Soft hammer percussion Caddo Blade Part 1

[MrBuddyisreal]

why do you grind the edge with a rock?

[Flintknappingtips]

@MrBuddyisreal The small rock grinds the edge to dull it. Dulling it keeps the edge strong, so that larger flakes can be driven into the edge. Without this, the edge would just shatter and remove only short, small flakes. by doing this I am able to remove consecutive long flakes, making the desired, thinner blade.

[MrBuddyisreal]

@Flintknappingtips thank you!

[whdruen123]

@Flintknappingtips

i hope i sent this inquiry to the right place. i like your video and was wondering if your rock was heat treated?

[Huaka88gyohet]

You are the man!

[Flintknappingtips]

Thanks James, appreciate it. Those are some good suggestions. I'll try to do that sometime.

[mrjamesw]

I truly hope so. I really love your style. Classic!!!

[AlterEgoJohnnyB]

My name is also James and I am of Caddo blood. You do great work. I wish I could make the knife of my people the way you can.

[mrjamesw]

Damn you're good! I'd really like to see you make a large Ramey Knife or even an Agate Basin blade. Absolutely killer work man!!!

-James (Flint knapper, California)

[Flintknappingtips]

I make the pressureflakers usually from white tail deer antlers which I cut up. I find several every year and I also buy them.  I use a grinding wheel to shape them after I cut them.

[Flintknappingtips]

I bought, or traded for them. I've never lived anywhere moose have. These billets were both sheds though, so these guys might still sloshing in a marsh somewhere. Actually probably not as I"ve had both these billets for many years.

[NICKELBACKFAN8]

ok thanks........whats the thing that you use at the end to take off the small flakes .....is it called a pressure flaker.....well anyways....did you make it or did you buy it......if you made it can you tell me how

[NICKELBACKFAN8]

where did you get the moose antler.......did you buy it.....did you kill a moose and keep the antlers.....?

[bladesypher]

I have only watched a couple of your videos... and already I have decided that you are the best and most helpful video of flint knapping I have ever watched... I am interested in knapping due to my interest in hunter gatherers and their lifestyle, and I want to try knapping without using moddern tools.. because that takes all the meaning out of it, by the way, where can I find a hammer stone without buying one? Please reply. Thanks

[Flintknappingtips]

Hammerstone selection will depend on the avail. rocks in your area. Generally speaking harder hammers are good for early spalling and sofer ones that will powder slightly when struck against flint will be good for later stage bifacing. I use soft sandstone, limestone and dolomite finishing. No need to EVER buy a hammerstone. Trade or pick them up yourself. Finding them is 1/2 the fun anyway.

[rekamepip]

Wow, Your style off knapping is great! I watched some other videos and if they are too technical and too many tools required, well the expierience becomes wrote. I am a self taught knapper that had hit a standstill in my knapping abilities. After finding these videos it has answered alot of questions that I had and I cannot wait to go bang some rock! Thanks for sharing your talents with us all.

[Kaszely]

Excellent work. Maybe you should wear ear plugs and safety glasses. Have you ever worked with obsidian or glass?

5 stars

[Flintknappingtips]

I have worked obsidian and glass but prefer chert. I should wear safety glasses. Thanks for the comment.

[snoopy19744]

yeh ive watched about 60 vids about knapping and ur the best out of all hands down especially like the cowbone clovis that took skill.

[snoopy19744]

hey bud i was just wonderin where i could get come rocks to workv with id love to start knapping

[Flintknappingtips]

check out the forum 'ezboard paleoplanet' Depending on where you live you might find some general info. about rock sources near your area as well as rock sellers.

[scalpcreek]

marty, i read where the clovis knappers in early stages did that, they shot a deep thick flake across from one side and let it hinge because it took more stone. they they came from the opposite side and flaked to that hinge from he other side. pretty much like you do it here. yeh it is too hot outside eh?

[Flintknappingtips]

It was about 102 in the shade where I shot this yesterday, but that didn't bother the mosquitos very much. You're right. Sometimes a tool flake is just as well a hinge, because to build contour to avoid them in certain situations leads to taking smaller, thinner flakes, and sometimes these aren't as desirable? In this case I was just mostly lazy, but I have to tighten up to finish.