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how can I improve?

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Hillbilly:
Your points look good to me. I like to knap with all stone and antler, too-I do use copper for pressure flaking a lot because I'm lazy. The one suggestion I would have is if you want to progress a bit more: get a good antler billet and start using it for most of your percussion-there are only a very select few of the god-like knappers who can regularly produce thin, clean bifaces with hammerstone percussion. The hard hammer works great for spalling and initial thinning, but the soft-hammer percussion opens up a whole new world-you can take off those good large, flat flakes. That's why it's been the primary lithic reduction method for the last several thousand years. I think you will soon see a lot of difference if you try it.

flecha:
I only use antler and stone (no copper).  Copper was used as reduction tool, but not for the types of points I like to make.

I've found that to get better, one needs to focus on platform preparation, the "center line" principle and study your work.  Once you remove a flake, set it back on.  Take the time to think about your work, how you held the tool, and used it to push off the flake and so on.

Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive:
thanks guys, its hard to see from my pictures i know.  they are sharp and plenty thin.  i would like to get a hold of an antelr billet, one hasnt fallen in my lap yet i guess.  they are good function points.  but the flake scares aren't lined up real nice and real even like some of you great knappers/    cowboys's chert points come to mind and wvflintknapper's latest post is another great example.  it that kinda work regularly do-able without copper?

Hillbilly:
It's entirely possible to do great patterned pressure work without copper. All those old Paleo points with the great flake scar patterns (Eden, Allen, Scottsbluff, Dalton, etc.) were done withoput copper. Marty Reuter does some amazing work with antler pressure flakers. Have you seen his Youtube video about making the pattern-flaked Sloan Dalton points?

Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive:
no i havent, i'll to look them up, thanks

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