Knapping Flints

[musketman]

http://www.uiowa.edu/~osa/learn/ancient/flint.htm

Here is a cool site on knapping flint the indian way, before brass hammers and modern tools.

There is also videos on knapping, here is the link.

http://www.eskimo.com/~knapper/videos.html

Enjoy.

 

[Rancocas]

I've been wanting to try this, but I can't find any flint around here. The local mountains seem to be composed of all sandstone, shale, and some quartz deposits.
The indigenous Cherokees must have traded with other tribes to get their flint.

 

[musketman]

I see from your profile that you are located about 10 miles above Flint Springs, TN.

Try there, they might have named it "Flint Springs" because there is flint there...

Good hunting.

 

[Rancocas]

Naw. I don't think so. I've traveled through the Flint Springs area many times. It is a bottom land, farming area, with some rolling hills. I haven't seen any rock outcrops in that area. I think the "Flint Springs" name may actually refer to a quartz deposit.
I have a farmer friend who lives just outside that area. His property has no flint.
Right here on my own property the soil is made of decomposed shale. It is hard, has clay deposits and little pieces of shattered, crumbly stone. I can break the pieces of shale in my hands.
But, maybe I'm missing something. I'll look into it.

 

[musketman]

I found this near you, well, sort of... The river is still there, so should the flint.

http://www.ele.net/moorehead/oldwine.htm

[Many years later I (Moorehead) discovered the quarries on Little River, Tennessee (Kentucky), eighteen miles south of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, whence, I am persuaded, this flint was obtained. It was of the nodular variety, gray-blue in character, and could be easily worked. The quarry showed signs of extensive working.]