the left. [1] shows most SwingBlades before deployment (~3/4”), [2] shows a SwingBlade equipped with either the Falcon or Raptor blades deployed (1 3/16”), [3] shows SwingBlade equipped with the Talon blades deployed (1 2/3”), and [4] shows SwingBlade equipped with the Saber blades deployed (1 13/16”). Ratios correct, images enlarged for demonstrative purposes.
Three years ago, with the introduction of the SwingBlade broadhead, two unique blades were announced: the Falcon and the Raptor blades. Since then, after hearing what our customers have to say about the original lineup, we added the Talon as well as the Saber. Read about each blade and their unique designs below.
Falcon Blade (2018-)
The most aerodynamically efficient of all SwingBlade designs, the Falcon blade has the lowest crosswind signature and is the quietest of all Firenock broadheads. Through designed with a high cutting angle, there is a minimal amount of drag when a set of these blades passes through the wind. Falcon blades remain as a great choice for archery projectiles up to 550fps, even in 35mph crosswinds.
Raptor Blade (2018-)
Designed to address very strict no-barbing laws, the Raptor blade utilizes the same single bevel design as the Falcon but with a background angle of exactly 89 degrees. Their stoutness makes these blades a great choice when durability is of great import.
Talon Blade (2019-)
The Talon blade was designed to further address the original SwingBlade blades’ lack of blood trail. Specifically, we wanted to ensure that we could give our customers what they desired without giving up too much accuracy for bow speeds lower than 315fps. We believe with a 70% longer cutting radius than the 2018 versions, we succeeded. Also note that with a back swing angle of 161 degrees, a more dramatic impact occurs on a slower and heavier arrow, which most archers who uses today’s high let-off bows with high FOC arrows would prefer.
Saber Blade (2020-)
After the introduction of the Talon blade, many vertical bow archers who prefer arrow speeds lower than 305fps still wanted an alternative option with the maximum cutting diameter, aerodynamic efficiency aside. Saber’s 15mm wide active blade with the same ultra-efficient forward angles as Falcon, of 120 degrees, is our response. Just like every other style, this blade is also made of 420 Stainless Steel and hardened to at least 53 HRC.
With one head, three bodies, and four blades available, there are twelve unique packs available for purchase.
Each of our SwingBlade packs are assigned a unique six character code. “SWBL,” the first four characters, simply refer to the first two letters of the compound word SWingBLade. The next letter, either “F,” “R,” “T,” or “S”, represent which set of blades are in the package. And finally, the last letter, either “A,” “S,” or “H,”represent which material the bodies are made from—aluminum (“A”), stainless steel (“S”), or stainless steel (“H” for heavy).
The SwingBlade Practice Weight Ring Set
Due to its small crosswind signature, SwingBlade has proven to fly like a matched weight AeroPoint. For those who would still prefer to practice with the actual body and head of the SwingBlade instead of a parallel field point, the Practice Weight Ring Set was created. A package includes three 303 Stainless Steel rings that, as implied, match the weight of the any set of our blades, +/- a grain. It also includes six fastening screws as well as three extra O-rings.