Why do you knap?

[nclonghunter]

This may have been asked once or more times over the years on here, but I have not seen it. I do a lot of self evaluation and ask why I do what I do, so of course I  wondered why I have began knapping;
I used to walk around plowed fields looking for arrowheads and of course was intrigued as to how they were made. Once you find a decent flake and try to make something it quickly becomes obvious you have no idea what you are doing. This was limited to days afield. I then evolved into an 18th century long hunter reeanactor and was drawn more into the Native American ways of survival. I decided one day to start reading and watching YouTube vids on knapping and have found a deep interest in knapping. Funny thing is, like most knappers I am filling up containers with good and bad points and no way to use them all. It is extremely relaxing and mind clearing to knap and I can lose hours without notice. But, how long can you keep making points with no use or need. I think a lot of knappers eventually get into selling or trading points to create another value for their time. I don't know and suspect everyone has gotten here by other roads and reasons. I wonder how much money and time I can spend to toss another point into a bucket. In comparison I think the money and time spent to go to a movie or some other "entertainment" may be equal if not more. So even though I am in the knapping paradox I see no reason to quit. 
What say you?

[bowtarist]

Lyman, It sounds to me like you need to take up arrow smithing (fletching) now so you have something to stick those buckets of points on to. 

That is why I started knapping if I remember right. I was making primitive arrows and thought steel broad heads were kinda hoekey on something held together w/ sinew and pitch glue.   

dp

[TRACY]

Always been fascinated by field finds as a kid. Flintknapping is just another part of my quest to make my own hunting tools to harvest game. I love to make points for no other reason than to say that I can. Primitive tools and technology is far from simple and I can respect those that did it for day to day survival.

Tracy

[Lobo69ss]

Much as has been stated here, I spent a lot of time over the years hunting for ancient relics, leftovers from the past... I found a lot of different kinds of points & blades in farm fields & creeks as a kid & always wondered who might have lost them.  Time went by & I wound up getting involved in "rendezvous", who doesn`t want to be a mountain man? Well, that became a problem for me since there were so many other "mountain men", buckskinners, long hunters, traders, etc... As I started to explore other options, I joined a CW group.  Had to buy a new "proper" tent, uniform, weapons, gear of all descriptions... travel to different states for the "battles", that WAS fun, but rather expensive when you total everything up & realize that the "reward" or bounty for getting there amounted to a pound of black powder so you had no reason not to shoot it up on the field.
   Deciding to go back in time again, I went to the Rev. War time frame, & also some events involving the F&I era... again new camp, new clothing, new gear, more traveling... I enjoyed all the new people I was meeting along the way but somewhere I wound up buying a self bow & "Native" styled arrows, wood shafting, real feathers, stone points, but using modern arrows so that I wouldn`t hurt the "old school" stuff.
  I was talking to my grandfather, learning about our family history, something I`d been missing for many years at the family reunions & other get togethers.  Learning that he was Lakota, my grandmother mixed Nakota/Greman/Irish...   On the other side of the family, my grandpa was Pottawattami/English & grandma was Scots/Lenapi {Delaware}... Hey I know, that makes me a 100% full blooded totally authentic Mutt...
  Grandfather asked about the points I kept in boxes in the cabinet... wanted to know if I knew how they were made, or by whom?   I had absolutely no clue, except that they were all old stuff that I liked. He brought me a book he had showing the basics of flintknapping, & together we made up some copper, bone, & stone tools like were shown in the book. Went looking for rock to try it for ourselves... This was before Mr. Dole "invented" the internet, so there was no Youtube, no photo tutorials to follow, just trial & error {lots of errors}We were semi successful in that we didn`t bleed to death & actually did wind up with a couple bird points & small knives that we could say that we`d made...
     Reset the Wayback Machine...  Now when I attend living history events {much closer to home} I use a wall tent that belongs in any time frame from the Romans to today, dress in buckskins that I`ve harvested {& eaten} the former owners of, learned brain tanning & leather working along the way & have become a little better at this knapping thing... I lay out my own self bows, arrows I`ve made from scratch {they`re ugly, but will send a shaft in something close to the right direction if I do my part},fletched in Turkey feathers {that I`ve also eaten after a good hunt} & hafted in stone with points that I`m not too embarrassed to admit that I made.
  Knives are still a little harder for me, I`m the first to admit that my thinning efforts leave a bit to be desired, but a slightly thicker blade is less prone to breakage & leaves more room for future resharpening{beveling works wonders}.  If I`m able to sell enough over a decent weekend to pay my up front costs for the event I`m a happy camper.
 It`s not unusual for me to do a quick wire wrap on a small point {the edges abraded for safety} & string it on a thong to give to a youngster who sits & watches as I make purty gravel... Sometimes I give away a dozen or so over a weekend, but when I see the kids faces as they show their family &/or friends their new treasure, it`s worth it to me... I`ve also wound up with a few kids who keep comming back to events they know I`ll be at so that they can try their hands at this knapping thing... That`s an even better feeling when they finally get some good flakes to run & they make their own version of an arrowhead...   
  All it took was a simple question from my Grandfather...  I miss that old man

