Main Discussion Area > Flintknapping
Why do you knap?
Lobo69ss:
Yup, I do still have the books that came from my Grandfather, Story in Stone, as well as "The Art Of Flintknapping", & "The Art Of Making Primitive Bows & Arrows", by D.C.Waldorf... Good books for learning this rock chippin` stuff if you don`t already have them.
My wife tells me all the time that I should go thru my "old books" that I`ve read so long ago... you know, since they just take up space on the bookshelves {that she could put to better use by displaying her bells, spoons, cats, cows, Orca whale & dolphin nicnacks}...
Someday she might realize that I`m sorta the family librarian... the old family photo albums are on those shelves, on the top shelf in the closet is my parents old 8m/m movie camera, projector, numerous home movies... not even "talkies" & still grainy old black & white for the most part, tho there are a few that are in "Living Color!!!", slide viewer, slides of a lot of people that I`m not even sure just how we were interrelated. Cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandparents,{ the greats, great-greats, 2nd, 3rd, etc}... old neighbors, the old "home places", vacations of the past,etc. We take those to the family reunion every few years so that the younger members of the family can see where they came from... There are still oldsters there who remember who many of the people pictured were, I`m working on getting their collective stories on video & {audio tape as a back up}.
I have a rather extensive collection of "old books" that I`d much rather dust off every now & then than to have to try to remember all the details when I need that "old info" for whatever purpose or project I happen to be working on at that precise moment.
Books about auto & truck repair, home construction, repair & remodeling, wiring, plumbing, landscaping, gardening, home remedies, herbs, & natural foods, gunsmithing, forge work, history of many different areas & eras, hunting, fishing, computer repair {those I SHOULD get back into reading... This box is a dinosaur & a likely candidate for replacement, but then again, I`ve been saying that for about 5 years now & still haven`t gotten around to it.. it`s not THAT broke yet, I can still get into my favorite forums even if I can`t figure out how to post pics anymore... lol}
Yeah, books I`ve got in spades... hey, spades? Yes,I`ve even got books on card games if I dig WAYYY in the back over there somewhere... wonder which box those got stuffed into? ::)
bowmo:
Because it's awesome! But really it's because I grew up in Springfield, IL and one year there was a knapper demoing at the state fair. I saw this when I was 8 and was instantly entranced...20 years later and I'm getting not terrible at it!
As for why I keep making points even tho I don't need them, that's because there's an endless amount of materials, and point styles to try not to mention the endless pursuit of getting better and better at the craft. I drive I have in every art form I practice...
Zuma:
Neat thread.
I'll post mine as they are similar.
One thing I would like to bring to the fore is---
How I have met so many decent, spiritual and helpful people
since I started my journey back.
Who was your inspiration?
Primitive skills
Who are and were your teachers, mentors?
Why are you here on PA?
It occurred to me today as I joyfully knapped another point on my deck and
contemplated my collection, that I was blessed.
In my awakening I mused about having more than one meaningful relationship with others that led the way for me.
Not just collecting, researching, knapping or other ancient skills
Well, then my mind wandered to the beginning.
Who, how , when and where did I get hooked?
One day my fishing buddie's brother was there as we pulled into the dock. He asked,
" Have you ever found any of these?"
In his hand, he had a awesome group of local (arrow and spear points).
Please acknowledge the relationship of folks that guided you.
Real names are not to important, but if you know they don't mind, please give them Kudos.
It's about those that have inspired us. No matter if they are still here with us or not.
If you have a story or a photo of a mentor-- please post it.
This thread is about them.
Thanks, Zuma
JEB:
I have been shooting a bow for 55 years. Was brought up in the world or archery and was very fortunate to have a father that was so good he won a couple of mid west National championships and a mother who won State championships. That means we shot bows almost everyday and went to tournaments almost every weekend. I grew up living archery.
Now fast forward to 2000. I retired from my job as a police detective and my wife semi retired as a nurse. That first winter we headed to the S.W. for the winter months. We both looked forward to warmer winters, riding our bicycles and roaming the desert looking for the unknown. One day while my wife and I was doing the laundry at the RV Park we ran into a fellow hiker and that was the start of my flintknapping although I didn't quite realize it yet.
We had a lot in common with both being veterans of a very unpopular war, we all liked to camp and hike. He talked my wife and I into going to the local rock club meeting at the area college. I later said to my wife, "rock club" meeting. We are not rock hounds. Well that was phase two of my start to flint knapping and again I didn't know it. Off to the Friday night meeting we went and was introduced to the club as snowbirds from Michigan. A couple walked over and introduced themselves and asked us to sit with them. As it turned out they were both retired Law Enforcement as well and the 4 of us just clicked. The couple invited my wife and I to go to the desert the next Sunday and that they would pick us up. Off we went to one of their honey holes for artifacts. After getting they tried to show us the ropes in looking for and finding artifacts. I discovered that finding an arrowhead was not an easy task but then it happened. I found a point or part of a point. I held it and looked at it and wondered, how did they do that and I wanted to learn. That is when my flintknapping started
As my wife reminded me, "you are a slow learner" and she was right but I located some flintknappers when we got home and asked for help. They taught me the basics and introduced me to you tube.
Well I am still trying and am still not very good at it but 3 years ago I made a point that I felt confidant enough in to hunt with. I did kill a doe that year using an arrow with that knapped point.
Hardawaypoint:
Like most here, I hunted ancient stone tools often. One day in 1980 I thought to myself "How difficult could it be to make stone tools?" I clearly didn't respect the ancient ones skill level and I failed to grasp the craftsmanship involved in creating utilitarian tools out of natural materials. I'd been saving quality chips that I found arrowhead hunting in hopes of reworking them into respectable looking points. That didn't turn out so good, but I kept at it. One day I made a passable triangle point out of a chip with a screwdriver as a flaking tool and fooled a few of my expert arrowhead hunting buddies with it. It made me realize that I was on my way, but had a long way to go in order to get as skilled as I wanted to become. On a trip to Arizona I bought some obsidian and picked up a few more basics by using that stone, which was easier to work than the local rhyolite and quartz.
A couple of friends of mine were getting married in Arizona, so I framed up about 25 points I made to give them as a wedding gift. They were thrilled to get it and even more surprised when I told them that I'd made each of the points. Another wedding guest hired me make him a frame of points, which afforded me even more rock. At that point, there was no turning back.
A friend gave me a 3rd edition copy of D.C. Waldorf's "The Art of Flintknapping" and I kept practicing. One day I had a Eureka! moment when I realized how to run overshot flakes to thin material faster. From there I have continued to improve and I strive to help others shorten the learning curve on their knapping journey.
I get immense satisfaction from being able to turn stone into beautiful or functional points. It is also a great release to be able to forget about work, life's troubles, and just focus on removing flakes from rock in hopes of turning out another point. The feeling of pride when someone else comments on the quality of my work only makes me want to keep improving. It is equally as satisfying to me to watch a student of mine who only started with the desire to learn knapping, create their own points with their own style. win/win.
Jim
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