Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Josh on July 16, 2011, 11:42:52 pm

Title: Axes by Bill Skinner
Post by: Josh on July 16, 2011, 11:42:52 pm

I ran into my buddy Bill Skinner at a Knap-in at Moundville State Park in AL this weekend.  Here are 2 stone axes he ground out.  In the first pic the one on the left has a pecan handle and the one on the right Black Walnut.  He will be along shortly to give you guys the details.  I really wish I would've taken a pic of the tree he felled with the larger axe.  Now that I have seen what can be done with them I am going to have to try to make me one now.  :) :) Outstanding work Bill, thanks for inspiring me to take on another habit/hobby.   ;D    See ya again soon!

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0428.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0430.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0432.jpg)

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0433.jpg)

Title: Re: Axes by Bill Skinner
Post by: AncientArcher76 on July 17, 2011, 12:01:18 am

Beautiful!   I will take 2...LOL great work!

Russ

Title: Re: Axes by Bill Skinner
Post by: Bill Skinner on July 17, 2011, 01:08:30 am

Thanks Josh, I appreciate this and it was good to see you and Eric. 
The larger one is green granite in a pecan handle.  The limb fell off the tree in late June, I roughed it out with an ax then a rasp, then 60 grit sandpaper.  The pecan is still green, as it dries out I hope it will loose at least a pound of water, it weighs right at 5 pounds now.  I need to seat the blade deeper, if you hit wrong, the blade will pop out.  I cut down a privet hedge bush slightly larger than my wrist in about 5 minutes.

The smaller is greenstone from Alabama in a walnut handle.  The walnut was drift wood I found while fishing on the Alabama River.  I have actually cut some sweetgum limbs with it but that size works much better as a weapon or as a status symbol. 

Both were made by pecking and grinding, I beat on the larger for about 8 hours to shape it and ground it on my front porch, which is concrete, and some coarse quartz sand for about 8 hours.  The smaller already looked like an ax, I didn't have to do much pecking and only about 4 hours of grinding.
Again, thank you Josh for taking and posting the pictures.

Title: Re: Axes by Bill Skinner
Post by: jamie on July 17, 2011, 06:35:16 am

those are awesome bill. i gotta get back to doing some peck and grind.

Title: Re: Axes by Bill Skinner
Post by: Lombard on July 17, 2011, 06:51:50 pm

Bill has some paleolithic skills to be sure. Those look nice, and the fact that they are functional says it all.

Title: Re: Axes by Bill Skinner
Post by: Bill Skinner on July 18, 2011, 12:41:54 am

Thanks guys.  I think this is like knapping, the more you do, the better at it you get.  I think the next one I try will be a grooved ax.  I saw James Parker with one several years ago, it has been in the back of my mind ever since.  Bill