I haven't got any flint or obsidian right near me, hence the slate grinding. I've heard that there is some flint up around the north side of Winnipesaukee but haven't found where at.

The cool thing about knapping, difficult though it may be, is that it yields a Scary Sharp Edge which is quite hard and resists usage wear. Obsidian, especially. Knapping completely overshadows any information on slate grinding because people still do it, while the slate knives are neither as sharp nor as tough as flint or obsidian. The lack of community and information is a bit vexing because I know that several cultures around the world used slate edged tools.

Rainwalker, unless you're offering to do one for free, I'm thinking that's not going to happen. :P I harvested a bunch of birch bark about two weeks ago, I think I'll play with that. Otzi the Iceman, for his knives, just had a sort of basket woven out of cords from what I can see.

that is very cool, let's see your slate mistress next please

Err... come to think of it.... your pretty good at cordage. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I bet you can make a nice woven sheath for it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I do have some dried deer hide, if you want me to send you a few scraps to play with. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

can we see an LE version of that please

There's a Knap-in a couple of times a year at a state park about a half an hours drive away from me. I've been once and really enjoyed it, and learned a little too. I even picked up some good material for Knapping. It is hard to find the time needed to hone the skills though, I know just enough to be dangerous... to myself. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sad.gif" alt="" />

I highly recommend going to a Knap-in for anyone who wants to learn more about Knapping. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Might even run into some people that are into the slate stuff too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dude I almost cut my big toe off on a piece of slate that was by the side of a pool. That edge was RAZOR sharp. You can put a wicked edge on slate. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

silverbullets:
Slate Mistress? Not mine, but here's one (rather used).

I'm still working on the thing, it will get more "LE" as I grind more to make it all polished. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Rainwalker:
Yeah, I could probably make a cord sheath for it. I'd like to try the birch bark first, I've never done anything with it other than burn it. I'll probably cheat and use modern glue. Some day I'll get around to making pitch glue!

Thank you for your offer of leather scraps, but I think for now I'd prefer to only make it with material I already have. That's part of the coolness, is the "make do" factor. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Regarding "know enough to be dangerous... to myself", I hear knapping is rather on the hazardous side, joking aside, because of all the chips you make. Every piece you flake off is just as sharp as the edge you're crafting. Imagine doing this kind of thing barefoot. You would only forget about policing your waste chips once, I think!

REM762:

I've minorly cut myself on my slate work, but only during the snap and bash stages when there's a lot of force involved. For some reason it seems like the stone breaks to sharper edges than it can be ground too. That's why I think I may just be missing some critical information about the technique. My ground edges will cut veggies, and meat with some sawing, but nobody would ever mistake one for a steel edge. Especially since you chip the stone by trying to cut too aggressively.

I understand what you mean about making do. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> That really makes it rewarding too in the end.

On the Flint Knapping, yep it's good to have a designated area. I've got a rock pile on the far side of my firepit and that's where I Knap when I Knap (although it's been quite a while... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />). Shoes are definately required by all in that area for sure. It's easy enough just to cut your self while brushing stray flakes from your clothes after a Knapping session. I had a friend who had a fairly large flake embed itself directly in his leg while he was working. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> He was a hard core Knapper though he pulled it out repositioned his knapping leather and hardly missed a beat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I've got some articles on using glass and porcelain here if you want to see them: http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/andywayne/Survival

i have never tried knapping but i have installed a ton of slate patios. if you have a rock hammer (not sure if thats the true name) you bang a chunk out then grind a handle around the banged out edge its not a convex grind but trust me it is sharp.

One of these?



Slightly amusing, my hammer and anvil stones work on the same principle. I have a biggish stationary rock that has a point on it. I hold the plate in my left hand and a hand-sized hammer stone in my right, which also comes to a decent point. Guide the plate between these two points, and it is pulverized very precisely (usually) at the point/s of impact. Just work in from the edge until you're happy. Kind of like using a nibbling tool to shape metal.

Do this somewhere sensible, because you end up with a lot of splintery debris!

Pretty soon I want to start seeing other people making stuff out of slate <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> And sharing pictures of course.