I just watched the whole series and the only word that comes to mind is "MASTERFUL" I am in awe at your art work and skill. You are a true "Artisan" !. Thank you for these videos.
I literally "StumbedUpon" this video and was absolutely amazed by the precision with which this man is able to move just the pieces he wants out of that mass. It nearly looks like magic!! What a joy it is to see such well practiced artistry and craftsmanship. Thanks so much for sharing this.
I nearly had a heart attack watching and worrying about that beautiful thing snapping in half. I was begging you to stop all the way through it. Thank goodness you didn't beautiful work of art. Would love to have some of the spalls off that rock. Beautiful material. John
@paleomanjim It amazes me how we tend to dismiss the ancient people as ignorant and foolish. I have tried this before and I don't mind telling you that I basically smashed and cut my own fingers, the end result being dusty flakes and bloody stumps. Using these techniques to live really must have seperated the wheat from the chaff. I hope I'm clear, I am impressed with your results.
Just finished the whole thing. Had to watch on my tv to get a better feel. I wish I was younger and could have apprenticed you. I loved that "the big ole' 17 pounder" hit in pt 2. It looked like you just pulled it off with your hand... no more than a gentle nudge. Simply magic to see those brilliant spalls fly off. Thanks for your generosity in sharing.
Hi, Jim. Thanks for the great series. I have watched it several times, and have learned quite a bit. I want to take up the craft, and I wanted to ask where in Oregon did you extract the original boulder? Was it near Glass Buttes? I live in Oregon, and I want to go find some material to get started. Thanks. John
John, yes it is south of the Buttes, maybe 20 miles or so and I think it is considered a part of the Buttes, not sure though. There are quite a few outcrops of it in the area....jim
Works great for slicing watermelon! just kidding, they actually made big blades like this in the Northwest for ceremonies. They were known to dance around a campfire holding the blade up in the air where the fire would reflect off the blade....jim
@chrissie149 Yeah, stone is wicked sharp but fragile. That's why you didn't see swords or huge-bladed axes until metal working came in. Otherwise, your entire blade shatters ounce it hits bone.
Hey Jim I wanted to know now it is over a year after you made this dance blade where is it? Is it in a case or on display anywhere? This just is the best video I have seen I keep watching you over and over, Thanks for making this blade. Peace
Thanks, I agree, making it with traditional tools would be awesome. I plan to try making a blade in the 14" to 18" size this summer with abo tools, gotta find some bigger grittier hamerstones first though...jim
excellent job! you are a true master! its amazing that you didn't snap it in two! now do it with traditional tools! haha! j/k...awesome....totally awesome
the Maori people here in New Zealand hand-made adzes and large blades out of Greenstone (jade, at 8.5 moh on hardness scale) they often took several generations to make as the stone is so hard. They were sacred family treasures.
It mic'd out at .68" or just under 3/4", not real thin but under 5/1 ratio. I figured it would probably end up as a dance blade, but sometimes if I can preserve the width at one end I aim for a Ross....thanks...
Thanks Jimmy, knapping is a great hobby. I've seen the originals at Favell and will need to make a trip to Hearst someday. Plan to check out some of your videos later today....jim
I was planning to do a weath blade video myself. There're are 2 blades at the Hearst in Berkley that are quite nice. One's only about a foot long and is finished with pressure. The other is a huge blade much like the one you made only it's like 4 inches wide and 1 1/2 inch thick. Ishi is also on display there too.
Yes, probably ceremonial. I have heard that some indians still use them, dancing around a camp fire while holding the blade above their head, the fire light reflecting off the blade as they dance. We have found broken pieces of huge blades in the same area, so the old boys were doing the same thing....
o si yo jim thats a how its done good tool work
runingblackbear 4 days ago
Awesome, I hope to be that good one day... It would be great for hunting Wooly Mammoths.
CGLouisiana 2 months ago
I just watched the whole series and the only word that comes to mind is "MASTERFUL" I am in awe at your art work and skill. You are a true "Artisan" !. Thank you for these videos.
unknwnshooter 1 year ago
i can hardly make thin bi faces....amazing
FlintKnappingDreams 1 year ago
Simply amazing..........
MontanaBarNone 1 year ago
I literally "StumbedUpon" this video and was absolutely amazed by the precision with which this man is able to move just the pieces he wants out of that mass. It nearly looks like magic!! What a joy it is to see such well practiced artistry and craftsmanship. Thanks so much for sharing this.
MozelleP2V 1 year ago
great knapping brother ! i am looking for a clovis or cumberland repro if you would be interested . hope to hear from ya.
rockstardigger 1 year ago
great knapping brother ! i am looking for a clovis or cumberland repro if you would be interested . hope to hear from ya
rockstardigger 1 year ago
I nearly had a heart attack watching and worrying about that beautiful thing snapping in half. I was begging you to stop all the way through it. Thank goodness you didn't beautiful work of art. Would love to have some of the spalls off that rock. Beautiful material. John
wulfdogcat 1 year ago
You have much skill but I bet the old stone age knappers would be laughing at you. It would be a shame for these skills to disappear completely.
jacksawild 1 year ago
@jacksawild I agree with you, the old boys were the masters and I could learn a lot from them!....jim
paleomanjim 1 year ago
@paleomanjim It amazes me how we tend to dismiss the ancient people as ignorant and foolish. I have tried this before and I don't mind telling you that I basically smashed and cut my own fingers, the end result being dusty flakes and bloody stumps. Using these techniques to live really must have seperated the wheat from the chaff. I hope I'm clear, I am impressed with your results.
jacksawild 1 year ago
Where can I buy flint or chert I am having no luck finding any here in southern Ontario.
