James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 17, 2005 14:56:14 GMT -5
Hi everyone. Recently, I was inspired to make a few small arrowheads after seeing the post by Steve Holmes. So I started working on a few projects using the "flake and blade core" Method. A core is a large piece of rock, by which smaller fakes are driven off. I'll be posting a tutorial on this subject in a week or two. I'll also be demonstrating how to make one of these points from a flake similar to the one in the pic. This point is made from a gem grade opaque black Dacite from Glass Buttes in Oregon. Dacite is similar to obsidian except it flakes more like flint. The point type featured here is a Cahokia point. Please note However, that to the best of my knowledge, no Cahokia points were ever made with obsidian or dacite. But these days it doesn't really matter. The flake in the picture is Representative of the flake that I used to make this point.  This point is very thin. About 1/8 of an inch, or less. Modern knappers call these "bird points." However, this classification is wrong. These points were capable of taking large game such as Deer and Elk. And they did!  Thanks for looking!  |
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Post by Cher on Oct 17, 2005 15:03:05 GMT -5
Wow James, that's just cool! Awesome job and OMG that stuff is gorgeous.
Could that stuff be tumbled? The blue and black is just stunning together.
Cher
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 17, 2005 15:05:42 GMT -5
that is certainly beautiful material. nice job on the knapping, too, James. nice to see you still alive and well.
KD
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 17, 2005 15:08:21 GMT -5
Thanks Cher. Yes. It can be tumbled with obsidian and by using the same methods for tumbling obsidian. Wait 'til you see some of my midnight-lace...  |
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Oct 17, 2005 15:10:14 GMT -5
James,
Now knowing how difficult it is to Knap, that point is just Awesome! You do some fantastic work, and it's great to be able to admire your points! I look forward to any tutorials you post in the future! I need plenty of help...although I'm on my way. There's still lots of tips and useful suggestions that I know will come in handy. Thanks for sharing that beautiful point.
An Admirer...Steve Holmes
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 17, 2005 15:10:16 GMT -5
Yup, I'm still alive.  Flint knapping keeps me AND my sanity well. Hi Steve, I hope to get the tutorial up by next weekend. The only problem is, I'm going on a business trip to Tennessee on Sunday. I'll have Friday off and maybe Saturday too. So I hope to get it up then. |
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Oct 17, 2005 15:52:16 GMT -5
Wonderful work, as always. That looks like it would require much more patience than tumbling!
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 17, 2005 22:21:28 GMT -5
james you really have a talent with the rocks. don't you give up your rocks!
kim
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Post by rockds on Oct 17, 2005 23:49:34 GMT -5
that is great james, always wanted to know how to make my own. Have over 200 I've collected from GA, AL, AR, SC, NC, IN and TX. Look forward to seeing the tutorial and maybe giving it a try my self. Do you have any war points?
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Post by Cher on Oct 18, 2005 0:14:44 GMT -5
Thanks Cher. Yes. It can be tumbled with obsidian and by using the same methods for tumbling obsidian. Wait 'til you see some of my midnight-lace... You know what James, I think that's just wrong!  Just totally wrong that there's gorgeous stuff like that just laying over there in Oregon, so dang far away from me. ;D |
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Post by stoner on Oct 18, 2005 1:20:16 GMT -5
Hey James. Nice work man. That is an art that can never be replaced by machines. Glad to see you around. Still got the tumblers going?
Ed
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 18, 2005 1:46:02 GMT -5
Do you have any war points? I've made a few. Nothing worth showing off though. I did them mainly when I was beginning. You are talking about the triangular unnotched points that fall off in the body when the arrow is pulled out right? My Grandfather has quite a few that he collected in Pennsylvania when he was a young man. He has about 150 arrowheads in his collection. Personally, I really like the Texas style points. Like the Corner-tang knives, Pedernales and Montell points. I'm fascinated with Texas style dart points. |
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Oct 18, 2005 1:48:27 GMT -5
Hey James. Nice work man. That is an art that can never be replaced by machines. Glad to see you around. Still got the tumblers going? Ed I think you are right, Ed. There is something uniquely appealing about something so primitive, yet requiring so much skill. |
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 18, 2005 1:48:33 GMT -5
Ed, Tumblers are still rollin' after nearly 4 months unchecked. I lost the "fire" for tumbling. I'm slowly getting back into it though. I guess I'm really just too lazy to change the grit.  |
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Post by Cher on Oct 18, 2005 7:45:00 GMT -5
James, was it your Grandfather's collecting that got you interested
in the arrowheads? I had to go look up the names you mentioned
and found this Texas Arrowheads site. I had no idea that there were
so many different types of arrowheads made. Very interesting!! The
site I found is texasarrowheads.com if anyone else is interested.
Cher
PS. Still looking at this site, found the Cornertang point you mentioned.
What was that used for? It's very odd looking and for the life of me I can't
figure out how it was used.
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Post by creativeminded on Oct 18, 2005 10:33:01 GMT -5
Very well done.
Tami
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Post by rockds on Oct 18, 2005 22:07:59 GMT -5
James, yes those are the points I was talking about (war points) I have some but not many. My favorite points are the ones I found in GA, don't know if it was because I was a kid at the time or because they are made from quartz. My prize point is missing its tip but is made of rose quartz - may have to dig it out and look at it again.
Robert
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Post by Cher on Oct 18, 2005 22:14:51 GMT -5
How do you find an arrowhead? I mean are there specific places that you know they are at or is it really just a fluke to find one?
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Post by rockds on Oct 18, 2005 22:24:53 GMT -5
Cher, find out where indians use to live - best place to look is in a freshly plowed field - get farmer permission 1st. Another good place to look is river/stream beds - my brother found a nice tomahak head once in a dried up steam bed. When my uncle was building his house in Atlanta they unearthed 30-40 points as well as lots of civil war miniballs, cannon fragments and a few buttons. Or get james to make you one.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 19, 2005 2:15:34 GMT -5
James, was it your Grandfather's collecting that got you interested in the arrowheads? I had to go look up the names you mentioned and found this Texas Arrowheads site. I had no idea that there were so many different types of arrowheads made. Very interesting!! The site I found is texasarrowheads.com if anyone else is interested. Cher PS. Still looking at this site, found the Corner-tang point you mentioned. What was that used for? It's very odd looking and for the life of me I can't figure out how it was used. You know, now that you mention it, yes, it was my grandfather who inspired me. I was very young. Just the idea of holding and arrowhead that a real Indian made fascinated me. I remember once when my grandfather got out his collection, to show it off; I tried to "pocket" one of the points. He didn't see me do it but out of 150 points he knew exactly which one was missing. He told me " give it back now." I tried to play dumb but eventually he got it out of me. A good thing too! I most certainly would have lost it sooner or later. The corner-tang: This point is still a mystery. Some people claim that the Indians tied a leather loop around the notches and used the knife with their hand. If you ask me, that's just plain wrong. There are many other knife types that have no notches, so why bother notching the corner-tang. I have my own theory but I'm going to keep it to myself for now. |
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Flint knapping keeps me AND my sanity well. 
Just 
