For you knappers...

[Kegan]

Okay, my knapping-knowleedge is pretty low, at least about the construction of points (I got the basics, just never put 'em to use). So, for those of you who do knap points, I have a question:

Is it easier to knap a point from a thin flake you struck yourself from a core than it is to use spalls you found or someone else made?

Seems like this might be one of those trick question to me, and I don't have any good rocks to test it myself. Can anyone shed some light on it for me ?

[mullet]

   I would rather knap a flake I spalled myself.When we got together at Chris' farm a few weeks ago,I knapped some thin points from some thin flakes.They would take game for sure.

[Coo-wah-chobee]

       Like Mullet said.....bob

[jamie]

what eddie and bob said

[Kegan]

Thanks guys! I thought that if you made the flake yourself, you could start out with it thinner, but then someone told me starting with spalls is alot easier. But I'm not entirely sure they know percussion knapping ayway .

Ooooh, gotta get me some rocks !

[Hillbilly]

If you're talking about percussion knapping, then a thicker spall is easier to work and get good long thinning flakes from. Percussion doesn't work too well on thin stuff. If you want to pressure flake arrowheads, then as everybody said, thin flakes are better to start with, but you'll have to shear the thin edges back enough to get a good platform to flake from. The goal of percussion knapping is usually to thin and shape the piece down to the point where you can pressure flake it. Also depends on how big of points you want to make.

[Kegan]

If you're talking about percussion knapping, then a thicker spall is easier to work and get good long thinning flakes from. Percussion doesn't work too well on thin stuff. If you want to pressure flake arrowheads, then as everybody said, thin flakes are better to start with, but you'll have to shear the thin edges back enough to get a good platform to flake from. The goal of percussion knapping is usually to thin and shape the piece down to the point where you can pressure flake it. Also depends on how big of points you want to make.

I meant I don't think he knows how to get a flake off of a core in the first place (and therefore has never used a flake he spalled himself). He used indirect percusion every one in a while with the help of his wife, but only taking off very small flakes when he does. Most of the time he just grinds thicker spalls from 3Rivers down until he can pressure flake them.

[Hillbilly]

Yeah, I wouldn't buy spalls, definitely get whole rocks and spall 'em yourself. That way, you can knock off big spalls for bigger points, or smaller thinner ones for arrowheads.

[Kegan]

Yeah, I wouldn't buy spalls, definitely get whole rocks and spall 'em yourself. That way, you can knock off big spalls for bigger points, or smaller thinner ones for arrowheads.

Uh huh. Can't really make a hand ax out of a few little spalls either