[nclonghunter]

Derik, I have a bunch of river cane shafte and some hill cane I got at he Classic from PatB. You are right I need to start putting some arrows together and hunting with them. To take a deer with a self made stone point and bow would be awesome.

Thanks for sharing your journeys to the knapping group. Each of us have a story as to how they got here.

 Lobo, I like your family connection with you Grandfather getting you going. Interesting he had a book on knapping already. He had an interst but no one to share it with until you got involved. Very cool story, thanks. Do you still have that book?

[bowtarist]

Sounds like a plans Lyman!!

Good story Lobo!! dp

[Dalton Knapper]

There are probably some pretty good reasons why we humans are attracted to knapping. If you think about it, our hominid ancestors were beginning to knap 3.4 million years ago when they made chopping tools in the Olduavi Gorge. Add to that the refinement of stone tools 1.7 million years ago known as the Acheulean.  But, let's say that's not us quite because we are Homo sapiens. Regardless, we can fast forward to the Paleolithic people, who were indeed "us" and that dates back 50,000 years. They had refined knapping and made tools that stand today as fantastic examples of the craft.

What's the point? I am saying something that was absolutely elementary to culture as humans for some 48,000 before we even thought about any metal might just be something that has to some small degree become hardwired in our brains - knapping!

When I knap, I sometimes get asked, "Are you an Indian," or something to that effect anyway. My standard answer is, "No, but I get this from my ancestors." They usually look puzzled and I add, "They called them Cave Men." It is usually an "Aha!" moment for most folks. No matter where we came from or who our ancestors were, we all came from scores of generations of knappers. I think that has something to do with the universal appeal and curiosity about flint knapping.

[Stringman]

My story sounds a lot like Lobo's. I don't do this for the money, but I do sell a few pieces now and then. My commitment to my wife is that this hobby funds itself. She's happy, I'm happy. I love to demonstrate this craft to John Q Public. He doesn't get to see this sorta thing very often and his rapt attention makes it worthwhile. Also, I strive to connect with the little ones. My hope is that a spark is planted, and that little rock I gave him means more than his score on Mario.

The reason I started... I wanted to make meat. Challenge myself with hand made primitive gear and take a stand against commercialism. After I realized the efficacy of stone tools I began to want to validate and memorialize the cultures of our past. Entire civilizations depended on stone tools, yet almost no one knows how to make them. I'm now trying to keep the art alive. So that my daughters generation can appreciate it the same way I do. A finely knapped point can only be made by hand. No computer yet has been taught to knap and that makes what I (we) do valuable.

Good chance that this skill will have a place in my life for years to come. Even if it's just to fill buckets with points to give away to the little ones. Hopefully, I will find the right person at some point so that it can be passed on in my area, but if not then I will have at least tried.

