Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: nlester on November 28, 2011, 03:11:49 pm

Title: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: nlester on November 28, 2011, 03:11:49 pm: I know several of you trade for your rock, but what are some other options to obtain rock? I just got a beginner knapping kit and I'm going to try and make some points. As of right now, I'm not interested in making knifes or anything else. My goal is to make points to hunt and harvest deer with. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: JackCrafty on November 28, 2011, 03:21:04 pm: This is a common question. Let me first say that asking a knapper where to find rock is like asking a shrimp boat captain where the best spots are to catch shrimp. ;)

Carry a hammer or stone with you so you can chip rocks that you might find locally. Creek beds, landscape supply yards, construction sites (when they are not there), and friends' property.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: nlester on November 28, 2011, 03:49:30 pm: I guess I had that coming... ::) I realized that there were people that searched for it. I was just wondering if there were reputable businesses that some of you have dealt with in the past.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: JackCrafty on November 28, 2011, 03:53:35 pm: I've had good results purchasing rock off ebay. The best stuff I've got is from fellow knappers (face-to-face), so if you can find a knapping group, that would be your best bet.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: nlester on November 28, 2011, 04:03:06 pm: Sounds good. I appreciate the help.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: bubby on November 28, 2011, 05:39:57 pm: you can always go to a gem store, I know at mine they carry full stones including flint and jasper, and you can get obsidian for 1$ a pound, plus you can buy precut slabs or have it cut, which is nice with the pricey stone, at least that's a good way to get started and they can probablly let you know about some local knappers, the fellow that owns my local store happens to be a knapper so he is alot of help, Bub
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: TRACY on November 28, 2011, 08:54:56 pm: There are a few places that sell rock. I've bought rock from Charlie Bracken and Eric's rocks and such, along with several guys here that attend knap ins and sell their surplus. Can't go wrong with folks on this site.

Tracy
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: leapingbare on November 30, 2011, 10:03:47 pm: The only problem with buying rock from a knappers is you can bet the best rock has been set aside for there selfs.
not a big deal when ou getting started but down the road its a good idea to find a sorce of rock to collect.
There are also flint qurrys you can go to do dig your own rock and its very cheap at the qurry.
Mr Parker runs a novaculite qurry in Arkansas and you can buy it for 45 cents a pound. but it needs to be cooked at 700.
What state do you live in and i'll be able to let you know if you have rock there or not.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: warhawk on December 01, 2011, 01:25:45 am: I try to hunt rocks in the fields or anywhere that can get access to it. bring a hammerstone or copper bopper and hit the rock if it flakes it good. you have to realize that any knappable rock is ia good rock.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: nlester on December 01, 2011, 11:03:07 am: Thanks for all the help. I'm located in southern IN in the limestone belt.....I'm betting there is a source of knappable rock somewhere close. Thanks to everyone!
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: blackhawk on December 01, 2011, 12:58:51 pm: Go find yourself some hornstone...good stuff. Do some research on what it looks like and its location...you should be close. Go out in the farmers fields after they plow,or sometimes they pick em up and pile them in a pile. I met a guy at flint ridge last sept from your area(can't remember his name) and he had hundreds of pounds of good hornstone and that's how he scored all his.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: leapingbare on December 01, 2011, 08:06:58 pm: Yep i was going to say the same thing blackhawk just said.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: TRACY on December 01, 2011, 10:04:16 pm: Send me a pm on your location and I can get you headed in the right direction.

Tracy
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: nlester on December 01, 2011, 10:23:44 pm: Tracy,
PM sent. Thanks!
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: bareshaft12 on December 01, 2011, 10:53:51 pm: If you find some hornstone let me know,I'll be willing to trade some kaolin flint
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: cowboy on December 03, 2011, 11:05:51 am: You hit the jackpot with Tracy! He'll not lead you astray :D ;).
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: footfootfoot on December 08, 2011, 07:42:48 pm: Hi all,
I'm in upstate NY about an hour and a half from Flint Hill Mine in Coxsackie. I'm also about 30 minutes from Stark's Knob, a pillow Basalt formation. I'm thinking of planning a field trip to FHM before the weather gets too gnarly, although I'm not sure how much is private land and whether I can collect there on what isn't private.

I was also wondering if Basalt is knappable. I've read somewhere that it is, although with great difficulty.

I am so far at the bottom of the learning curve, but I've already got at least a dozen small cuts on my hands, and a small pile of chips. I've been practicing with glass and will go to the dump to pick up some Johnstone.

Any other thoughts about finding rock on the NY/ VT border around Bennington would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Where do you get your rock?
Post by: crooketarrow on December 11, 2011, 11:20:45 am: Glass form old junk piles theres lots it's good cheap to learn with and IT WILL KILL A DEER. I ASURE YOU.