Flint Tools.

[Rhapsody]

There are plenty of threads in the various other sections relating to the manufacture of flint tools (a skill I'm hoping to develop myself at some point), but I have a few questions about the practicalities of them. I can see that they obviously did the job in the past, but what is their relevance today? How sharp can a flint knife really be and how is it kept that way? Would you be happy to do set off on a camping expedition carrying only these tools?

I love the idea of being able to set off into the woods with only self-made primitive tools so I was just wondering if it's as awesome as I seem to think it is.

 

[Rob]

One thing that I learnt from the Flint Knapping Course recently was that I am happy to go off with a lump of flint and manufacture sharp bits for cutting jobs.

I dont think that I would try whittling any spoons n stuff, but I am happy that I could prepare game or cut string etc.

 

[Snufkin]

As for sharpeness, flint is way sharper than any steel, the edge just isn't as durable.
If I were in an area of abundant knappable material then I wouldn't mind going without steel tools, taking only my knapping kit. I stink as a knapper but with the small ammount of knowledge I have I could manage to get a sharp cutting edge and fashion very rough tools.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Flints and similar materials fracture at the molecular level. I am sure that if you do a search you will find pictures comparing the edge of obsidian used for eye surgery with a fresh surgical scalpel under the microscope.

Durability is an issue, as is the ability to resharpen a flint tool by subtle pressure flaking. There is a big gap between making a flint flake tool that will cut and making a true flint knife or projectile point.

It has been proven in field experiments that heavy hand axes can work green timer very fast, not THAT far behind to a steel axe in seasoned wood.

I wouldn't be happy going camping with a flint knife because I have no experience using one under practice conditions. With the right practice and correct technique I wouldn't have that concern. Having the ability to make tools in the field adds an extra safety net in case you lose your primary tools.

I want to learn more about knapping, but then I just want to practice it for the art of it, rather than any practical purpose that I want to put it to, at this time anyway.

 

[Toddy]

As for sharpeness, flint is way sharper than any steel, the edge just isn't as durable.
If I were in an area of abundant knappable material then I wouldn't mind going without steel tools, taking only my knapping kit. I stink as a knapper but with the small ammount of knowledge I have I could manage to get a sharp cutting edge and fashion very rough tools.

I think that this is relative. When scraping hides I find my flint scraper stays sharp to the end while my steel knives need to be re-sharpened regularly, I don't think that his would be true on timber though.......

Totally agree on the useability of flint/chert, etc., though.
Toddy

 

[Rhapsody]

I just watched that Ray Mears Bushcraft programme where he uses flint tools for just about everything from crafting a bow to making a lovely lovely meal! Looks like flint tools are more effective than I thought, but by the looks of it each tool is more specialised to a particular task than our do-everything steel knives of today... is this out of necessity? Are flint tools inherantly less versatile or were many different specific tools used in that programme for the sake of efficiency / historical accuracy?

 

[Snufkin]

I just watched that Ray Mears Bushcraft programme where he uses flint tools for just about everything from crafting a bow to making a lovely lovely meal! Looks like flint tools are more effective than I thought, but by the looks of it each tool is more specialised to a particular task than our do-everything steel knives of today... is this out of necessity? Are flint tools inherantly less versatile or were many different specific tools used in that programme for the sake of efficiency / historical accuracy?

The long thin stone knives you see on knapping sites are really more art pieces than practical tools. A long thin flint blade just wouldn't stand up to all the various tasks you would use a metal bushcraft knife for. For a skilled knapper it would be very easy to knock up a specialised tool for a particular purpose, say a hide scraper, awl or plane. When Ray butchered the deer he had a selection of flakes, and I suspect that would be a sensible toolkit containing some specifically worked tools and some unworked flakes that could be modified for the job in hand.

 

[Rhapsody]

Ah, fair enough. I suppose the good thing about being skilled at working flint is that if you don't have the right tool for the job you could always knock it up! Using flint, in a way, seems like it could be more efficient than the steel tools the average woodsman takes with him on a prolonged stint in the wilderness... with a knife and an axe you can do an awful lot, but although these tools are versatile they'll never achieve the same as a dedicated tool set such as can be made from flint!

Yeah, I think I'm convinced now... off to Amazon for some knapping books!

 

[gb]

I really want to have a go at knapping too, would this be a good starting point? http://www.beyond2000bc.co.uk/knapping.htm

Seems a bit pricey though, i might be better off collecting the materials and buying the book seperately?

 

[Snufkin]

Ah, fair enough. I suppose the good thing about being skilled at working flint is that if you don't have the right tool for the job you could always knock it up! Using flint, in a way, seems like it could be more efficient than the steel tools the average woodsman takes with him on a prolonged stint in the wilderness... with a knife and an axe you can do an awful lot, but although these tools are versatile they'll never achieve the same as a dedicated tool set such as can be made from flint!

Yeah, I think I'm convinced now... off to Amazon for some knapping books!

The axe/knife combo is hard to beat and durable, I wouldn't throw them out just yet! Flint tools work slower on wood, especially if it's seasoned.
this DVD is excellent, it's much more useful to watch a good knapper working than to read the theory in books and the shipping is reasonable. Mark Bracken is a nice chap to deal with too. Having said that "Flintknapping: making and understanding stone tools" by John Whittaker is a great book.

 

[Rhapsody]

The axe/knife combo is hard to beat and durable, I wouldn't throw them out just yet! Flint tools work slower on wood, especially if it's seasoned.
this DVD is excellent, it's much more useful to watch a good knapper working than to read the theory in books and the shipping is reasonable. Mark Bracken is a nice chap to deal with too. Having said that "Flintknapping: making and understanding stone tools" by John Whittaker is a great book.

Hah, I'm not about to go primitive just yet! Not with all the cash I've frittered away on my nice steel sharp things, anyway! Still, it's nice to know that these ancient tools can still hold their own... I just need some first-hand experience!