Flintnapping a flint knife...?

A

adrolak

Joined
Jun 24, 2010
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21
Hey guys, lately I've been curious about how to flint nap a flint knife, and if anybody could tell me or direct me to a place where I can learn. Both my dad and my grandfather ( when he was able and healthy ) have flintnapped before, and have been doing it for a long time, so I suppose I could ask my father. Anyway I'm digressing, I have all the materials I need, but I just want to know how to go about it without ruining a perfectly good piece of obsidian.
 
I've thought about flintknaping myself as a part of learning some primitive archery. I think you can start out using plate glass to practice on and any information on making arrowheads can be upscaled to a glass (obsidian) knife.
 
Hi, the 'traditional bowyers bible' I can't remember which volume has info on flint knapping. For easiest method you cut plumbers copper tube to about 5 inches and cut from the one end a cross (2 cuts) about an inch depth, bend the 4 tabs up so you have a 90 degree bend to rest of tube. Drill a hole in a 2 by 4 piece of wood the diameter of tube. Poke pipe thru till you have tabs level with bottom of wood ( may need to be counter sunk) and squeeze other end of pipe flat. Rough up flat end with sand paper on the smallest (thinnest) part. Hold stone at right angle to this and press against copper firmly, while tilting the back of stone up. It should chip. Watch out for flying chips of stone. Best results if stone is dagger or knife shaped first.
 
adrolak said:
Hey guys, lately I've been curious about how to flint nap a flint knife, and if anybody could tell me or direct me to a place where I can learn. Both my dad and my grandfather ( when he was able and healthy ) have flintnapped before, and have been doing it for a long time, so I suppose I could ask my father. Anyway I'm digressing, I have all the materials I need, but I just want to know how to go about it without ruining a perfectly good piece of obsidian.
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Talk to your father if he is knowledgeable in flint napping. However if you are worried about ruining a perfectly good piece of obsidian. You may be attempting the wrong project. I have watched flint nappers who have been doing it a while make a mistake that caused them to start over or turn and ax head into an arrow head. Flint napping can be a game of chance; sometimes you win sometimes the obsidian wins. You may get to the final blow and everything goes wrong!
 
I don't know where you live ADROLAK but I just signed up for a week-end knapping class at Tryon Arts and Crafts School in Tryon, NC. It is being taught by an expert knapper who also hunts with his products. Drop me an e-mail if you want more info.
Gerry
 
Haha I apologize guys, I really suppose I should have done more research into this before composing this post.. I feel rather silly now. But anyways, yeah NC is way to far for me, I live in New England, but yeah, thanks guys, I really appreciate this. I guess my thinking behind my original post was a " I might as well ask the guys who know what they're doing, opposed to asking google and getting linked to answers that might not actually be useful, or by people who arn't knowledgeable enough about flint napping to give me a competent answer."
 
adrolak said:
Haha I apologize guys, I really suppose I should have done more research into this before composing this post.. I feel rather silly now. But anyways, yeah NC is way to far for me, I live in New England, but yeah, thanks guys, I really appreciate this. I guess my thinking behind my original post was a " I might as well ask the guys who know what they're doing, opposed to asking google and getting linked to answers that might not actually be useful, or by people who arn't knowledgeable enough about flint napping to give me a competent answer."
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I think your still missing the point Adrolak. the reason we gave the universal "WTH?" was you mentioned both your dad and your Grandpaw was flintknappers... well why not ask them? they can atleast get you started. No one starts in a masters course until they've mastered the preliminary's. I'm sure your Dad and Grandpaw can get you started on the right path, making useful stone blades and tools. and yes Google is your friend as well. many many wonderful video's show and explain the process. But you wont know until you put antler/copper to stone.

Jason
 
one suggestion... eye protection, eye protection, eye protection.

Indians would cover their exposed body with mud to prevent cuts. Make sure your eye protection extends down to your cheek or get one of those full face shields... and a bunch of band aids, all sizes.

Report back with pictures plez
 
i just figured out how to post pics so here's a knife i did last year and wanted to post on this thread but didn't spend any time to figure out how until now.
its Kentucky flint the points about 3 inches and the handles made from 3 pieces of paw paw, and attached with sinew and pine pitch. the sheath is brain tan deer with a raw hide sleeve. the handle is rapped with brain tan and dogbane cordage.
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its set up for a neck knife, flint is more usable than you would think, it doesn't brake as easy as you would expect, its a lot more durable than obsidian. you just cant twist or pry with it.
 
If you're worried about wasting your obsidian, practice on soda bottle bottoms or buy some glass ashtrays from goodwill. Agree on the eye protection tip, as well as leather pads for pressure knapping. Easy to find basic guides online or at your library for the 'how to' part. Last year I chipped my way through a softball sized chunk of obsidian and came away with a double handful of crude but functional arrowheads. Aiming for a larger blade is going to be hard. My primary tool was a pressure knapper: copper nail driven into end of a 1" thick 16" long stick and rounded off. I grip it between thumb and forefinger and the stick runs down my palm to align with my forearm. That way can lean into it and get body weight into the pressure. But like everyone is saying why listen to some jackass online when you can go to Dad and grandad.
 
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