BigWheelaCatPeelaYea 1 year ago
HIT IT HARDER!!!!!
sasoon 1 year ago
Just finished the whole thing. Had to watch on my tv to get a better feel. I wish I was younger and could have apprenticed you. I loved that "the big ole' 17 pounder" hit in pt 2. It looked like you just pulled it off with your hand... no more than a gentle nudge. Simply magic to see those brilliant spalls fly off. Thanks for your generosity in sharing.
DHCallahan 1 year ago
Hi, Jim. Thanks for the great series. I have watched it several times, and have learned quite a bit. I want to take up the craft, and I wanted to ask where in Oregon did you extract the original boulder? Was it near Glass Buttes? I live in Oregon, and I want to go find some material to get started. Thanks. John
jwoldsr1 2 years ago
John, yes it is south of the Buttes, maybe 20 miles or so and I think it is considered a part of the Buttes, not sure though. There are quite a few outcrops of it in the area....jim
paleomanjim 2 years ago
This would be the perfect weapon for when someone is trying to rob your house.
gnarvids 2 years ago
wat can you do with it
chrissie149 2 years ago
Works great for slicing watermelon! just kidding, they actually made big blades like this in the Northwest for ceremonies. They were known to dance around a campfire holding the blade up in the air where the fire would reflect off the blade....jim
paleomanjim 2 years ago
You can kill Godzilla with it. XP
mikaila31 2 years ago
@chrissie149 Yeah, stone is wicked sharp but fragile. That's why you didn't see swords or huge-bladed axes until metal working came in. Otherwise, your entire blade shatters ounce it hits bone.
TheSonofgun666 7 months ago
That thing is HUGE.Great work jim.
Now i am ready to start trying this knapping stuff.Thanks for the vids
Flintmonster 2 years ago
wondering wat this would be for other then decoration? nice video aswell
HomemadeHunterTV 2 years ago
This one is a bit large, but they did use blades like this for ceremonies and dances and perhaps grave offerings....jim
paleomanjim 2 years ago
Hey Jim I wanted to know now it is over a year after you made this dance blade where is it? Is it in a case or on display anywhere? This just is the best video I have seen I keep watching you over and over, Thanks for making this blade. Peace
IamMohawk 2 years ago
The blade is wraped in a towel on a closet shelf, along with several others. I really need to do a bit more finishing work on it, thanks....jim
paleomanjim 2 years ago
Thanks, I agree, making it with traditional tools would be awesome. I plan to try making a blade in the 14" to 18" size this summer with abo tools, gotta find some bigger grittier hamerstones first though...jim
paleomanjim 2 years ago
excellent job! you are a true master! its amazing that you didn't snap it in two! now do it with traditional tools! haha! j/k...awesome....totally awesome
paleospear 2 years ago
it would suck if he dropped it
rocky3330 3 years ago
the Maori people here in New Zealand hand-made adzes and large blades out of Greenstone (jade, at 8.5 moh on hardness scale) they often took several generations to make as the stone is so hard. They were sacred family treasures.
carlosnitis 3 years ago
Wow is all I can say. At this point, I am happy with a 4 or 5 inch blade, I guess I now have a goal to shoot for.
matobear31 3 years ago
Sweet!!!
TreasureFiend 3 years ago
Good stuff as always Jim!
mjflinty 3 years ago
That thing is huge! You should do one with a antler billet,
knappernewbie 3 years ago
Dear Jim,
Congratulations
Ability, skills and experience in the same time,
... You saw stages of the film (?) that I put on the network ...
Mandi, Giuliano
giulianopietra 3 years ago
very cool Mandi! thanks for sharing....jim
paleomanjim 3 years ago
Jim Absolutely incredible. From the pit to the finished piece. Well done. Thanks for going to all the trouble. The whole series is a beautiful thing.
Dan NC
shugmanitu 3 years ago
Jim, Fantastic set. How thick did it turn out?
Did you plan a dance blade from the onset?
Anyhow congratulations. This is a fine piece.
PhantomAspect 3 years ago
It mic'd out at .68" or just under 3/4", not real thin but under 5/1 ratio. I figured it would probably end up as a dance blade, but sometimes if I can preserve the width at one end I aim for a Ross....thanks...
paleomanjim 3 years ago
That is one big nice beutiful Blade.what is somethin like that used for?
ladpk1965 3 years ago
Beautiful Blade.
wildwyckedknight 3 years ago
nice blade man. that's wicked. whats the blade for?
bushcraftwilderness 3 years ago
Giant deer.
jasonjmj 3 years ago
its going to be very nice like all your stuff is...
sodalines 3 years ago
Jim, you are a master knapper! That looks better than most of the originals at the Hearst and Favell museums.
FlintknapperJimmy 3 years ago
Thanks Jimmy, knapping is a great hobby. I've seen the originals at Favell and will need to make a trip to Hearst someday. Plan to check out some of your videos later today....jim
paleomanjim 3 years ago
I was planning to do a weath blade video myself. There're are 2 blades at the Hearst in Berkley that are quite nice. One's only about a foot long and is finished with pressure. The other is a huge blade much like the one you made only it's like 4 inches wide and 1 1/2 inch thick. Ishi is also on display there too.
FlintknapperJimmy 3 years ago
very nice work,.. "dance blade" ? would this be ceremonial?
4ancientarts 3 years ago
Yes, probably ceremonial. I have heard that some indians still use them, dancing around a camp fire while holding the blade above their head, the fire light reflecting off the blade as they dance. We have found broken pieces of huge blades in the same area, so the old boys were doing the same thing....
paleomanjim 3 years ago