California Knappers

Monthly Flintknapping Get-Together

The California Knappers is a knapping get-together of flintknappers who like to flake stones, learn from each other, trade for materials and meet fellow lithic knappers. The get-together is open to beginners, intermediate and advanced knappers. Anyone who is interested in the skill of making stone tools is more than welcome. We will meet one day in every month. Check this webpage for monthly dates.

Flintknapping:
Knapping is the shaping of flint, jasper, agate, chert, obsidian or other conchoidal fracturing stone through the process of lithic reduction to manufacture Stone Age tools.

"The word knap means 'to snap or break by a smart blow'. The word flintknapping was coined to describe the manufacturing of gun flints. Not all stones that can be worked into tools are flints, but the label stuck. In present day, the term is commonly and broadly used to describe the prehistoric skill and ancient craft of making flaked stone points, arrowheads and tools."
Definition by Grog Verbeck

Knapping tip of the month:
"One rule is useful to keep in mind when doing percussion flaking: follow ridges. Remember, the force spreads equally in all directions. This is true only to the extent that there is sufficient mass to transfer the blow. In practice, the force will spread furthest along the ridges. In other words, you should align your hammerstone blows such that the force applied will follow an existing ridge. This can be either a natural ridge on the core rock, or it can be the ridge left behind by a previous flake scar. By consistently following ridges, you will be able to strike the longest possible flake."
Except from "Flintknapping, The Art of Making Stone Tools" by Paul Hellweg

Update on the December 11 knapping get-together:
The overcast sky and the chilly weather did not deter eight knappers from attending the December knapping get-together. Flintknappers are a hardy group that just enjoy flaking rocks whenever possible. Everyone worked on their lithic project while enjoying the camaraderie of each other. Rick from Los Angeles, who was visiting a friend in the San Francisco Bay Area, joined us to gain some experience in knapping basics. He was gathering information for a university film project that had scenes on flintknapping. Access the webpage below to view a synopsis of his film.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/richardhperry/copper-age-a-gritty-action-adventure-in-3300-bc

Information for the NEXT California Knappers Get-together
We decided to do something different, but related to knapping, for the next knapping get-together.
We will be meeting at the Santa Clara Archery Range in Cupertino to start out the new year with archery and atlatl shooting.

Date: January 15, 2012 (Sunday)
Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Santa Clara Archery Range, Cupertino, CA
See driving directions to the range below.
Access to the archery range is free to the public.
RSVP: Contact me via e-mail to let me know you are coming. I would like to get a head count on how many people will be there.
Information: Contact Dino Labiste via e-mail for any questions at kahikoarts@yahoo.com
Check this webpage the night before the get-together for any last minute changes.

DIRECTIONS TO THE SANTA CLARA ARCHERY RANGE:
Access the Bowhunters Unlimited webpage for directions on how to get to the archery range.
http://bhuarchers.org/bow/?q=node/3

WHAT TO BRING:
1. Bring your own bow and arrows. No broadhead or stone tipped arrows are allowed for shooting at the bale targets. You must use arrows that are for target shooting (no barbs that can damage the bale targets).
I will bring a few atlatl and darts for the people who do not have a bow and arrow set. Let me know via e-mail, if you would like to borrow the atlatl. I don't have a lot to lend out. So, first come, first serve. I do not have extra bow and arrows.
2. Dress for the cold weather. We will also be using the hiking range, which involves walking to the various targets in the hills. Bring comfortable hiking shoes or any footwear that is appropriate for hiking.
4. Bring a lunch and a water bottle.
5. For those of you who have not done a lot of archery shooting, it's wise to bring a finger shooting tab. The leather tab will keep your fingertips from hurting after shooting for a long period of time. You can make one very easily, if you have some flexible leather. It does not have to be fancy or elaborate. Think of the function of the tab, which is to keep the bow string from biting into your finger tips, expecially afer prolonged shooting. Be creative. Access the link below for examples of an archery finger tab.
Google images of archery finger tabs

NOTE: This archery shooting get-together is not sponsored by any park, organization or individual. This is only a get-together of fellow knappers / archers / atlatlist / like minded friends. It is not a class or a workshop. Every person is responsible for any injuries and liabilities that he or she incur. You are accountable for your own actions and damage to property. Be safe and follow the rules of the archery range. Use caution and common sense.

CARPOOLING TO THE SANTA CLARA ARCHERY RANGE FROM FREMONT:
If anyone is interested in carpooling to the archery range, let me know via e-mail. Vehicles can be parked at the Park-N-Ride parking lot on Ardenwood Boulevard in Fremont. We can carpool in as many vehicles as necessary to the Santa Clara Archery Range. If you decide to carpool, please be aware that you will have to return when the driver decides to leave the archery range location. You can e-mail me at kahikoarts@yahoo.com, if you want to carpool from Fremont.

The California Knappers get-together is open to the public. There is no fee to attend. Come and join us as we practice our shooting skills at the Santa Clara Archery Range.

If you don't want to receive any California Knappers e-mail notices, let me know and I'll take your e-mail address off the California Knappers list.

Keep on Rockin',
Dino Labiste
kahikoarts@yahoo.com
PrimitiveWays.com

FLINTKNAPPING RELATED LINKS:
1. Flintknapping classes for beginners at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont
2. Flintknappers - Beginners (YouTube videos by Jim Winn): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
3. Flintknapping 101 Basics - Copper Boppin' (YouTube videos by Jimmy Williams): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
4. Flintknapping 101 Basics - Pressure Flaking Indian Style (YouTube videos by Jimmy Williams): Part 1, Part 2
5. Flintknapping Tips by Wyatt Knapp
6. "How to" articles on flintknapping (Puget Sound Knappers)
7. From Beer Bottle to Arrowhead (Knappers Anonymous)
8. The Non-Abraded Platform (YouTube video) by Jimmy Williams
9. "Obsidian is Hot Stuff" by Jim Miller
10 . "California Knapping" by Paul D. Campbell
11. The Properties of Stone
12. Flint Knapping: Finding and Treating Knappable Stone
13. Heat Treating by Larry Kinsella
14. Heat Treating Time/Temperature Table by Rich Urata
15. Modern Flintknapping
16. PaleoPlanet (flintknapping forum)
17. "The Art of Flint Knapping" (book) by D.C. Waldorf
18. "Flintknapping: Making and Understanding Stone Tools" (book) by John C. Whittaker
19. "Caught Knapping" and "Lap Knapping" (videos for sale) by Craig Ratzat
20 . Lithics Casting Lab.com (quality casts of Stone Age artifacts)
21. Ishi Stick Pressure Flaking (YouTube video by Jim Winn)
22. Flintknapping Demonstration by Dr. Bruce Bradley (YouTube videos)

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