“blades”

Some hunters fail to understand that the steel used for most hunting knives sold today is harder, and in some ways better, than their father’s or grandfather’s blades they once saw sharpened with a few clean passes on a stone. Only a skilled hand can put a fine edge on hard, modern blades without a quality sharpening tool to keep the angle correct.

Sharper cuts, bigger holes and more terminal damage are what broadhead manufacturers work to improve with their blades each year, and what many are delivering in 2012. Check out these 10 new offerings to twist on, tune up and send downrange.

Showmanship can go a long way at a show like the 143rd NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, and few companies brought as much energy as Cold Steel. Oh, and they've got some very nice blades, too.

There's now a version of Winchester's popular Super X Pump shotgun tailored specifically to the needs of waterfowl hunters. The Super X Pump "Waterfowl Hunter" shotgun features Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades camouflage and is available with a 3-inch or 3 1/2-inch 12-gauge chamber. Barrel options include 26 or 28 inches.

Bloodsport has announced several new broadheads, including two additions to its Gravedigger line, the Extreme Night Fury, the High Voltage and the Nitefall, all of which feature mechanical, 420 stainless steel blades and weigh 100 grains.

Can’t think of what to get that special shooter/hunter/outdoorsman on your list? You know, the man, woman or kid who already appears to have it all? Take our word for it, anyone who likes to pull a trigger, bag a game animal and/or be prepared for the worst will like getting a knife … er, another knife. You can never have too many blades, and so here are some last-minute cues to can't-miss gifts.

Fire-N-the-Hole Broadheads has introduced the Slang Blade 1x4 mechanical broadhead, which can be used with compound bows and crossbows alike.

A bevy of new broadheads are taking flight this year. Here are a few that are more than worth your time.

The Gravedigger Extreme Cut-on-Contact Broadhead, from Bloodsport, is a new hybrid mechanical broadhead designed to create large wound channels for maximum blood loss.