Using a traditional flint and steel

[ForgeCorvus]

So, besides having an edge, is there an ideal shape for a flint?

Or does everyone just use gunflints ?

 

[spamel]

Some people get a big lump of flint, wrap it in cloth to stop the shards and wallop it with a ruddy great hammer! I haven't found great big lumps yet though, so I tend to try and create a sharp edge by knapping, although I have had no formal training in knapping at all and heva almost zero skill in the process! I understand the basic theory though, so can get an edge that will cut and works well with a flint. As long as it is an acute angle, the finer the better, it should work fine.

 

[oops56]

I just take a pair of pliers nip at it.

 

[ForgeCorvus]

I'm in Norfolk (the real one by the wash ) so I should be able to get my mits on some flint (face it, its the ONLY type of hard stone you can get round here), I'll give knapping a go.

I might even have something I feel brave enough to show you lot

 

[rich59]

Earlier this year I had a day on a quiet stony beach near Dover, SE England. I had millions of flints to play with!!! Most were water weathered and were large cobbles. But there were plenty of fresh ones recently out of the chalk cliff.

I used one large one as an anvil, sat my target stone on it and hit it with a third - slit no problem.