Flintknapped knife blades, made by Mike Stocklin. Mike started working with stone knapping 25 years ago. First attempts were simple arrowheads made out of obsidian. Over the years he has gained more knowledge and expanded his ability by reading, practicing and working with other knappers.
Each stone is unique and working with each requires a little different technique as each type of stone has its own characteristics. Hard stone is brittle, but can be knapped easily and tough stone is easier to work if it is heat treated first. Mike gets most of his rock from various places, mostly by trading or buying by the pound.
All knives are made with deer antler handles, which are attached to the blade by wrapping with animal sinew that has been soaked in hide glue. After this dries, the sinew is coated with another layer of hide glue. When the glue has dried each handle is burned with Mikes special trademark and the entire knife is rubbed down with a good coat of mink oil paste.All blades are sold by estimating the length of the blade and the availability and cost of the stone used.
Obsidian:
Types are - Black, green, rainbow and mahogany (tiger stripe).
Volcanic rock found mainly in the Washington and Oregon area.
Very easy to knap, highly fracturable.
Burlington Chert:
Color
- Ranging from cream to pink or a mixture of both.
Found in the Burlington, Missouri area.
Medium hardness to knap.
Novaculite:
Color
- Milk white, clear white similar to glass, pink, pink-purple streaks.
Comes from Arkansas area.
Heat-treated stone, medium hardness to knap.
Rainy Buttes:
Color: Brown, reddish.
Comes from North Dakota.
Medium hardness.
Mike also knaps flint knives out of several other types of stone:Pedernales, RootBeer & Georgetown (from Texas), Keakuk (from Iowa & Missouri), Chelcedoney, Knife River (from North Dakota).
Please contact Mike with any questions or special requests and he will try to find the stone you want and answer any questions you have.
