Return to 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."

The Hunt goes on forever, the season never ends.

I didn't learn this by reading about it or seeing it on TV. I learned it by doing it.

11 August 2012, 04:49

L. David Keith

Thank you all. Ryan, no, don't remember Bob Ramsey. Knapping has become a big deal all over the US with "knap-in's" showing up on a regular basis. Most of the material I work comes from the west, OR, WA, MT or here in the south with FL/GA coral being a favorite. I'm off to finish a couple more before the sun goes down and the mosquito's regroup.

12 August 2012, 23:56

L. David Keith

Thank you kudu56. I have picked up a few from WY myself and if I lived there, I would most likely be doing that all the time. I also collect authentic points so if any of your friends ever want to sell a collection, have them contact me. I buy good flint/agate as well if it's a good quality...large pieces especially. LDK

Don't limit your challenges . . .
Challenge your limits

17 September 2012, 19:57

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.

17 September 2012, 21:02

L. David Keith

Drum, it depends on the material: easy or difficult to work. Master's would toss anything that required a lot of effort if better material was available. Evidence shows there were many more crude knappers than masters. Size and type plays a roll as well. Experienced knappers could knock out a large knife in 20 minutes; less time if it were not a notched type. But some require many steps to advance to the final stage. Most require spalling, thinning and edgework while some early types need fluting or notching and can take twice as long. Sometimes I might work for an hour on a piece, lay it down and finish the next day or down the road. Going to a "knap in" where flint knappers get together to make tools is well worth the time to get there. Regards, David

18 September 2012, 07:31

Larry Sellers

LDK - I have some access to obsidian from here in New Mexico, the Jemez Mountains to be more precise. I have been told this is some of the best, most sought after in the World. Old time traders spread this thoughout the West, Midwest and even farther East the stories go. Let me hear what you know and have heard about this particular stuff and if you would have any interest. Great things you are making and really enjoyed the pics. More later.

Larry Sellers