How to Make a Flint Arrowhead
Flintknapping is an ancient skill used to make arrowheads, spearheads, axes, knives and many other tools. Properly executed stone edges can be sharper and finer than a modern surgeon's scalpel, making flintknapping a practical skill to learn even today. Learning to make flint arrowheads is also a great way to reconnect with your heritage.
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Things You'll Need
- Brittle stone for the arrowhead
- Hard stone for the "hard hammer"
- Bone or antler for the "soft hammer"
- Sandstone or limestone
Instructions
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Choose the stone you want to use to make your arrowhead. This stone is called the "core." The best choices are brittle stones with a very fine (or no) grain, such as flint, chert, obsidian, quartzite, jasper or chalcedony. These stone will break in a predictable, controllable way, making it easier for you to create an arrowhead. Look for stones that are uniform, without any fractures, inclusions or other imperfections, and try to find a stone that is as close in size to the finished product you want to make.
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Gather materials for a hard hammer. A hard hammer is used to chip off large flakes of your core stone. Traditional materials are hard, heavy stones that will transfer rather than absorb force, and these include granite, gneiss, quartz, basalt, and other igneous or metamorphic rocks.
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Gather materials for a soft hammer. The soft hammer is used for finer, detailed work, and traditionally the antler of a deer, caribou, elk or moose is used. Bones, or even very hard wood, may also be used.
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Sketch out a design for your arrowhead. A functional arrowhead should have a sharp point with a wider base, with a flare at the end of the base for attaching it to the shaft with string or sinew.
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Begin carving. Hold the core stone in one hand and rough out the shape of the arrowhead using the hard hammer. You can hold the core against your leg for better balance and control, but you may want to lay a thick blanket or mat over your lap first for protection. Be careful with the hard hammer and try not to nick your fingers. Remember, a more controlled but weaker blow is better than a forceful but uncontrolled blow.
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Work in the fine details with the soft hammer once you have the basic arrowhead shape. It is recommended that you first dull any edges you're going to work by grinding them against sandstone or limestone. This will prevent the edge from collapsing or a bigger piece breaking off than you intended.
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Use the soft hammer to chip very small pieces away from the edges of your arrowhead, creating a razor-sharp point. As your arrowhead gets sharper, you may want to wear leather gloves while finishing it, to keep from cutting yourself.
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- Photo Credit juliaf, sxc.hu
