My latest flint knapping

Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris
http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333
Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com
NRA Benefactor
DSC Professional Member
SCI Member
RMEF Life Member
NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor
NAHC Life Member
Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer
Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262
Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142
Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007
16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409
Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311
Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added
http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941
10 days in the Stormberg Mountains
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322
Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232

"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson

Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......

"If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you."

19 August 2012, 21:38

L. David Keith

Abo tools are hammerstone, antler billet and antler pressure flakers. Add deer bone "awls" for notching and that makes up the Abo tool kit. Modern knappers use the same tools or replace stone, bone and antler with copper. There are fluting jigs for paleo points (clovis as an example) but many of us still use percussion, enterline or other methods by hand. Go on youtube and type in "Flint Knapping" you'll be busy for days.

Don_G

...from Texas, by way of Mason, Ohio and Aurora, Colorado!

--------------------------------------------
National Rifle Association - Life Member
National Wild Turkey Federation - Diamond Life Sponsor
Pope & Young Club - Associate Member

23 August 2012, 04:25

dwheels

Hi David, Just a quick question, where do you find such beautiful mahogany obsidian. We have some here in Utah but it is usually not of that quality. I have a big piece of snowflake obsidian somewhere around here also. Its about the size of a softball. It looks like it was worked to be in that shape? I'll see what I can find and maybe take you up on your offer. DW

23 August 2012, 04:38

L. David Keith

DW, I live far from the source. Most I'm aware of comes from Oregon, but many types of obsidian are known all the way down into Mexico. It is very plentiful and is nothing but volcanic glass. The Glass Butte's in OR are massive but not living there I have no idea where to find it. You most likely could search google and see if known deposits are in UT. I imagine there are. Regards, David

26 August 2012, 00:57

dwheels

David, I think you missunderstood me. We have large deposits of obsidian close to where I live in Utah. Well, 75-85 miles close. In the deposit I have rockhounded in there are three types. Snowflake, common, and mahogany. I have never seen the mahogany obsidian with such a good display of colors that mimic the wood grain. I have some small pices of mahogany but the best specimin I have is snowflake. Black obsidian glass with a white snowflake like deposit in it. If I can find some that should be here or at my old house I'll send you some. DW

28 August 2012, 04:36

L. David Keith

Thanks DW, I'll be glad to knap you some. Every now and then I see some uncommon colors but mostly black transparent. I have one small point made from snowflake. The mahogany on this page came from OR. Several colors of it. I'm sure Indians came from 100+ miles to quarry obsidian from your deposit. Look for areas with lots of chips/shards to confirm. They would reduce large spalls into preform. Less weight to carry home. Cheers, David

03 September 2012, 06:07

Ohier

I live just up the road from Flint Ridge, like 5 miles. There is a guy who sells flint, I'd be happy to help you in any way. My son loves the points!

They just had the annual knapp in this weekend. Poor guys got serious showers last eve. We were out for an early am bike ride and passed by them and waved.

Regards,

Tim

17 September 2012, 19:56

L. David Keith

Group of recent points, darts and knives I made from Flint Ridge chert which is mined in Ohio and has been in use for thousands of years. Most Flint Ridge material is heat treated to improve the lithic quality of the stone. Turning amazing colors during the heating process is just a flint knappers benefit. You will not only find nice color changes but veins of quartz and other attractive mineral deposits. Flint Ridge is very touchy to knap. It many times contains hidden fractures, inclusions and chalk like deposits that many times will destroy your work, especially when you have the piece nearly finished. Some of these were much larger before such action occurred.

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author

22 September 2012, 21:01

L. David Keith

Thank you shankspony. Yes, Deer in the US. Most of what I sell are for art collections but some are wanting to take them to the field to hunt or skin with for the tribal experience. A friend and I are going to produce a few limited edition knives. He hand carves snake handles and I'll make the blade. Here's his rattlesnake handle.