Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on July 17, 2009, 09:21:07 pm

Title: Obsidian?
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 17, 2009, 09:21:07 pm

I found this slabbed piece in some stone that I friend gave me a few years ago.  It's a very attractive material and it chipped well, although I was to eager and snapped it.  I was still able to make a point out of it though.  Am I right in assuming this is Mahogany Obsidian?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Knapping/Obsidian/Broken.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Knapping/Obsidian/Re-madePoint.jpg)

P.S. The point still turned out to be about 2" long by almost 1" wide

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Jaeger on July 17, 2009, 09:35:27 pm

I think that is mahogany ,they call some tiger stripe and some just brown ,I really like the way it flakes clean for me better than the black or clear type ,I think?

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Outbackbob48 on July 17, 2009, 09:53:43 pm

Looks like mahogany to me, Nice lookin point, I know the feeling about rushing them an then snap. Some days are worse than others  about busting them.  Just me but I thought the mahogany didn,t chip as well as the black. Later Bob

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Ohio John on July 17, 2009, 10:27:03 pm

yep its hard to keep calm and not get excited and support the piece wrong

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: mullet on July 17, 2009, 10:56:40 pm

 That's what it looks like to me Marc, but some enterprising rock sellers will call it Pumpkin Seed with those little black spots. Nice save on the point, are you gonna stick something with it?

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: sailordad on July 18, 2009, 12:11:00 am

very nice point,i do that quite a bit myself.
i just consider it the rock showing me what it wants to be

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 18, 2009, 02:58:31 pm

Thanks guys.  I also find this obsidian to be harder to knap than the black.  It seems softer.

I need to be able to see when it's time to say "this is good enough" and stop trying to make it better.  Ruined another obsidian point not long ago doing the same thing, that one was done for as I broke the tip

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Justin Snyder on July 18, 2009, 03:24:53 pm

My biggest problem with obsidian is that I forget to sharpen my tools when I get to that point. If I keep the flaker sharp I rarely break one. If I get in a hurry and don't sharpen it I break everything.  Justin

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Outbackbob48 on July 18, 2009, 04:23:09 pm

Thanks for the tip Justin , I,m real lazy about keeping my pressure flaker sharp probably why I have broke so many in the late stages.

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Allen7 on July 18, 2009, 05:11:25 pm

Yep looks like some variation of mahogany Obsidian.    Many of us have some problems with this rock.  You have to be a lot more careful with your platforms.   It is real easy to get step fractures.    I still like making arrow heads out of it, cause it has such neat color.  Here is one I made recently and hafted onto wild rose shaft.

Allen Minton  -  Happy Knapper

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Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Jaeger on July 18, 2009, 06:11:31 pm

most of mine were from already thin rock and were almost all pressure ,maybe thats why I like it ? now gold stone gives me fits.

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Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 19, 2009, 11:14:54 am

Does anyone know of a source for Mahogany and Rainbow obsidian?  I wouldn't mind getting some

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: sailordad on July 19, 2009, 11:52:55 am

would you like that in slab form?

i have have some,and access to some more.
also can get some obsidion in nodule or what ever it is you call the chunks

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: madcrow on July 19, 2009, 08:36:01 pm

Nice save.  I am guilty of going too far with them myself.  WEHen you think one more hit will do it, just stop and start another.

Title: Re: Obsidian?
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 21, 2009, 10:21:05 am

Quote from: sailordad on July 19, 2009, 11:52:55 am

would you like that in slab form?

i have have some,and access to some more.
also can get some obsidion in nodule or what ever it is you call the chunks

Sent you a PM