Knapping chert and making an arrow

[RGK]

I was asked by a friend to make a replica arrow for is den. I was at the WI deer and turkey expo last weekend and picked up some chert stone flakes that will work great for this project.

 

I used a nice, thin, white piece for the arrowhead.

 

I made some wood and cooper tools and an antler brow tine to flake away the stone. The leather is to protect my hand as I press the coper tool against the chert. The flakes are sharp.

 

I started by squaring off the bottom of the flake and then chipped the head to shape.

 

 

Lastly I added the grooves to each side that will be used to tie the head to the shaft. This is where I make the most mistakes and break the head.

 

 

Next, I used a knife to cut a groove in the end of a wood shaft to accept the stone head.

 

[RGK]

I will trim away the extra wood after I tie the head on.

 

To tie the head to the shaft, I use the sinew I save from the loins/backstraps from my deer.

 

It separates into nice thin threads.

 

I soaked the sinew threads in cold water to soften and stretch them.  While waiting, I stained the wood shaft. The sinew does not really get tied onto the shaft. It is more like wrapping a wet noodle around the shaft. After I put on a few layers, I dried it with a blow dryer (just like I'm sure the early people did). This makes it shrink tight. I then rub the sinew with a block of bees wax to waterproof it so it won't get wet and loosen up.

 

 

 

For the fletching, I went back to the turkey feathers and tied them on.

 

[Hot Hap]

Wow-Wish I had that kind of ability. Hap

[ber643]

Nice! Your friend will be pleased.

[Budog56]

Awesome work!!!  

[TimBow2]

nice

[JEFF B]

hey real cool bro  

[drewsbow]

Very nice :0)

[mich-mtnman]

very cool bro.

[possumtrot]

RGK, nice work! What did you use to make the copper tools? I would really like to get started in flintknapping.. John

[pdubya]

Nice job. I would love to learn how to do that.

[traditional_archer]

Nice work

[Jerry Jeffer]

Your photos made it seem like it just happened along like magic. Nice.

[RGK]

I used heavy gauge copper wire and brass rods to make the tools.

 

Originally posted by possumtrot:
RGK, nice work! What did you use to make the copper tools? I would really like to get started in flintknapping.. John

[possumtrot]

Thanks. Did you drill holes in the wooden handles to get the copper and brass in? What gauge wire would you suggest? #6 or so?

[RGK]

I drilled holes and used epoxy to hold the wires in. I think I used rods from 1/4 inch and down in size.