Stone Knife

[GrumpyGorlox]

Hello! This is my first thread, so please excuse nay discrepancies!

Suppose you are in the wild with nothing but the clothes on your back. How would you create a knife, and other tools out of the surrounding materials? I know that the materials with vary from different climates, but suppose you are in the Midwest. What stones would work best, an how would you identify them? And how can you make it fit snugly on a handle?

[GrumpyGorlox]

Might i even go so far to ask for anyone to make a stone knife as an example, or maybe how to determine the mineral content of a stone?

[Rick]

Welcome to the forum. You might look up flint or chert knife in our search feature as well as Google. You'll find thousands of articles on how to identify and construct such knives.

[1stimestar]

If you are stranded, I assume that is a temporary situation so I would suggest a hand held knife and not worry about a handle.

[crashdive123]

For the scenario that the OP has described, there is no need to waste the time and effort of trying to knap a knife (a nap is a whole 'nuther story). You can create a very, very sharp piece (spall) with a single strike. The object is to create a cutting edge, not a piece of art.

[RangerXanatos]

What crash said. We don't have that good of rock around here to make blades with, we do have some quartz and it can take a sharp edge. If you need a handle, a hoko knife could be easily fashioned.

http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-hoko.html

[crashdive123]

Might i even go so far to ask for anyone to make a stone knife as an example, or maybe how to determine the mineral content of a stone?

I'll do a quick vid when I get a chance. It won't look like a knife, but it will cut.

[GI Jeaux]

Here is a pic of a reproduction Obsidian Paleo knife hafted onto a wood handle. If you learn how to knap you could make one of these with flint, chert or broken glass.

Also, here is a link to another thread about stone knives: Stone Knife


Al

[Hntrofdmnds]

I have where I live: Sandstone, sandstone, sandstone, and- Oh, yes I forgot sandstone

[GI Jeaux]

I have where I live: Sandstone, sandstone, sandstone, and- Oh, yes I forgot sandstone

You forgot about Ebay and the internet in general. I am top heavy on sandstone also so, I have to buy a lot of stone for knapping. Or, pick it when I go back to Wyoming to visit my friends.

Al

[finallyME]

One thing GI Jeaux mentioned was glass. You can find that almost everywhere, unfortunately. Practice with glass bottles. Go buy a soda first, or walk around until you find one. I know some of you guys buy other beverages in glass bottles, but this is a kid friendly site.

[Rick]

It's okay. You can say lemonade.