Flint Knapping?

Ryan Pultz · 11-03-2007, 01:33 AM

So does anyone on ifish do this? I have been intrigued buy it for some time and would like to give it a try. I picked up a bunch of obsidian from Glass Butte and need to get a few of the tools but I was wondering if anyone else out there does it. rp

sliverpicker · 11-03-2007, 04:39 AM

I've broke some rock in years past, but am far from being even a novice. There's quite a few good books and videos on the subject. I bought a DVD a couple months ago called "Flintknapping...The art of the ancients". It's really good for a beginner and shows the tools needed and how you go about preparing the edge before striking the rock.

I'll send you a link to a website that has forums dealing specifically with primitive tool and weapon making. There's some REALLY skilled knappers on the forums!

Ryan Pultz · 11-03-2007, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sliverpicker

I've broke some rock in years past, but am far from being even a novice. There's quite a few good books and videos on the subject. I bought a DVD a couple months ago called "Flintknapping...The art of the ancients". It's really good for a beginner and shows the tools needed and how you go about preparing the edge before striking the rock.

I'll send you a link to a website that has forums dealing specifically with primitive tool and weapon making. There's some REALLY skilled knappers on the forums!

thanks! rp

arlie · 11-03-2007, 05:06 AM

I'm also a definite novice but my father-in-law gave me a kit he had made up and some books. As a rock hound he also had plenty of obsidian to give me. So I go out and have a go at it from time to time. I also was given a couple books on it but would love to watch someone who was good at it in action. It is fun to do even though it can be frustrating at times. In the early spring a bunch of enthusiasts get together for a rendezvous at Glass Buttes. Last year I got into building long bows and then bought a dowel cutter for shafts. I'm not sure where I'm heading with all this as I don't think my wife's teeth are up to chewing hides and it would be too much trouble to trade her in.

But seriously I'm thinking of making that rendezvous which I think is in March. OPB did a story on it a while back. Different primitive weapons were displayed and used for target practice including atlatls. There are some real impressive types of obsidian to be found there like the rainbow obsidian which has multicolored fire in it as well as gold sheen and silver sheen. It should be a good time and great to see how the pro's do it. Good luck on your knapping.

Abalone · 11-03-2007, 05:12 AM

I have done a little. A little research and a lot of practice will make you an expert. The Candby fair usually has a guy from bend that puts on demo's.
I have seen lots of different tools made from knapping.. I have must of the stuff but don't spend much time at it anymore.

The few pieces I have made have ended up in my sister in laws garden. She thinks she's living on top of an old indian Village.

sliverpicker · 11-03-2007, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arlie

I'm also a definite novice but my father-in-law gave me a kit he had made up and some books. As a rock hound he also had plenty of obsidian to give me. So I go out and have a go at it from time to time. I also was given a couple books on it but would love to watch someone who was good at it in action. It is fun to do even though it can be frustrating at times. In the early spring a bunch of enthusiasts get together for a rendezvous at Glass Buttes. Last year I got into building long bows and then bought a dowel cutter for shafts. I'm not sure where I'm heading with all this as I don't think my wife's teeth are up to chewing hides and it would be too much trouble to trade her in.

But seriously I'm thinking of making that rendezvous which I think is in March. OPB did a story on it a while back. Different primitive weapons were displayed and used for target practice including atlatls. There are some real impressive types of obsidian to be found there like the rainbow obsidian which has multicolored fire in it as well as gold sheen and silver sheen. It should be a good time and great to see how the pro's do it. Good luck on your knapping.

The Glass Butte Knapp-in is the third week of March, and usually coincides with spring break. A friend and I stopped there about 10-12 years ago played with an atlatl a fella had, pretty cool. We finally went on to Chickahominy(sp?) and drowned some flies.

The weather over there that time of year can be brutal. It was snowing sideways when we were there, and COLD!!! So be prepared for the worst when going out there.

Sweet Melissa · 11-03-2007, 06:51 AM

I have never tried it, but I had a friend in Klamath Falls who was very good at it. One of the things I picked up from him was not to go straight into making arrowheads, which a lot of people seem to think is kind of the "ultimate" goal of flint knapping. Try some simple cutting tools to begin with. He did a demonstration for a college class where he just put a sharp edge on a piece of obsidian, and used it to slice a deer hide. That in itself was pretty impressive to most of the students.

Have fun with it. Maybe you and your wife will be able to incorporate some of your flintknapping skills into her jewelry making.

Fast Water · 11-03-2007, 10:14 AM

LINKS

Cornbread · 11-03-2007, 10:47 AM

I make stone heads for hunting with sometimes. It has been a few years since I have done it actively though. There are two guys here in town that knap way better than I do so now days I generally buy from them if I am doing a stone head hunt. I don't use the old Indian ways of putting them into the arrow though I use epoxy and Kevlar thread

I gave one of the guys a self bow I had made from yew a few weeks ago that I was never going to use because I had originally made it for a girl I with at the time so it's weight is down around 40lbs. Anyway he has a daughter that will use it so I gave it to him and he gave me a really nice arrow head that I will hunt with next year although I wasn't expecting anything for the bow it will be a good head to hunt with.

Twitchs_Tackle · 11-03-2007, 10:58 AM

I've done a little

Fast Water · 11-03-2007, 12:21 PM

Bravo!!!

Rocky · 11-03-2007, 12:32 PM

Those look excellent TT. I have been interested in knapping and have tried my hand at a couple of arrowheads but they didnt turn out so well. When I have time and get started again I would like to make a couple of knives or axe heads instead of arrowheads.

Ryan Pultz · 11-03-2007, 02:33 PM

Wow Twich When do you have time to master fishing hahaha rp

Chug · 11-03-2007, 07:52 PM

SPeaking of Rock Knapping.. Any one got Good Rock Pictograph photo's? from around Oregon?. PM if you have some.

Flaking obsidian, make sure you wear safety glasses.. That stuff is Razor sharp.

adobe wall · 11-04-2007, 03:44 PM

a friend from Albemarle, NC is a very skilled flint knapper but we've lost touch since I've been out here. Mike traded me off a handful of points for a fish mount about 10 years ago.

One thing he did that I thought was pretty savvy was heat treating the material before he flaked it. Not high heat, but oven temp heating for a couple hours the difference in the color and clarity was amazing (and the effect is permanent). It's the same process as is used on most sapphires. IIRC it was a couple hours at 400 degrees or something similar- he used an oven designed for cooking turkeys and kept it in his basement.

Mike just used a couple of rocks and a piece of antler (plus safety glasses). He could really work the material down very thin without breaking it.

Here are a shot of what I've got from him- the points with the distinctive J-shaped "ears" are local to Stanly County, NC and called Hardaway points. The narrow bird point is done in Mossy Agate, the red point is done in some type of industrial glass, the black one is obsidian and the brown/black ones are mahogany obsidian. The white one is also agate.

I've watched Mike make an arrowhead in just a few minutes from the time he picked up the rough- he'd have made a good caveman.

regards, aw