Knapping is something that has always interested me. A friend gave me a chunk of obsidian recently and it rekindled my interest.
I was wondering if any of you folks could point me the right direction as far as videos, literature, and a decent tool kit to order. Any info would be much appreciated.

I would strongly recommend trying to find a local knap-in to go to. There is so much that is "feel" in that art, it is very difficult to put into words or video.

You can practice on glass, flatter bottoms on beer bottles can make cool little arrowheads.

I used to knap as a kid. I didn't have good materials available, so I never progressed much. There should be knap-ins in your area.

https://flintknappers.com/events.php

There's some huge knap-ins in Ohio at Nether's Farm at Flint Ridge. For a small fee they let you dig flint at the site. People sell flint from there online, for pretty big money. Flint Ridge flint is the Ohio gemstone.

Obsidian is incredibly sharp, much sharper than surgical steel. Protect your eyes, hands and lap. Watch out for pieces on the ground too. I saw a video where I guy got flakes in his crocs, stood up and immediately regretted it. He embedded many tiny flakes in his feet and bled profusely.

Keith

Looks like you just missed one in MN, but maybe the contact here can help you out.




Knap In Calendar

I was always interested too, we don't have good stone here, the Indians used quartzite found in beach cobbles which is a difficult stone to work...after banging some rocks together I said no way is this possible, lol, did get some rudimentary sharp "flakes", mostly by accident though...

There was a university professor here that was good at it, but too busy working to figure out how to get a hold of him and see if he taught people...

We had limestone and limited amounts of shale at our house. They weren't any good. My grandparents had quartz, granite and a little slate. They were a little better, but not good. Quartz would put out impressive sparks when smashed.

I wish I had known about stone celts, axes and hammers being made of granite. I would of made those instead of points.

Keith

I actually made a Quartz beach rock "club", can't rightly call it a tomahawk, lol, rock was a perfect shape to mount on a split green stick, bound up it was tight and would definitely ruin someone's day, lol.... that was the extent of my stone age skills...

Thank you guys for the information.
K snow, I had no idea that knap-ins existed. I'll have to try to check one out.

Keith, I've played with obsidian just enough to know that it's likely to hurt me. It seems that most things that interest me have some way of causing me to bleed. Lol. I'll definitely take precautions. I wonder how many Indians were blinded back in the day when they were forming a cutting edge?

D.C. Waldorf google him