Author Topic: Flints from Scratch(small rock)  (Read 17853 times)

sweed

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Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« on: October 02, 2012, 04:55:43 PM »
I know that most reasonable people just buy their flints. I  ;D on the other hand am sometimes not always that Reasonable.  While I plan to follow the crowd to the flint store, I would like to have the ability to pick up a rock from the creek bed and make my rifle go bang with it.  Any  ::) reasonable suggestions?
« Last Edit: February 26, 2013, 11:15:05 PM by rich pierce »

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2012, 06:42:01 PM »
There are several gun flint knapping videos on Utube that describe the process.

Here are a few;







I have made several gun flints just to see if I could, weren't the prettiest flints but they made plenty of sparks if I picked the right material. Some chert from where I live won't spark at all, some throws a shower of sparks.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2012, 12:08:58 AM by Eric Krewson »

Offline SCLoyalist

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2012, 03:53:44 AM »
There's a description of how to make gunflints in Foxfire Vol. 5.   I recall a drawn illustration of using a railroad spike driven into a stump as an anvil, striking the rock against the anvil with a hammer, and then using what I believe are called grozing pliers in the stain glass trade for final shaping.    You still need the right kind of rock to work with, though, whether picked up from the stream bed or ordered off e-bay.   

sweed

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2012, 09:00:19 PM »
Thanks for introducing me to y-tube. I didn't know real people lived there! :o Very good info. Thanks also for reminding me of my foxfire collection. Read all the writin'off them things as soon as I got my Christmas turkey&dressing choked down each year. My wife threatened to quit buyin' em if I didn't start talking to the family on Christmas day! That was years back so I'll have to start over on them! thanks for reminding me.
 

Black Hand

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2012, 10:09:37 PM »
Firstly, you need to have suitable "rocks" to shape and not every one will work.  Flint is only found in some parts of the country, though jasper and chert will also work.  Don't bother with obsidian as it is too fragile.

Good luck and wear eye protection and leather gloves.  Been there, done that, still have the scars.....

Offline SCLoyalist

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2012, 11:35:21 PM »
and wear eye protection and leather gloves.  Been there, done that, still have the scars.....

And, worth mentioning is that the dust from flintknapping can mess your lungs up via silicosis, so you should do your knapping out of doors, and maybe wear a dust mask if you do much knapping.   

Offline LynnC

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2012, 07:32:58 PM »
Since there is no suitable native stone in my neck of the woods, I pick up flakes and spalls from old American Indian flint knapping sites and shape them into working flints.  I find a point now and then too and keep'em.  I've been doing this for years with good results..............Lynn
« Last Edit: October 05, 2012, 07:36:42 PM by LynnC »
The price of eggs got so darn high, I bought chickens......

Black Hand

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2012, 08:13:26 PM »
Since there is no suitable native stone in my neck of the woods, I pick up flakes and spalls from old American Indian flint knapping sites and shape them into working flints.  I find a point now and then too and keep'em.  I've been doing this for years with good results..............Lynn
Around here, that can get you arrested.....

Offline LynnC

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2012, 04:45:56 AM »
Digging will get you arrested.  Surface finds are perfectly legal.  If it were not legal, most every farmer in the country would be locked away :o
The price of eggs got so darn high, I bought chickens......

Black Hand

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2012, 06:05:08 PM »
In our case, it might be considered looting of an archeaological site even when they are surface finds.  We have Tipi rings, buffalo-jumps and other native sites with surface artifacts all over MT.   

What gets plowed up in a field is no longer a valid specimen as it has lost it's context. 
« Last Edit: October 15, 2012, 09:21:07 PM by Black Hand »

Offline Old Ford2

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2012, 01:55:51 PM »
]
"Around here, that can get you arrested".....
[/quote]
You mean to tell me that carrying a shovel, is like carrying a mask and burglary equipment????
I don't like the way this world is becomming >:(
If it's in the dirt....nobody wants it! Or they would have come and got it.
Old Ford
« Last Edit: October 16, 2012, 01:58:48 PM by Old Ford2 »
Never surrender, always take a few with you.
Let the Lord pick the good from the bad!

Black Hand

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2012, 04:44:56 PM »
You misunderstand. 
These sites are known and are protected by law.  The entire state is an archaeological treasure-trove which in the past has been damaged and looted by un-informed persons just picking up something that is "in the dirt that nobody wants".

Offline Robby

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2012, 05:21:30 PM »
That and a Blue Jay feather in your hat will put you in Levenworth Old Ford2!
Robby
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We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution. A. Lincoln

Offline LynnC

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2012, 07:30:53 PM »
I get what you are saying BH and I steer clear of archeological sites.  Flint shards litter farmers plowed fields in places around here.  With permission from the land owner, they make for good flint material.  No Digging.

« Last Edit: October 16, 2012, 07:49:16 PM by LynnC »
The price of eggs got so darn high, I bought chickens......

omark

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2012, 07:28:56 PM »
for what its worth, i have been told that around here, if its on private land, you can pick up whats on the surface, but no digging. on govt ground you cant even pick up if its on the surface. but i havent read the regs myself.    mark

Offline WadePatton

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #15 on: October 18, 2012, 08:26:25 PM »
plenty of plowed up points around here.  but i have all sorts of sparky rocks out on my ridge--just starting to learn to knap them.  that first big full-flake was a thrill.  Now to learn to whittle the flakes into lock-sized pieces.  If my ridge rocks won't work i'll go down to the flatlands where folks have been picking up plowed busted and otherwise out-of-context arrow points for years.  Used to pick up half-a-dozen a day working in Gpap's 'bacco patch. 

I suspect the streams (the ones full of beer cans tires batteries and some old appliances)  in that area will yield suitable rocks if no "pre-worked" stuff is in sight.
Hold to the Wind

Offline WadePatton

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #16 on: December 04, 2012, 08:27:49 AM »
"my" rocks don't knap so well.  they're very sparky but too "pre-stressed" to pop off a decent flake. 

BUT, i found some rocks in my road that were apparently haul in from a river bar or creek bed, as my road was public about 100 years ago.  I've only made test flakes as i need to flesh out my tooling.

PaleomanJim is the dude i've found to watch on the 'tube. He has a flintlock rifle too.
Hold to the Wind

Shootrj2003

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Re: Flints from Scratch(small rock)
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2013, 02:17:15 AM »
My house is right on the route of Col.Joseph Brandt's raid in the revolution and the original owner of the land was Major J Swartwout ,head of the local commitee of safety ,him and his two sons were killed and scalped right around my front yard somewhere, (in that raid)there is lots of Native American remains around and a burial ground right out by my barn,all the land around here belonged (or was the homeland of) the Minisink Indians who originally got along with the Swartwouts ,they were tricked in a slimy land deal (surprise surprise) Not by the Swartwouts, this was part of the  motivation behind the raid And the battle of Minisink.This area was also the stomping grounds of Bill Quick.alot of bloody history here,there is some flint too I find it in the corn fields and I have a group of archeologists/geologists come through here occasionally.I have a small collection of arrowheads,spear points and other stuff.