Knapping

[Sniper-T]

The basics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chert
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsidian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz

http://www.turnstone.ca/rom76ch.htm

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An easy substitute for actual stone, which is cheap for practicing, and will actually hold up under use (depending on the target) is glass! The bottom of any glass bottle is thick enough to knap into arrowheads. So next time you're enjoying a few pints... smash em up and start knapping

[Grumpy Old Man]

Here are a couple of links for supplies and tutorials.

Supplies:

http://www.nativewayonline.com/ http://www.neolithics.com/index.html

Tutorials:

http://www.flintknapping.com/Library.htm http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/tools/LITHICS.shtml http://www.onagocag.com/knapping.html

I have more links if people are interested.

[Dropy]

Uhh...with all due respect Glass takes a special skill to knap...well. Start with some stanrd stones first. We used to fire our stone to bring out the color of it, kmade for some neautiful stuff!

[Sniper-T]

firing it also changes it's properties as well. it seems to tighten up the grain, and you can get longer smaller flakes off (for retouching).

Glass is a little different, yes... but it is something that almost everyone has around, and come SHTF, there will be a plentiful supply. Having some skill knapping it could be beneficial. If you have an abundance of good stone around, by all means, but for those who don't, this is a good alternative

[Dropy]

Agree. My point a bit better articulated is a person should not expect glass to nap like stone. So if all you knap is stone you will have a hard time gett glass to do what you want it do..... which never happens anyways. So if you forsee having to knap glass then start doing it now so your used to it.

And one thing i FIRMLY believe is that EVERY piece of material wants to be a particular shape, dont try and make it into what it dont wanna be. You gotta LEARN how to read your material and find out what it wants to be so you can easily help it become that shape.

[ak474u]

Glass is really hard to work, it'd work in a pinch, but you might lose your mind trying. Flint and "chirt" (sp) and agates, as well as Jaspers are pretty readily available just about everywhere in the CONUS that I've traveled. I used to make arrowheads and knife blade (taught myself to make them at summer camp because the other kids didn't wanna play with me, lol). I used a round skinny stone, and a thick leather palm cover to protect myself against the sharp edges.

[IDTANDY]

Knapping skills are good to have.The weapon point of choice for Paleoindian(man).I learned over a couple of months,not to the point of reproduction Clovis points but enough if needed.this was my fifth try.
http://imageshack.us/a/img641/6044/p1010007re.jpg

[ak474u]

Knapping skills are good to have.The weapon point of choice for Paleoindian(man).I learned over a couple of months,not to the point of reproduction Clovis points but enough if needed.this was my fifth try.
http://imageshack.us/a/img641/6044/p1010007re.jpg

That's purdy mr. Caveman!

[Sniper-T]

...And one thing i FIRMLY believe is that EVERY piece of material wants to be a particular shape, dont try and make it into what it dont wanna be. You gotta LEARN how to read your material and find out what it wants to be so you can easily help it become that shape.

Well put!!

[bacpacker]

Thanks for the links guys. Lot of good info in those.

[Grumpy Old Man]

I have a watermelon sized cobble of obsidian I found in the Sierras. but I've held off doing anything with it because it is a glass (volcanic). I'll practice on regular glass first before I go on to the cobble. BTW, if you shoot a flintlock and make your own flints you are already on your way to knapping.

[Sniper-T]

Obsidean will knap more like a regular rock than glass (IMO)

If I had a chunk like that I'd take it into a Jewellers and have them diamond cut it

[Grumpy Old Man]

Couldn't I just use the 20" diamond blade wet saw here at the plant?

[Sniper-T]

I'm sure you could, but unless you have some crazy assed shaping skills, you're just going to end up with a bunch of smaller pcs.

In the hands of a skilled cutter, you could end up with a black replica of the hope diamond, or even a cartoon carricature of your own melon.

or something akin to a swarovski:
http://www.google.ca/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&rlz=1I7AURU_enCA499&biw=1289&bih=832&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=nivmQlnVxgbmuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.aboutfigurines.com/swarovski-figurines-panther-moroda-crystal-figurine/&docid=E1euw_jUse31rM&imgurl=http://www.aboutfigurines.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/41pfvX7EqKL__SL500_AA300_.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=kfV-UOzDB4nWygGjpYDIAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=586&vpy=295&dur=908&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=93&ty=115&sig=116183143267011045012&page=3&tbnh=149&tbnw=149&start=64&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:57,s:20,i:305

http://www.luxurylaunches.com/other_stuff/die_to_live_swarovski_skull_sculpture_shows_up_at_ a_miami_beach_hotel.php

[Grumpy Old Man]

Holy Moley! That's some wild art there, I'll tell you what! I think I'll save it for knapping and such.

[ak474u]

Holy Moley! That's some wild art there, I'll tell you what! I think I'll save it for knapping and such.

I used to make cabochons out of obsidian, it's really pretty, and very hard, but it's brittle like glass, that being said, it makes a nice arrowhead

[Xzaniel]

A campground I found a while back which prides itself as being an 1800's era has several people's that have good skills and knowledge.

2 persons I gained much good info from are two mountain men, one is a black smith the other skilled in among other things knapping.

I showed an interest in knapping so he tossed me some glass, pulled copper rod and a piece of grinding stone... He said glass was an easy practice piece. And abrading was essential.

Key things to remember knap outdoors the abrading dust is a danger to the lungs. And when you don't know where to chip just abrade abrade abrade.

I'd put up the pic of my first piece but I'm still a noob... :) but IMHO it came out good.

[vukic]

I gotta try this again.. My past attempts were half assed and I doubt I even had the right stone...

[Stormfeather]

I have to admit, Ive tried this before and just could never get the hang of it coming out the way I wanted it.