[Knapper]

My story starts with my faith. As a Commander in Royal Ranger and the VP.  of our local Frontier Camping Fellowship out-post our goal is to reach, teach and keep boys for Jesus Christ. To mentor young men. FCF is pre 1840 life and camping, Mountain man life and a great way to reach kids. After getting involved in FCF and the whole Rendezvous theme. It was just a matter of time before I layed down (gave away) my inline rifle and compound bow and returned to hunting the old way.  Also part of our FCF theme is to have a trade. Mine became flintknapping. Which soon  lead to bow making and arrow making. To hunt and harvest with weapons made by my own hand. As is my enjoyment is not for money but to see the smile on a boys face as he makes a trade on the trade blanket for a flint knife or a bow. Or when he picks up a bow and quiver as a prize for a Seneca Run. I have yet to sale a point but what I have received for what I've made far out weighs any monetary amount. Ad Dare Servire- To Give and to Serve. For all those who have gone before me. Gods Speed.
Knapper

[Stringman]

Well said, knapper.

[Lobo69ss]

  Yup,    I do still have the books that came from my Grandfather,   Story in Stone, as well as  "The Art Of Flintknapping", & "The Art Of Making Primitive Bows & Arrows", by D.C.Waldorf...   Good books for learning this rock chippin` stuff if you don`t already have them.
    My wife tells me all the time that I should go thru my "old books" that I`ve read so long ago... you know, since they just take up space on the bookshelves {that she could put to better use by displaying her bells, spoons, cats, cows, Orca whale & dolphin nicnacks}...
  Someday she might realize that I`m sorta the family librarian... the old family photo albums are on those shelves, on the top shelf in the closet is my parents old 8m/m movie camera, projector, numerous home movies... not even "talkies" & still grainy old black & white for the most part, tho there are a few that are in "Living Color!!!",  slide viewer, slides of a lot of people that I`m not even sure just how we were interrelated. Cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandparents,{ the greats, great-greats, 2nd, 3rd, etc}...  old neighbors, the old "home places", vacations of the past,etc.            We take those to the family reunion every few years so that the younger members of the family can see where they came from... There are still oldsters there who remember who many of the people pictured were, I`m working on getting their collective stories on video & {audio tape as a back up}.
   I have a rather extensive collection of "old books" that I`d much rather dust off every now & then than to have to try to remember all the details when I need that "old info" for whatever purpose or project I happen to be working on at that precise moment.
   Books about auto & truck repair, home construction, repair & remodeling, wiring, plumbing, landscaping, gardening, home remedies, herbs, & natural foods, gunsmithing, forge work, history of many different areas & eras, hunting, fishing, computer repair {those I SHOULD get back into reading... This box is a dinosaur & a likely candidate for replacement, but then again, I`ve been saying that for about 5 years now & still haven`t gotten around to it.. it`s not THAT broke yet, I can still get into my favorite forums even if I can`t figure out how to post pics anymore... lol}
  Yeah, books I`ve got in spades... hey, spades? Yes,I`ve even got books on card games if I dig WAYYY in the back over there somewhere... wonder which box those got stuffed into?

 

[bowmo]

Because it's awesome! But really it's because I grew up in Springfield, IL and one year there was a knapper demoing at the state fair. I saw this when I was 8 and was instantly entranced...20 years later and I'm getting not terrible at it!

As for why I keep making points even tho I don't need them, that's because there's an endless amount of materials, and point styles to try not to mention the endless pursuit of getting better and better at the craft. I drive I have in every art form I practice...   

[Zuma]

Neat thread.
I'll post mine as they are similar.
One thing I would like to bring to the fore is---
How I have met so many decent, spiritual and helpful people
since I started my journey back.

