Grind over flake adze

[Ghost Knapper]

Finally got around to making something. my first attempt at a square bit? adze. Flaked it out of georgetown and then had my dad grind it. Going to find a handle and see how well it will do.

[Trapper Rob]

Joel you bring it out one day & we'll try it out.

[riverrat]

sweet! i am building something simular right now.i like that axe blade.Tony

[Ghost Knapper]

Trapper Rob- Hopefully I can get a handle this week made. Dad made one out of some rock out of the susquehanna and it chops like a champ.

Riverrat- would love to see some pics. This is the first attempt I have made at something like this. It was challenging trying to knap 5 separate sides/faces rather than the normal 2 when making a point or blade.

[nclonghunter]

Looks great, bet that thing will chop a bow out of a tree..

[iowabow]

Was it hard to grind?

[Ghost Knapper]

I personally didnt grind it, but apparently it was easier than pedernales chert but harder than siltstone. But a diamond grinding wheel will chew through almost anything. 

[Ghost Knapper]

I did find though a really kool vid on knapping and grinding stone axe heads though with abo tools

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oma6hIBrrQ

[Zuma]

Joel,
Is that more a European style tool?
Are there any Native American ones? (flint)
thanks Zuma
Oh god, thanks for clarifing that you didn't
make your dad grind that by hand.

[bowmo]

Very cool. Looks nice and heavy, should work great. You should try grinding one by hand, it's not as bad as you might think. Nice job on the square sides, I haven't been brave enough to try that yet.

Zuma, squared axes are indeed more associated with European flintknapping. Native Americans generally made their flaked and ground celt and adz heads from pieces that were bifaced in the standard way.

[1442]

Nice! I want to make one too.
I have seen a prehistoric five sided axe/adz like that except it was ground smooth on all five sides out of a dark tan colored stone that looks like some of the local gravel. It was found in Sabine Parish Louisiana.
Some day when I'm up there I will get some pics of it.

[caveman2533]

Zuma, yes there are flint celts and adzes that are ground from here, mostly Midwest.

[Outbackbob48]

Joel, nice job. I saw the adze that your Dad made up at the Parker Dam, that was quite impressive for cutting wood. Bob

[Ghost Knapper]

Yeah it is I chopped through a log up at Little Pine State Park. I should have taken photos during the process of making this one, early stages really showed more definition to the 5 faces

[Josh B]

Cool!  The business end looks like it would do some serious wood removal.  Josh