Local Flint

[knapper]

So now the weather has warmed up a bit here in Southern Illinois I decided to make a flint run. I was lucky enough to be the first person in the creek after a 7inch rain. I made it about 50 yards & filled a. 5 gallon bucket full, when I got home I made a few flints out of the smaller nodules & just getting into flintlocks & not trying other flints this stuff really works great, pretty sparky stuff, I did manage to get 2 different types though, haven't tried the other type yet but when I do I'll tell the results for it..

[Standing Bear]

There is an abundance of chert in this particular part of Texas.  I have tried with no luck to even start knapping for my flinter.  There are a lot of near right pieces to be found when opening and closing the gate on the ranch where we shoot.  Always picking some up but  ......

Don't know anyone around who has this skill to learn from but will keep on trying.  I'm convinced those who are sucessful have some kind of x-ray vision and can see grain or something else that I cannot see.  Youtube demo's always say just hold it and whack it but they turn the rock over 8-10 times looking for a starting point I assume.  Must be similar to diamond cutting and a tightly held secret.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

There are a lot of very helpful books available to teach you how to knapp flint.  Without a teacher, you'll just create sharp gravel, so get a lesson or five, and/or some literature, if you're interested.

[SCLoyalist]

Track sells both book and DVD on knapping, plus on youtube if you search for "Brandon flintknappers" you'll find some old films
from the 1930s and 40s on how to make gunflints.   A friend told me that when you start out, you're going to make a whole lot of
funny shaped little rocks until something finally clicks and your yield of usable gunflints goes up suddenly.

Two things on the subject of safety:  have a good supply of bandaids handy, and do your knapping outside with the wind to your back.
The dust from flint is super sharp and super small, and it can irreversibly mess with your lungs.

[knapper]

That is true that flint dust is super fine & super sharp, actually flint knapping is mans first industrial disease, so knapping in a well ventilated area is highly recommended.it is worse than breathing micro scopic razor blades, one has to remember that a lot of this stuff is 100 times sharper than surgical steel,I have been knapping for over 20 years & got a clean bill of health  .Also if you can find The Art Of FlintKnapping by D.C. Waldorf is recommended for the beginner, also try to go to a knap-in,you will find people that will teach you the tricks of the trade,& buy the biggest box of Band-Aids you can buy, they will be your best friend lol,so have fun in the learning process

[Fly]

Well I live in east okla.The flint hills of Kan,s extend into these parts.I also
picked some up when I was in south Missouri.My question can you go by  the color
as to what works or what for a flint lock
                                        Fly

[knapper]

Well Fly, color really isn't an issue, a rule of thumb to remember is the glossier material works the best, just make sure it is raw material & not heated,I also have some flint from Eastern Oklahoma & Southeastern Missouri called Keokuk,the color is white, it works well, it doesn't throw a lot of sparks but it does throw hot sparks, the nodular flint I use ranges in color from gray to black, the other material has every color in the rainbow & then some, I just tried some of this stuff & was impressed with it  ..just remember raw material is harder to work than heated material but it will not be brittle

[knapper]

Hey there Standing Bear, if I was in Texas I would show you how to make some flints for your gun, the only secret we as knappers treat like area 51 is a good source of flint. Like where I find my flint, there isn't a lot there so it has to be a secret lol, but other than that check the web or papers sometime for postings of a knap-in near your location.you will find the help & guidance you will need,you can only learn so much from a video. but I must warn you it can be very addicting lol

[Standing Bear]

Thanks knapper. I understand the favorite fishing hole secret thing. I've been involved in some youth things where a knapper was doing show n tell know problem was I had flintlock show n tell at the same time. I'll get it one o these days.
TC

[Dean D.]

I found this book to be very helpful when I tried my hand at knapping gunflints: 
https://archive.org/details/onmanufactureofg00skerrich

Now I just need to find some nodules large enough to run proper blades off of.  Not much flint material up here in the northwest though.   

[Standing Bear]

Thanks, Dean.  I saved the link.  Looking forward to stufying it.
TC

[knapper]

Hey brothers,I've got some nodules of Illinois flint from baseball to softball size, but not many sad to say, so I could help out a little bit.If you need a bigger supply you can go to Kentucky flint works.com,Dennis Kearns owns it, he is a major flint supplier & also makes gun flints, he's also a good guy to deal with..

[Dean D.]

Thanks for the link!  Always good to find another reputable flint dealer.  I've bought some Pedernales flint from one of the boys over on paleoplanet in the past but that guy has moved and is no longer selling.  Finding chunks large enough and not heat treated seems to be the toughest part.

[sonny]

Is there any flint in northeastern Pennsylvania?.sonny

[tpr-tru]

Sonny, the last time I saw you in N.E. Pa you had flint in your rifle and spares in your pouch !   Third Sunday in July there will be plenty of flint in use at Harveys Lake also.

[sonny]

good advice!....I havn't fired a shot with blackpowder in quite some time,...........but is anybody using local flint? from our area?.....I would love to find an make my own flints an shoot with them. I know English is great, an French(never had any of those) are great, but local stuff would be special for local shooting....sonny

[knapper]

Hey Sonny,Knapper here. I'm sure there is some flint or chert in your neck of the woods somewhere ?? Here is assite to go to flint knapping tools.com.You can find an email address for Mark Bracken,he lives in Sage town.I'm sure he could give you some useful information.

[sonny]

thanks............I will try that!........sonny