Who was your inspiration?
Primitive skills


Who are and  were your teachers, mentors?
Why are you here on PA?
It occurred to me today as I joyfully knapped  another point on my deck and
contemplated my collection, that I was blessed.
In my awakening I mused about having more than one meaningful relationship with others that led the way for me.
Not just collecting, researching, knapping or other ancient skills
Well, then my mind wandered to the beginning.
Who, how , when and where did I get hooked?
One day my fishing buddie's brother was there as we pulled into the dock. He asked,
 " Have you ever found any of these?"
In his hand, he had a awesome group of local (arrow and spear points).
Please acknowledge the relationship of folks that guided you.
Real names are not to important, but if you know they don't mind, please give them Kudos.
It's about those that have inspired us. No matter if they are still here with us or not.
If you have a story or a photo of a mentor-- please post it.
This thread is about them.
Thanks, Zuma

[JEB]

I have been shooting a bow for 55 years.  Was brought up in the world or archery and was very fortunate to have a father that was so good he won a couple of mid west National championships and a mother who won State championships. That means we shot bows almost everyday and went to tournaments almost every weekend.  I grew up living archery.

Now fast forward to 2000.  I retired from my job as a police detective and my wife semi retired as a nurse.  That first winter we headed to the S.W. for the winter months.  We both looked forward to warmer winters, riding our bicycles and roaming the desert looking for the unknown.  One day while my wife and I was doing  the laundry at the RV Park we ran into a fellow hiker and that was the start of my flintknapping  although I didn't quite realize it yet.

We had a lot in common with both being veterans of a very unpopular war, we all liked to camp and hike.  He talked my wife and I into going to the local rock club meeting at the area college.  I later said to my wife, "rock  club"  meeting. We are not rock hounds.  Well that was phase two of my start to flint knapping and again I didn't know it.  Off to the Friday night meeting we went and was introduced to the club as snowbirds from Michigan.  A couple walked over and introduced themselves and asked us to sit with them.  As it turned out they were both retired Law Enforcement as well and the 4 of us just clicked.  The couple invited my wife and I to go to the desert the next Sunday and that they would pick us up.  Off we went to one of their honey holes for artifacts.  After getting they tried to show us the ropes in looking for and finding artifacts.  I discovered that finding an arrowhead  was not an easy task but then it happened.  I found a point or part of a point.  I held it and looked at it and wondered, how did they do that and I wanted to learn.  That is when my flintknapping started

As my wife reminded me, "you are a slow learner" and she was right but I located some flintknappers when  we got home and asked for help. They taught me the basics and introduced me to you tube.

Well I am still trying and am still not very good at it but 3 years ago I made a point that I felt confidant enough in to hunt with.  I did kill a doe that year using an arrow with that knapped point.

[Hardawaypoint]

Like most here, I hunted ancient stone tools often.  One day in 1980 I thought to myself "How difficult could it be to make stone tools?"  I clearly didn't respect the ancient ones skill level and I failed to grasp the craftsmanship involved in creating utilitarian tools out of natural materials.  I'd been saving quality chips that I found arrowhead hunting in hopes of reworking them into respectable looking points.  That didn't turn out so good, but I kept at it.  One day I made a passable triangle point out of a chip with a screwdriver as a flaking tool and fooled a few of my expert arrowhead hunting buddies with it.  It made me realize that I was on my way, but had a long way to go in order to get as skilled as I wanted to become. On a trip to Arizona I bought some obsidian and picked up a few more basics by using that stone, which was easier to work than the local rhyolite and quartz.

A couple of friends of mine were getting married in Arizona, so I framed up about 25 points I made to give them as a wedding gift.  They were thrilled to get it and even more surprised when I told them that I'd made each of the points.  Another wedding guest hired me make him a frame of points, which afforded me even more rock. At that point, there was no turning back.

A friend gave me a 3rd edition copy of D.C. Waldorf's "The Art of Flintknapping" and I kept practicing.  One day I had a Eureka! moment when  I realized how to run overshot flakes to thin material faster. From there I have continued to improve and I strive to help others shorten the learning curve on their knapping journey.

I get immense satisfaction from being able to turn stone into beautiful or functional points.  It is also a great release to be able to forget about work, life's troubles, and just focus on removing flakes from rock in hopes of turning out another point.  The feeling of pride when someone else comments on the quality of my work only makes me want to keep improving. It is equally as satisfying to me to watch a student of mine who only started with the desire to learn knapping, create their own points with their own style. win/win.


Jim