A Beginner's Tale of Flint Knapping: Any Interest?

[Stringmaker]

I am about to embark upon a journey of pain, frustration, possible blood and the odd profanity.

To be honest that has applied to all the traditional skills I've dabbled with, but in this specific case I'm talking about the art of making stone tools. I have been reading various sources and looking at as many examples in local (and national) collections as I can, and now is the time to put hammer to thumb.

I can't promise how regularly I will post but if folks would like to share my pain then I plan to report as I go (with pictures of the various bruises and puncture wounds), from the perspective of a complete beginner.

It is kind of an indulgence, a bit like my pump drill story, but people seemed to be interested in that so I hope I won't waste too many electrons with my observations and conclusions.

Watch this space..............ouch!

 

[John Fenna]

This sounds interesting to me!
I enjoy (?) the odd bit of knapping myself ... and have the scars to prove it!

 

[Blaidd]

Yes, we like to see blood. Apart from that I'd be very interested in hearing about your experience.

 

[atlatlman]

Look forward to watching you grow in your new adventure. Flint knapping is something I wish I had of done years ago. Look up John and Will Lord.

http://www.will-lord.co.uk/

 

[Albus Culter]

Yep. Want to see this. I've tried and been rubbish at it. So need to try a lot more. As such seeing your progress and the things you make would be great inspiration.

 

[Stringmaker]

Yep. Want to see this. I've tried and been rubbish at it. So need to try a lot more. As such seeing your progress and the things you make would be great inspiration.

Thank you for the generous assumption that I will progress!

I have worked with Will Lord; I am not fit to sweep up his debitage...

 

[Big Stu 12]

THis will be good to watch.. I lookforward to it just one of the skills I would like to aquire

 

[Haggis]

I fiddled with it a lot 25 years ago: chert, noveculite, obsidian, milk glass, bottle bottoms, plate glass, anything that would flake. When I was yet teaching I would sometimes, when we were studying primitive peoples, knap out a point for my students. When my students started showing up with large smiles, first try points, and bandaged fingers I decided I would try to teach them something less dangerous.

 

[Clouston98]

Sounds great! I'm interested!

I tried a few arrow heads and I used a percussion flaked I made from antler, but unfortunately for me on one of my blows I missed and hit my thumb! It's all good fun, I reckon you'll do great too!

 

[Stringmaker]

Well it looks like I've gone and done it now; I shall have to work out what to do first.

I acquired a nice big bit of workable stone (albeit not good black flint) from the soakaway around the building I work in. I have some antler tines, a copper pressure flaker, a couple of hammer stones and the relevant protective kit.

What can possibly go wrong?

 

[atlatlman]

Well it looks like I've gone and done it now; I shall have to work out what to do first.

I acquired a nice big bit of workable stone (albeit not good black flint) from the soakaway around the building I work in. I have some antler tines, a copper pressure flaker, a couple of hammer stones and the relevant protective kit.

What can possibly go wrong?

 

[Albus Culter]

Thank you for the generous assumption that I will progress!

I have worked with Will Lord; I am not fit to sweep up his debitage...

Ditto. Did a one day course and failed to do much but make gravel. John took pity on me and tuned my ever shrinking axe into an actual tool.
I'm booked to go back for another go and we can but see if I still suck terribly. Leg pad and a glove for your holding hand. Sorted.

Getting a large lump into usable bits I struggled with too. I'm rubbish

 

[CallsignSam]

I look forward to seeing this. Maybe it will encourage me to finally have a go!

 

[crosslandkelly]

Something I'd like to do too. Looking forward to see how you go.

 

[palmnut]

The old saying is that by the time you've reduced 200lbs of rock to gravel, you'll get the hang of it ;-)

Go spend a day with John (and Val - she's a treasure too ;-) - it will be a day you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Peter

 

[Stringmaker]

I have made a start and laid out the kit that I have so far:



After I'd put it all away again I realised I'd forgotten to show the leg pad, antler tines and eye protection....

The smaller nodules are good black stuff and that arrowhead blank is one I intend to pressure flake to finish (I didn't make the blank).

The main focus of my baby steps will be the big sandy lump at the top of the shot; the idea is not to ruin the good stone just yet. I will try to describe my thought process behind each step, what I hoped would happen and what actually DID happen. I plan to use dollops of paint on the nodule to show impact points and hoped for direction of flake removal(Optimistic or what).

If I'm in the mood I might be able to bruise a thumb or two over the weekend.

Thanks for the interest folks, I hope I repay it with something worth reading!

 

[Albus Culter]

Like it. Looking forward to this a lot.

 

[atlatlman]

That's a nice looking set. In a few months time you will be selling arrow heads. Put me down for some.

 

[Stringmaker]

That's a nice looking set. In a few months time you will be selling arrow heads. Put me down for some.

Hah!

To nick a quote from Monty Python I can put you down for a packet of gravel?

 

[atlatlman]

Hah!

To nick a quote from Monty Python I can put you down for a packet of gravel?

I'll take the gravel if it comes with a dead parrot.