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So I picked up some new ST magnum replacement blades the other day, and I was really curious if the "new Mercedes" steel would test out any differently than the original steel. I was shooting my Elite GTO at about 10 yards into my blob target. My blob is fairly new, so I was able to shoot into an undamaged portion of the target with each shot.
First, I tested the original blades. They were razor sharp at the start of the test (verified by shaving my arm). After one shot into my blob target, I tested the sharpness of the blades. In my opinion, they were surprisingly dull and would no longer shave hair off my arm. I also tested the sharpness by seeing if they would cut paper. The blades would cut paper, but not very efficiently.
Second, I tested the new "Mercedes" blades. After one shot into my blob target, I was again surprised by how dull the blades were. This time, the blades would shave a few hairs here and there, but they were no longer razor sharp. However, the blades did cut through paper more easily than the original steel.
Lastly, I decided to test one of my Montecs to see if blade angle made any difference. These were not new, out of the package, but they were razor sharp via my diamond flat stone / leather strop (again verified by shaving my arm). After one shot into the blob, the edge seemed the dullest of the three heads tested. The BH would no longer shave hair and would not cut into paper.
To summarize my un-scientific results, the Mercedes steel seems to hold the edge better than the original steel. The higher blade angle of the Montecs seemed to negatively affect the edge retention.
My question is, how in the world can we expect our BH blades to be razor sharp after passing through hide (and maybe rib bones) and entering the chest cavity? Are the serrations as found on the Buzzcut worth taking a look at?
First, I tested the original blades. They were razor sharp at the start of the test (verified by shaving my arm). After one shot into my blob target, I tested the sharpness of the blades. In my opinion, they were surprisingly dull and would no longer shave hair off my arm. I also tested the sharpness by seeing if they would cut paper. The blades would cut paper, but not very efficiently.
Second, I tested the new "Mercedes" blades. After one shot into my blob target, I was again surprised by how dull the blades were. This time, the blades would shave a few hairs here and there, but they were no longer razor sharp. However, the blades did cut through paper more easily than the original steel.
Lastly, I decided to test one of my Montecs to see if blade angle made any difference. These were not new, out of the package, but they were razor sharp via my diamond flat stone / leather strop (again verified by shaving my arm). After one shot into the blob, the edge seemed the dullest of the three heads tested. The BH would no longer shave hair and would not cut into paper.
To summarize my un-scientific results, the Mercedes steel seems to hold the edge better than the original steel. The higher blade angle of the Montecs seemed to negatively affect the edge retention.
My question is, how in the world can we expect our BH blades to be razor sharp after passing through hide (and maybe rib bones) and entering the chest cavity? Are the serrations as found on the Buzzcut worth taking a look at?