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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Flintknapping
- Thread starter dartanyon
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2002
- Messages
- 1,356
This has actually become a regular hobby with a lot of people, and there is even some commercial support. Try http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Crafts/Flintknapping/ for starters. The "Links" section at www.flintknapping.com has a lot of info too.
I looked into it about a year ago, because I am interested in anthropology. I think it is fascinating that people has been trying different blade materials and edge geometries for tens of thousands of years. There are a couple of things to do that might be fun. One would be to try to duplicate existing artifacts using authentic materials and methods. The other would be to try to come up with improved designs using whatever materials you could find.
Keep us posted with info and pictures if you decide to follow up on the topic.
I looked into it about a year ago, because I am interested in anthropology. I think it is fascinating that people has been trying different blade materials and edge geometries for tens of thousands of years. There are a couple of things to do that might be fun. One would be to try to duplicate existing artifacts using authentic materials and methods. The other would be to try to come up with improved designs using whatever materials you could find.
Keep us posted with info and pictures if you decide to follow up on the topic.
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2001
- Messages
- 313
Initial flake? That's the easy part.
First, if your knapping material is in cobble form you'll need to hammer off a spall using another stone. Once you have a spall (large flake) hammered off, or if you are starting out with a spall, use an antler billet (hammer) to knock off large flakes, working your piece down to the basic size and dimensions that you want.
If your spall is large, use a large antler for your initial work. As your spall reduces in size, go down to a smaller billet. I have one billet that is about a foot long and an inch across on the "business end" and another that is about six inches long and a half inch across on the end. The larger billet breaks off more material, thus reducing the size quickly, but it is also harder to control the flakes you break off. As you get closer to your finished size and dimensions, using the smaller billet will allow greater control of the flakes and will help you to break off the long, thin flakes that will make your knife beautiful.
Finish the edges by pressure flaking with the thin end of the antler, gently pressing off flakes where needed to sharpen the edges, to refine the shape of the knife, and to detail the back with notches and a stem if so desired.
What material are you going to use? How big of a knife are you looking at making?
coyo
First, if your knapping material is in cobble form you'll need to hammer off a spall using another stone. Once you have a spall (large flake) hammered off, or if you are starting out with a spall, use an antler billet (hammer) to knock off large flakes, working your piece down to the basic size and dimensions that you want.
If your spall is large, use a large antler for your initial work. As your spall reduces in size, go down to a smaller billet. I have one billet that is about a foot long and an inch across on the "business end" and another that is about six inches long and a half inch across on the end. The larger billet breaks off more material, thus reducing the size quickly, but it is also harder to control the flakes you break off. As you get closer to your finished size and dimensions, using the smaller billet will allow greater control of the flakes and will help you to break off the long, thin flakes that will make your knife beautiful.
Finish the edges by pressure flaking with the thin end of the antler, gently pressing off flakes where needed to sharpen the edges, to refine the shape of the knife, and to detail the back with notches and a stem if so desired.
What material are you going to use? How big of a knife are you looking at making?
coyo
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2001
- Messages
- 71
Working with flint is relatively easy ONCE you know the technique. Take a course or get instruction and you will have a lot less frustration in your life. I started on one weekend and by Sunday I had made my first arrowhead. Cool.
here's something to try: http://www.vikingmetalworks.com/bottle.html