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Professional knappers

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Tracker0721:
So is there such a thing? People who make a living only off busting and selling rock? I've seen some that definitely should be but I was knapping yesterday at my dads and he asked how much I could sell an arrowhead for. So I looked online and wow. There's some pricey points! Just normal hunting points were 20 bucks a head! Is this a real thing talented knappers can do? I'm no where near selling points, just giving em off to friends, but I found a new goal and it's to make points someone would pay a grand for. And then use it to hunt deer for myself  >:D

If any of you do(Jackcrafty seems like he could, watched quite a few of his videos. Plus a lot of you on here) could you please say what it's like? How it goes? Fun level? And of course, hardest order recieved.

Dylan

JoJoDapyro:
I know a guy that makes and sells knives. He says its a hobby, sometimes bringing in $3000 a month. Sweet hobby!

JackCrafty:
Yes, there is such a thing as professional knappers.  Most are retired but there are some younger guys who are making a living at it.  Of course, it helps to diversify into other areas like making/selling flintknapping tools and collecting/selling flint, for example.

Some knappers can make $1000+ for a single piece but these are usually very large pieces and/or made from exotic materials that are expensive to begin with.  But you can probably count these guys on one hand.  It's a very specialized niche.

There are also people making fakes and selling them for good money on the black market or to uneducated buyers. I won't get into this aspect other than to say that professional counterfeiters have been around from the very beginnings of modern flintknapping.  At least since the 40's or 50's.

Some professional knappers can be found making "the rounds" at knap-ins across the country.  I've met a couple but I haven't asked what they average per month.  It can't be that much.  I think most of the money to be made is through online stores.  From what I've seen in sales, I would guess that $3000 per month is on the high end.

As for me, I could be knapping full time and selling everything I make but the hourly rate would be something like $10 at best.  You gotta remember there's a lot of expense in getting good stone, lots of breakages, shipping time/labor, store maintenance, email time, and tool costs.  I could make more than $10 per hour if I concentrated on large, thin, translucent reproductions of real artifacts but some of these would probably pass thorough several hands and eventually end up in collections as "real".  That thought really bugs me and makes me sick to my stomach.  So I tend to back off from reproductions... and the "big" money.

If I had to describe making a living as a knapper in simple terms, I would say it's a lot like trying to make a living at gambling.  There's a lot of specialized knowledge needed, a lot of competition for the money, and a lot of temptation/opportunity to go to the dark side.

turbo:
'jack' summed it up quite nicely. I've known a few knappers over the years that have/do it full time. One is not living a life of luxury by any means, another retired early and is not dependent on the income. The latter has 'quit' a time or two but is back knapping again.

Another factor to consider; if you take something you enjoy and make a living out of it, that something can become like a chore and zap the fun out of it. It doesn't have to be that way but you have to keep it fresh or you'll burn out.

JoJoDapyro:
Patrick, You are friends with him on Facebook, although I'm sure that doesn't help you. We are BOTH friends with him on facebook.  ;)

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