Ishi worked slabs in a very unique way. In this video, I demonstrate how I belive Ishi worked his glass slabs. I made these observations during a visit to the Hearst museum where Ishi's artifacts are housed.
well you are still zig zagging just in reverse which you have to do some variation on a slab to knap both sides. Also by working into the mass you stand a much bigger chance of breaking the piece.. that is why most knap away from the base like starting at the base and taking flakes away from the mass same with working from the tip. Ishi was very unique with his knapping it is the beauty of the craft thanks for sharing....
I want to say thank you for introducing me to the story of Ishi with this video. I never knew who he was until you made me curious enough to do some research after I watched this. His was a fascinating, tragic story. Thanks for sharing & I hope you do many more. You are truly talented.
The flintknapper that taught me was Richard Warren and he supposedly learned from a old indian.he abraded with sandstone.I have also found pieces of sandstone you could tell were abraders..Neat way of doing it but I think some abraded..My opinion
Love your videos....been practicing on glass for a couple weeks now. I've found a lot of the striking becomes muscle memory over time, I suppose likes lots of things.
@5tonyvvvv He actually had a modern saw which is on display in my other video of the museum of Anthropology Berkeley. In his territory he used Western juniper but he used other woods while at the museum like Hickory and Yew. He also spoke of Incense Ceder as a alternative wood but sinew-backed juniper was his first choice. He used stone to shape his bows but he switched to a hand axe later. He spoke of the "master bowyer" of his tribe who had a ax as well.
Greetings, obviously it took me a while to find your post but Thank You for actually looking at the artifacts and working to understand what Isis did rather than making assumptions. Good work and thanks again. pax, PL
are you placeing the piece between your legs when flaking? If you do, you can use your leg strength to squeeze against your flaking arm and apply slow, massive pressure to the peice you are working. Put the peice between your legs, use your arms and legs both, then SQUEEZE. I had better results with this, but still struggle to get long flakes myself. Let me know if this works.
Nice video. Everyone's gung ho on using copper points for knapping, but steel in that size is of course a lot easier to find. Is it at much of a disadvantage compared to copper? I'd guess it wouldn't "bite" into the material quiet as well, but you don't seem to have any problem. I assume the "up ticks" are just flaking off a small chip to provide a platform, and these were what Ishi used instead of abrading platforms? Thanks for the very informative video!!
@5tonyvvvv In California steel tools made from wire fencing were used by the Indians during the historic period. Ishi utilized iron pressure flakers, man-made glass and ceramics while living in the wild. He also used antler and obsidian too, as you pointed out. Pope and Kreober actually had to persuade Ishi to use antler for "traditional" demos since Ishi preferred steel, both in the wild and in captivity.
@flychamp Hi Darrell, I was just thinking about you today when I drove past Dillard Rd. in Sac. I had a great time at the knap-in and I'm glad you came. We'll have to get together and knap one of these days.
@IamMohawk It does, but more importantly it recesses the edge back far enough to hook into the negative bulb. Flakes are actually taken off slightly behind the platform rather than right on the edge.
I have a piece of carrera art glass ( 8"x 1 1/2" x 1/4" cobalt blue ) coming in the mail. I want to make a nice blade out of it. I am just getting into knapping. I am reading all the books I can find and watching alot of videos as well as knapping chert and I have 19lbs of obsidion being shipped to me. I have tried knapping wine bottle bottoms but I seem to smash them but I am not the type to quit. So I will keep at it and buy lots of bandaids lol
@supermaucat Thanks! Check out my other Ishi videos. You can see one of his bows there. Steve Allely can make Ishi bows exactly to spec. Still, there is nothing like standing before the real one itself, or fondling his point with your own hands!
Ha ha ha what is more comical than watching a video on some of the same things that I do and then have my chihuahua barking in the background. on my leather i cut out a nice chunk from a weight lifting belt gives my glass plenty of support. and I also use steel in my ishi sticks but i use a low grade iron works good but i do use an abrader thanks for posting your video now go watch mine .OH-KA-NOI bone carving and more.
you started your point at the corners to make a platform. of which you had to flip over to use it to remove platform. at least thats my interpretation of zigzaging.
SUPERB video Jimmy! I've always been fascinated with Ishi and have read the book you mentioned. Have you seen his bow by any chance? I wonder if anyone makes bows today like he used to make them... they're quite awesome from what I've read.
FlintknapperJimmy I've had an interest in history and culture since i was a kid..and being from Cherokee bloodline I've always wanted to learn as much as I could..I never thought I would be able to make the survival tools used in the past..I've made jewelry and knives from bone and antler but never tried knapping til recently so I'm very grateful for others like you that have kept the spirit alive and in the process, giving aspects, ideas and opinions in order to better understand the old ways for future generations..great appreciation and thanks goes out to you!👍👍
Great information! Thank you! Do you have an informational on how you made your iron flaker? The one in this vid? I want to duplicate it if you won't mind? What kind of iron is it? A nail, spike, or something else?
Is there a particular steel (iron) that you use? Is it carbon steel (hard) or mild steel? You probably have a "source" for your raw material, because you've worked it down like a double-sided spade from round stock. Knowing the hardness of the steel would be very important to me. Thanks.
long time to remember but, you said you ALMOST cut your knuckle?! we saw blood so you did cut it! may not have felt it but it is bleeding cool video too!!
Watching this...having never flint knapped before...it feels like ive done exactly this same thing O_O maybe its my native american blood...or maybe im just really drunk.
