I’m so glad that I found this channel. I have been looking for a channel like this for awhile. Thank you for creating such a wonderful channel for everyone to enjoy and learn
It is always fascinating to see someone using a skill I know nothing about. I've been to Grime's Graves and seen the East Anglian neolithic flint mines, showing the huge chunks of flint that were extracted. It never ceases to amaze me how small the artifacts are that come out of huge slabs of flint. A hand axe or that dagger is 10%-15% the size of the original nodule. I know that other prehistoric traditions of knapping focused on making blades from nodules to be reworked into other tools, but these demonstrations leave the knapper knee deep in triangular offcuts. Remarkable skill. Thanks for showing us.
Son, if I sat down at your place and started knapping arrowheads out of those thousands of flakes in the ground, Id be there the rest of my life, content!
Damn, Will, its so beyond amazing to watch you take a beautiful piece of stone like that and reveal a perfect dagger from within it. I cringed every time you struck that stone hard. Skill, talent experience and luck, all combined to create a masterpiece any stone age hunter would cherish his whole life!
Outstanding always.ive been following u for 5 years now and u never cease to amaze me.the only one I know to perfect aboriginal tools.love watching u chip away at the stone.Master Will .👍👍
I’ve been knapping 25+ years. I follow several knappers here but by far, you are the best. They can make small thin points that have no practical use really. You knap a tool and use it. Much respect to you.
I know have 2 danish daggers in my the ice age is coming stash thanks to you and all your knowledge. Now, they are made out of obsidian I found In California but I’m still happy with em. Thanks again
Getting a great appreciation for what was required to produce tools, and weapons. I am earnestly impressed that your hands were not cut to ribbons, brushing all those razor sharp chips and flakes so casually off your leg. I enjoyed this video!
This is utterly fascinating to watch! Brings me back to my childhood, playing cave man in the woods, when I tried to make stone tools but didn't have flint (just ordinary granite and other "normal" rocks), so I just smashed them together until they shattered into somewhat sharp edges. I had no technique and no real idea of what I was doing, I just knew I wanted sharp stone pieces. You are a master, I catch my breath with every strike against that flint!
I could watch flint napping for hours, I'm always having a go at the flint every time I'm at the beach as it's all over the place! I never make anything though! Want to take one of your Classes at some point. 👍👍 always a pleasure to watch you work
I've been slowly catching up on your videos. Just amazing, must say, I never thought watching someone bang two stones together ( little joke , flint knapping is definitely an artful skill), so engrossing, almost mesmerising. I was never convinced prehistoric man to be the lumbering buffoon club wielding troglodyte as once was thought, they must of been intelligent, extremely knowledgeable of there environment and how to use it,, ultimate survival, , and what an ultimate life and skill set to of had,, BRILLIANCE Will, simply brilliance, ✌ 👍
Will, I only found your site a couple of days ago & I've been binge-watching ever since! I've really enjoyed them! Your passion and enthusiasm shine out of the screen, and I can tell how much you enjoy working with the stone. I love the way the stone's "voice" changes as you manage the size and shape of the finished dagger. And the way the 'cast off' sounds like rain as it hits the ground! (This Stone Age stuff seems to bring out the poetic side of this gruff, 60 year old Scouser! Who woulda thunk it?!?! LOL) 27:18 There's a UK Guitar Company called Crimson Guitars and the owner, Ben Crowe always says that the last 5 - 10% of the work you do is the FIRST THING the customer sees. Therefore, like you say, nobody sees the hours & hours of work that went before. If you mess up at the end, that's the ONLY thing the customer sees!
An insight into the minds of our ancestors. Just watching you think through the same problems is really great. Thanks for sharing from a new subscriber.
That was probably the quickest 30 minutes I've watched so far haha. Very informative and nice camera angles. Awesome piece Will, thanks for sharing and look forward to more of your videos.
Yes it was a long videp but very interesting. I have always been very interested in "primitive tools" that aren't really as primitive as most believe. I have used flint points on arrows that were actually sharper than a surgeons scalpel. Primitive indeed.
Cool brother, u got style, talent and common sense. When the world wide black out hits, u are a gem amongst the worthless diamonds that really are just that.....worthless. Keep up the great craftsmanship
Incredible to watch that dagger emerge from a large piece of chalky flint, I live in the Valencia area of Spain, unfortunately there is nothing even close to flint in this region.
I have never seen this before, never even heard of Flint knapping, and I was amazed how you did this. When you was near the end and you were striking the Flint to remove those hinges I found that I was holding my breath with every strike. Really well done. A very nice Flint dagger. Way above anything I could ever make, but thank you for sharing.
Yup used to do that as a kid here in Norfolk school trips used to go and see stuff being made and then have a crack ourselves its takes ages and you can screw it up very easily. But as means of making tools and weapons before anymore even thought of using any kind of metal forging and figured out how to use an anvil to shape weapons, beats nothing.
I love it! And honestly find it comical that the UK has knife laws and this dude is making a flint dagger he can't even walk to his friends house down the street with it in his jacket pocket 🤣
I your planning a trip to Denmark, your welcome to stay at my place. I live in a small town on the island Lolland. We got some good flint lying arond. Good vid keep it up
Really enjoyed. Start to finish. I've watched a few of your napping projects and it seems 95% of the flint is taken away to leave your tool. Maybe it isn't that much actually. However, I'd enjoy understanding better why so much has to be taken away to get down to what you want.
If the white stone is chalk, wouldn't it be possible to dissolve it with acid (taking proper safety measure first of course) without weakening the flint? You would have a lot less chalk to remove and dissolving it may give you better opportunities for knapping. You made a really nice blade though, good job! Someday I may try knapping out and see what I come up with. Maybe I'll take the time to record it too so I can share it. P.S. I just looked below and found a similar comment. Sorry if you've seen this before. ^^;
fu*king fantastic! question: you call it a dagger and not a knife; does this mean if you were to use this, you would stab with it? and not cut with it?
I love your videos. I was thinking. If that is chalk, couldn't you pressure wash it off the stone?? Then you can see everything and maybe get a better piece. just a thought from someone that never did it. i definitely want to learn.
