I love mahogany obsidian, such a pretty volcanic glass, I also find it fascinating that I can drive sparks off it, about the softest of the rocks I can use for 'flint' and steel.
I do like mahogany obsidian. If you ever come to the US then you'll have to go to the state of Oregon, particularly the Glass Butte area. It's a free collection site so you could get a lifetime supply of material and ship it to the UK.😁
That looks like Mahogany Obsidian from Modoc county in northern California. I take my kids rock hounding there from time to time. It is stunningly beautiful stuff but soooooo brittle and sharp. I cringed every time you struck it because I have worked with it before and wow, it is dangerous.
Knowing the quality of mahogany obsidian makes the tool you’ve made more impressive. I always wondered if obsidian worked up like other stones. It’s basically a glass stone. What a wonderful piece of art and useful tool. 👍
The skills you have are second to none 👍 love your videos . Looking forward to hearing the next part of your stone age story as well Much love from your friends in Wales Ritchie and Raven xx
Bin watching your videos only recently. I see you have great skill & knowledge. Your stone work is very impressive. That's a lovely piece of stone & timber . Looking forward to watching & learning more. Happy new year to you & your followers.
Your profession is fascinating! Years ago I was reading the book series Clan of the Cave Bear, and two or three books in they go pretty in detail into flint knapping. It was described that a master knapper figured out how to make long blades without the natural curve by some heating process. Again, it was years ago so i don't remember details, but I was wondering if there's any validity to that, and have you read the series? Thank you for sharing your skills with us.
I read that book series Jean M Auel is a knapper, I was never able to follow her descriptions as a teen, but as soon as I began knapping I realised those descriptions are valid technique. Most of the 'inventions' the main character makes are real, though she's credited with rather a lot; Discovering heat treatment, inventing the spear thrower and the eyed needle
You could wear those fingertipless gloves, no? That would keep most of your hand protected, while still leaving the most tactile and nimble parts exposed. Also, this feels like a lot of work and rare materials to put into a weapon that has a decent chance of cracking the first time it strikes bone. But when you've got to kill someone I guess you don't skimp on the hardware, just ask the US military xD Also also, that axe is gorgeous.
Back before lasers, Obsidian flakes were sometimes used in eye surgery as they were sharper than a stainless steel blade could be made and did not have the microscopic hooks that all steel blades have. , or so I have read. The edge of an obsidian flake is perfectly smooth.
Wow! That is one of the prettiest pieces of stone (if I can call it stone) I have ever seen. I do have a thought though. Without your experience, I would have made, or attempted to make, the stone head first and then tried to match the setting in wood afterwards as wood is easier to work. That is, in my modern day experience. Is this a preference of yours or is there something I'm not seeing?
I’ve seen a lot of wood burnt finish looks like that one, I’m trying to make a spear myself, how do you get that look on wood without burning it primitively?
Don't want to be a nay sayer, but while it will be as good or better than it's predecessor it ain't gonna be in the game against your worst nightmare of the current crop of military Muscle 😮
