flintknapping

**snakeman** · 08-21-2008, 10:12 AM

Ive tried to make a stone blade but all the rocks I find are too soft. Could I use creek rocks? I can't find any flint but what other rocks or bones would be good?

**canid** · 08-21-2008, 11:06 AM

many stones, from obsidian and flint, to chert, novaculite, opal and agate can be knapped. heck, you can even knapp coral.
for less exotic materials you may be able to start with sooner; you can knapp glass or the ceramic from the bottom of an old broken coffee mug or toilet resivoir [i'd stay away from he bowl]

at this point, i'v certainly worked more beer bottle bottoms that stone, and it's good practice. one thing to keep in mind is that different stones have different character, and different types of stone can have very different character. for example, just because you're gotten used to practice with ceramic, and chert may behave similarly, you can't expect to have a handle on obsidian or glass.

here are some links that might help you:
sparrow creek stone info has information describing many specific types of knappable stone with details on their working properties.

Flintknapping.com's Library is a large collection of docoments on the techniques and possibilities of knapping stone tools. it contains many tutorials that you might find helpful and i wish i'd known of that page last year.

**Gray Wolf** · 08-21-2008, 12:05 PM

Nice links canid.

snakeman, with napping you need patience, a keen eye, and lots of practice. It can be very rewarding to know how to make yourself a blade if your out in the wilderness, that will clean fish, skin your kill, cut vines, shave bark etc.

**crashdive123** · 08-21-2008, 12:30 PM

Snakeman - I'm just learning, but here's a couple of tips I got that made sense. If you mess it up, remember - it's just a rock. And.....You may spend some time trying to decide between a knife, hatchet, or point - don't worry - the rock knows what it is supposed to be and will eventually tell you.

**Rick** · 08-21-2008, 01:31 PM

Crash brings out a very good point. I work in wood and inside every piece of wood is the art that will tell you what it is. Here is one place that even being a teacher means you MUST be a student in order to learn what is trapped inside the rough form no matter what the medium.

**canid** · 08-21-2008, 05:22 PM

like all the axe heads that i've broken while percussion thinning the bulb area for hafting. they just insisted on becomming points and small hand axes.

**Rick** · 08-21-2008, 08:12 PM

That's what they were from the beginning. You just didn't listen to them.

**laughing beetle** · 08-21-2008, 08:41 PM

I have tried knapping before... i have no training, just patience, and lots of trial and error. It is a good project for me when I am wintering in a cabin somewhere...

**canid** · 08-21-2008, 09:26 PM

hope you have a good tarp. that could get bad in a cabin.

**laughing beetle** · 08-21-2008, 10:00 PM

I use a welders leather apron for protection and sit on an old bed sheet. makes for easy clean up.

**crashdive123** · 08-21-2008, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by laughing beetle

I use a welders leather apron for protection and sit on an old bed sheet. makes for easy clean up.

....and I'll bet some of the "debris" will make some fine points.

**laughing beetle** · 08-21-2008, 10:08 PM

Yes it does actually. I am always improvising because true to form a blade will break when I need it the most. I tried fashioning arrowheads, didn't do too badly, used soaked rawhide strips to attatch them to the shafts... just wanted to see if it would work. its works ok, but I think duct tape might have been easier lol

**crashdive123** · 08-21-2008, 10:11 PM

I use a small blue tarp to collect my mess. Several members are pretty experienced when it comes to knapping. FVR has some really nice pics posted someplace. I believe he uses sinew to attach his arrowheads. I'll see if I can find em.