Mechanical blades, as previously mentioned, are a type of arrowhead that features a collapsible design. The collapsible design allows the blades to retract during flight, reducing wind drag and providing better aerodynamics. Upon impact with the target, the blades expand, creating a larger wound channel and increasing the likelihood of a clean kill.
The collapsible design of mechanical blades makes them different from traditional fixed-blade arrowheads. During flight, the blades retract into a streamlined shape, reducing wind drag and providing better aerodynamics. This results in increased accuracy when shooting at a target. The blades are typically held in place by small metal pins or rubber bands that break upon impact, allowing the blades to expand freely.
Upon impact with the target, the blades of the mechanical arrowhead expand, creating a larger wound channel and increasing the likelihood of a clean kill. The blades may expand in different ways depending on the specific design of the arrowhead. Some mechanical blades have two blades that swing out to the sides, while others have three or more blades that fold out like a fan. The expansion of the blades is usually triggered by the force of impact, which causes the metal pins or rubber bands holding the blades to break.
There are several advantages to using mechanical blades in archery.
Mechanical blades are more accurate than traditional fixed-blade arrowheads. This is because their streamlined design reduces wind drag and provides better aerodynamics, resulting in better accuracy when shooting at a target. Additionally, mechanical blades are usually lighter than fixed-blade arrowheads, which can help increase arrow speed and accuracy.
Mechanical blades offer increased penetration due to the larger wound channel they create upon impact. This can be particularly useful when hunting larger game, as it increases the likelihood of a clean kill. The larger wound channel also helps to create a blood trail, which makes tracking wounded animals easier.
Mechanical blades are easier to tune to a particular bow and arrow setup, making them a popular choice among archers. This is because they have a consistent flight pattern and do not require as much tuning as traditional fixed-blade arrowheads. In addition, mechanical blades are usually more forgiving of minor imperfections in the bow and arrow setup, such as slightly misaligned arrows or bowstring inconsistencies.