My first try at flint knapping

[Hammock Hamster]

Evening all,

After rekindling (get it!) my love of flint and steel I decided to have a go at knapping some flakes for my tinderbox.

Now I’m no Will Lord but there was something primal about bashing two rocks together and making something practical in the process.

Here are a selection of small flints I managed to find locally (mostly yellow/orange) and some slightly larger ones a friend sent me from the coast.
Small hammer stone too which was the largest I could find in the garden.

I won’t say it all went perfectly but I managed some respectable flakes that give a good spark.

Next step is to see if I can find a bit of antler tine and try a bit of pressure flaking!


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[crosslandkelly]

Good attempt, pressure flaking is something else. I had a go at the moot last year, and struggled to get my head around taking the flakes from the side you can't see.
After a while you get the feel for it. This is what I eventually made.

 

[Robson Valley]

Save some of those "first strike" edges for cutting meat in your kitchen.
There are no steel edges to match.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Thats for sure. Apparently Paleolithic and Neolithic tooth remains show evidence of flint shard marks, where meat was held in the teeth, and then cut with flint shards.

 

[Robson Valley]

Ah! I can't imagine whacking myself in the lip with a flint edge.
I don't think I'm ever quite that hungry.

But, I've seen video of Inuit using their iconic Ulu blades to slice off muktuk in their teeth.

I was gifted some flint blades, a few nearly the length of my little finger. 1" is plenty long enough.
The most lethal, dangerously sharp edges that I have ever used. Not slippery when wet, either.
Chunked up a couple of bison roasts for a braise (how paleo can I get?).
Have fun & be mindful of your finger tips.

 

[Nice65]

Glad you got some. I’m happy to post if need be, it’s just the weight that’s a problem. However, for what you’re making it’s certainly possible.

 

[Hammock Hamster]

View attachment 49663 Good attempt, pressure flaking is something else. I had a go at the moot last year, and struggled to get my head around taking the flakes from the side you can't see.
After a while you get the feel for it. This is what I eventually made.
View attachment 49661

Very nice indeed, I managed one "arrowhead" however it was more luck than judgement and no pressure flaking from my side it just came out roughly triangular.


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[Hammock Hamster]

Ah! I can't imagine whacking myself in the lip with a flint edge.
I don't think I'm ever quite that hungry.

But, I've seen video of Inuit using their iconic Ulu blades to slice off muktuk in their teeth.

I was gifted some flint blades, a few nearly the length of my little finger. 1" is plenty long enough.
The most lethal, dangerously sharp edges that I have ever used. Not slippery when wet, either.
Chunked up a couple of bison roasts for a braise (how paleo can I get?).
Have fun & be mindful of your finger tips.

My plan is to get some practice in with making small flint flakes for a steel and gradually get a better understanding of how it breaks then hopefully move of to pressure flaking to form a small utility edge that I can handle.

Not too many nicks for my first go but they are definitely going nowhere near my face/mouth!



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