Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 12, 2009 16:13:54 GMT -5
Howdy folks, I've been hunting some knapping flint for a buddy of mine on the board, Harley ( Agatemaggot). He's always been very modest about his knapping skills with the sort of "aw shucks" kind of attitude like he's only sort of a fair to middling knapper. Well, today this fine gift came to me in the mail ( another act of kindness too, as he had to mail it twice as it was returned to sender the first time *S*). What was inside totally blew me away. First off, a bunch of nice lakers and a fine pair of striking steels for flint fire starting (man do they throw off a shower of sparks too!). Then, nicely wrapped in the bottom of the parcel was this truly incredible point knapped from one of my favorite agates, crazy lace! I gotta tell you too, I've seen quite a bit of knapped points including those made by the Amerinds and Harley's knapping is crazy good! Harley, thanks a whole bunch! That point is going into the permanent collection and now you've got me inspired and I have to learn to work stuff other than obsidian. Anyway, here are a couple of pics for you folks....Mel The point and the strikers: Had to take a close shot of the point as well, it's just friggin crazy awesome!
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 12, 2009 16:53:37 GMT -5
Now that is one fine point!!! Those strikers are sure cool lookin, does it only work with flint?
That Harley is quite a guy, he has made me many many things, parts for my saws, slab grabbers, just recently he made me a mold to make weights for the weight feed on the big 36" saw. I also have a few of his points, so I can attest that he is really good at that!! He is a blast to talk to on the phone, I even had to put him in my family circle so calls to/from him are free!!
Some really nice stuff there....................Tony
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 12, 2009 18:44:09 GMT -5
Tony: The temper to the steels is such that I'd expect them to work well with many quartz minerals especially anything in the agate family. When I've shot my flintlock rifle in the past, I got sparks from our western agate that were just as nice as those thrown by store bought English flints. Yep, Harley is one cool dude to talk with.....Mel
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Feb 12, 2009 19:59:10 GMT -5
That is really nice. It would have been used for cerimonial purposes I would think!
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Post by sitnwrap on Feb 12, 2009 20:38:47 GMT -5
That Point is awesome. Every time you post something it causes me to think and then ask questions so here goes ;D
How long does it take Harley to make a point like that and the strikers are really cool but I can't figure out how they work. Ok, I think you grasp it like a handle and just strike the rock at an angle. I was thinking that you use the points but they are curled inward so those are decorative accents.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 12, 2009 20:49:42 GMT -5
Nice gifts! That point is great! :-)
Sitnwrap: when I've seen it done, you wear them like brass knuckles. The curled points go in your hand and the band goes on the outside of your fingers. Then you strike down on the edge of a piece of flint, with the sparks being caught by a small piece of cloth and tinder.
Chuck
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 12, 2009 21:38:18 GMT -5
Stone wizard: Actually that point is very functional looking and would make an awesome projectile point were someone to shoot it at something.
sitnwrap: The pressure flaking on this point is very intricate and detailed and most agate is heat treated first and takes a lot longer to work than obsidian. Maybe Harley will chime in on how long it takes as I've only see obsidian knapped and an expert I watched did a fine point in only a few minutes when starting from a slab preform. I would think agate is much more time consuming especially when the knapping is this finely detailed.
I actually use a striker by holding it like brass knuckles and bringing the flint in contact with the striker with a scraping motion at about a 30 degree angle. Both techniques require some care as of course, flint can be real sharp and you do need a bit of an edge on the flint for good sparks. Same thing can be done using a file or rasp as the steel and it's a bit safer as the flat steel surface is broader and gives more protection. Plus you can hold it by the handle with your fingers away from the flint. Harley's steels though, throw off a much better shower of sparks with less effort....Mel
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Post by sitnwrap on Feb 12, 2009 21:51:56 GMT -5
Now I got it. Thanks for always answering and adding extra info with my questions .
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agatemaggot
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Post by agatemaggot on Feb 12, 2009 22:38:20 GMT -5
The little point took over an hour to pressure flake because I had to stop periodically to flex the cramps and numb feeling out of my fingers. It takes a lot more straining on the agate than it does with obsidian. The little point is about 2 inches long and I think the time factor had something to do with me being an old fart with a wimpy grip !
Obsidian goes a whole lot faster.
Harley
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franzibear
starting to spend too much on rocks
Let's rock
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Post by franzibear on Feb 13, 2009 0:38:31 GMT -5
Is that material good to fire-treat before knapping?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 13, 2009 9:21:14 GMT -5
franzibear: Most agate and flint is exceedingly tough and difficult to flake without first heat treating the material. It's usually done in an oven or kiln though, not a fire, because the temperature needs to be accurately calibrated for best effect. The heat treating realigns the molecular structure in the material making it easier to flake and in some instances burns the oxides in the material making colors more intense.....Mel
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 13, 2009 20:56:29 GMT -5
Hey Harley, this old fart right here takes a long time on obsidian. ;D Beautiful point and neat fire steel. Bob
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agatemaggot
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Post by agatemaggot on Feb 14, 2009 3:52:57 GMT -5
Thank's Bob,
Thought Knapper 42 and I were the only one's in the crowd. One of my buddies here in Ia. came up with a neat idea the other day, he suggested using Horse Wrap for our Flaker and Bopper handles. Tried it and it works great. I bet it would work great for rock hammers also, especially the florescent pink and also the orange. Rock hammers can really disappear after they jump off your belt or you lay them down and take three steps away from them.
Harley
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Post by frane on Feb 21, 2009 9:56:24 GMT -5
I always learn so much on these threads! I too was wondering how the strikes worked and you answered it. Beautiful point there too! That was a very thoughtful gift. Fran
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