Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: StickBender55 on December 05, 2008, 02:35:48 pm
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I live about about an hour south of Indy and I'm looking for some flint to put together some fire starter kits. Is there anything in the vicinity?
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I dont know whats in your area,but I know a indy guy that Ive seen in action,hes got a cool fire kit,look Minuteman up,he can probably tell ya every thing ya need to know.
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I met Minuteman at a trad bow build in Morgantown, Indiana earlier this year. I'll have to get in touch with him.
Thanks for the info!! 8) 8) 8)
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Indiana hornstone is some of the better knapping material in the country. It comes from somewhere in southern In.
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Thanks HillBilly!!! Another option to work with. ;) ;) ;)
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Let us(me) know what you find. I was born in Bloomington and visit family there occasionally.
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Hey Stick. I can tell you that there isn't a single knappable rock in the creek behind my house( except for quarts and that sucks).
You need to PM orcbow and see if he can turn you on to some places near Bloomington. Other than that I'd find some public ground and start walking the creeks with a small backpack.
I quit knapping a long time ago. Life's hard enough with out whacking your thumb with a rock for fun. A feller can only stand so many thumb crushing blows before its fatal.
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I have found a lot of geodes and fossils in a couple creeks in Bloomington, but never noticed anything Knappable. I would love to know where and what to look for.
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I know hornstone forms as nodules and is found in limestone.. so find the limestone.. then look for round rocks. most i have seen have a light colored cortex.
Hope this helps. good luck!!!
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I'm not far from the Brown county state park and have found a fair amount of chert pieces in a seasonal creek bed on my property that would probably work for what you're wanting. I've also found some big pieces of chert in fields in and around Columbus. Where are you located?
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I've dug the geodes, known locally as "muttonheads" out of the limestone along the road between Bloomington and Bedford. But they are always hollow and full of crystals. Same for the ones from the creeks.
I'll have to ask my uncle about hornstone, see if he has heard of it.
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I love hornstone,Makes some nice points form it, here is a short link that may help ya.
http://www.theaaca.com/lithnics/Hornstone.htm
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Tracy, I am in Bloomington.
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Not far. I talked with a teacher that knaps and he said that he has found workable pieces of hornstone southwest of Seymour on the White River at a public access. Minuteman has dates for the Heartland in Morgantown for this year if you're interested.
Tracy
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That hornstone is addictive. Get a piece with high silica content and it can be real waxy. I with we had it around here.
Here's one I made from some hornstone two years ago.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/hardawaypoints/Knapped%20points/Hornstone1.jpg)
Jim
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I have a bunch of points from the Battle of Tippecanoe in NW Indiana that my grandfather passed on to me that he found as a kid there. The majority of them are hornstone with banding and the bullseye mark on them. It must have been a very desirable type of flint to end up in so many places where it didn't occur naturally.
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Tracy, thanks for the info. I'll catch up with Minuteman on those dates. I think I'll try to make a weekend of it this time.
Any suggestions on books that could help identify the "rock" I need to look for? You guys post a lot of great pics but I guess I need some "special" help.
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Stickbender55, do like it was said, and get your back pack, take a small rock hammer, or any hammer, and go along the creek bed, and start whacking rocks. If it looks, like it might knap, take it with you. Then once you see what it looks like on the outside, you will be able to identify it later. ;) Down here in certain parts of Fla. there is some nice agatized coral, but it looks, like plain ol limestone, or old coral, till you break off a chunk of it. After it is heat treated it makes, beautiful stuff. Nice jewelry also, as can be seen by "JCINPC" . Good luck. If you just want a fire starter kit, I can tell you how to make a very reliable, and easy kit to make. Not flint N steel, but modern, but so simple, and effective. 8)
Wayne
" The Original Stickbender" ;D ;D ;D
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SB55, Noel Justice has a few books out that have color pics in the front. He is part of the IU Glen Black Lab of Archeology there in Bloomington. The book I use is the one about the Midcontinental and Eastern points and spears and can be found at your public library. If not, go to the Lab on campus there and you can see first hand what it looks like. Hope this helps.
Tracy
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My dad's family is from the Monticello area of NW Indiana. I have a few points and a stone axehead from my grandfather. Uncles and aunts have glass tables, picture frames, etc full of such artifacts. He had shoeboxes full of stuff in his basement that was all lost when he passed.
I'll try to get to Bloomington this summer and look around. My uncle lives right next to a limestone quarry too. Grandmother near a creek.
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Well stickbender55, it looks like you will soon be in business ;) You have the forces on the job...... ;D
Seek and ye shall find. O:)
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Hey, all you guys are great!!! I really appreciate the information and encouragement. Look's like I have get a rock hammer to go with my back pac.
I occasionally do some hiking in Hoosier National Forest on the south side of Lake Monroe. I'll have to start looking at the rocks a bit closer.
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Post back what you find. I may or may not be able to visit family this summer, but would be good to know what can be found.
Now I'm craving a tenderloin sandwich and some Big Red...... O:)
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The family and I took a drive yesterday south down around Palmyra and Fredericksburg to scout out the Blue River for some rock. It sure was a nice day but the river doesn't offer much access in these areas and I was unable to find anything other than limestone. I'll take the canoe and pole next time for some smallmouths and hopefully hornstone. Nonetheless, it was fun to get out.
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Well Tracy, if you can't find any good stone you just may find some quiet time, great water and a few hungry bronze backs.
Work has had me tied up so I have not had a chance to get out to check on the trails around the south side of Lake Monroe. I'll post what I find when I do. 8) 8) 8)
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Many dry creek beds in Harrison County Indiana, in and around O'bannon Woods State Park, are literally carpeted with Indiana Hornstone fragments.
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If you don't have the time or desire to get out, I suggest getting a hold of Eric Morris(pm me for address) . He does this for a living and is a very nice and helpful individual. He was at the Classic this past weekend selling his goods. He's also got a knap in coming up on Father's Day weekend in Leavenworth, IN.