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Re: Flint Knapping ? [Re: ColtMan] #361639 08/10/09 12:19 AM
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Andy Wayne Offline
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Re: Flint Knapping ? [Re: Andy Wayne] #361640 08/10/09 09:24 AM
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Momaw Offline
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Sounds kind of similar to my frustrations with slate. If I just smash a piece of slate I get basically razor blades where each layer separates. But if I painstakingly grind out a uniform edge, it's nowhere near as sharp. Sharp enough to be useful sure; I've prepared a meal with a slate knife and harvested grass and trimmed cord... But I've never come close to the natural shattered-slate sharpness, where I can end up with tiny cuts on my hands from the slivers.

It would be nice to be able to take a vacation back into the neolithic to be able to handle stone tools in their new and pristine condition, and find out how well they are supposed to work.

Re: Flint Knapping ? [Re: ColtMan] #361641 08/10/09 01:14 PM
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fireballxl5 Offline
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Quote
Thanks Doc,

I think you are giving me way too much credit. 3-years and this is the first decent knife I have completed. It feels slow to me. I taught myself to play guitar in less than a year in comparison.

I suspect your not giving your self enough credit.
It's not like you sat there for 3 years 8 hours a day.
I'd sort of guess you mean a few hours a month or thereabouts over 3 years.
Even if I am wrong and you did spend longer, the point is you got there.
You now have a pretty decent looking knife that does what a knife is supposed to do.
It cuts.
And it looks good.

I bet even in pre-historic times when a person was learning how to knap, they were shown by elders (and they probably had a lot of elders to show them) and probably had been watching their elders for years before they even tried actual knapping and still probably spent weeks getting their first one right, despite all the tribal knowledge they probably had to draw on..
GIve your self credit - as credit is due here I think.
You did well.

Re: Flint Knapping ? [Re: fireballxl5] #361642 08/10/09 09:28 PM
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DocSavage Offline
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Quote
Quote
Thanks Doc,

I think you are giving me way too much credit. 3-years and this is the first decent knife I have completed. It feels slow to me. I taught myself to play guitar in less than a year in comparison.

I suspect your not giving your self enough credit.
It's not like you sat there for 3 years 8 hours a day.
I'd sort of guess you mean a few hours a month or thereabouts over 3 years.
Even if I am wrong and you did spend longer, the point is you got there.
You now have a pretty decent looking knife that does what a knife is supposed to do.
It cuts.
And it looks good.

I bet even in pre-historic times when a person was learning how to knap, they were shown by elders (and they probably had a lot of elders to show them) and probably had been watching their elders for years before they even tried actual knapping and still probably spent weeks getting their first one right, despite all the tribal knowledge they probably had to draw on..
GIve your self credit - as credit is due here I think.
You did well.

Well said....


Here are some links to the reference I made about surgery in one of my earlier posts.. I am not an expert by any means on the art and skill of flint knapping....I do know anyone worth a flip..does not use his knife to knap a point....the indians already figured out how to do it....

A few of the guys that used to work for me were amateur Paleontologists... and I learned a lot from them... but not an experts worth.... even though he was an amateur.. one of the guys even embarrassed an "expert" professor from the local university (USF) who hated "amateur" Paleontologists... there is a lot of BS on the web... everyone is not an expert, even though claims abound.... those of us that know little like to listen to everyone.... knowledge is everywhere.... you just have to sift the chaff.... Ask yourself.... do you think we know more about how to do things than in the past, once you get past the technology?.....

Check these links:

Copied from another source:
(Doc)

Knapped Flint and Obsidian blades are being used in eye surgury a lot. I
posted up links before I think...

Ah, here we go:


http://www.ambergriscaye.com/museum/digit1.html
The third paragraph says: 'obsidian blades, when freshly struck from the core
represent the sharpest cutting edge known'

http://www.main.nc.us/sams/obsidian.html

http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/catal/findings/obsidian.htm

http://www.finescience.com/fst/ScalpelsKnives/10110-01.html

http://www.sicc.sk.ca/saskindian/a92sep13.htm
(second paragraph from the bottom)

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&amp...el"&spell=1



While this may or may not be fact... it is food for thought...

keep up the knapping you are doing better than most....

Doc


JYD #129 You should meet my JYD Brother of the Clock... Sar5....
Re: Flint Knapping ? [Re: DocSavage] #361643 08/11/09 12:12 AM
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ColtMan Offline OP
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Thanks for the vote of confidence guys. I'll keep trying when I get free time and maybe they'll keep getting better.

That's the problem with working for a living.... between work, family & friends life really only gives you time for a couple of hobbies in your free time.


AA is for quitters
Re: Flint Knapping ? [Re: ColtMan] #361644 08/11/09 12:39 AM
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sumoj275 Offline
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When I was younger I would go to archeological digs with my father and grandfather. There were always guys sitting around knapping and showing off but the best I saw was a guy named Don Wyckoff. Wyckoff was a professor at the University of Oklahoma and was well known for his work.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-290573441.html


Men you can't trust, women you can't trust, beasts you can't trust, but Bussekin steel you can trust
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