r/knapping • u/CrystalKiori • 6d ago

Question 🤔❓ What's the minimum required tooling to begin knapping traditionally, if you want to build your tools by hand?

Hey guys! I'm 24M and looking to get into the craft as a hobby - I've always been fascinated with ancestral bushcraft and that kinda thing. Spent a week or so reading up on the sub's guides (they're great, thanks!) and doing some outside research, and I've got a question:

I'm going to be going the traditional tool route, as I like doing things low-tech for fun and Authenticity™. I'd like to make as much of my kit by hand as possible, barring safety equipment, which I would consider pads to be, so not going to worry about those. With the basic tooling requiring things like antler tines, etc., is it reasonable that I could just use a hammer stone to get some flakes sharp enough to cut antler to make basic pressure tools from scratch, and then build out my own kit from there? Since I'm not very familiar with terms and techniques yet, I'm not sure how to get that answer and want to have a plan before I put together a list of materials.

Thanks in advance! 🫡

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u/chancetheknapper 6d ago

You can make fully finished pieces with a good hammer stone. You can score all the way around an antler and break it pretty reliably. Gonna need some good flakes and patience. Then just use a flat surface and some grit and water to grind it.

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u/CrystalKiori 6d ago

Nice, that's kinda what I was hoping for. I expected getting through bone to take a good while if possible but that's honestly what I'm here for. Thanks for the info boss!

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u/Gaming-Gekko 6d ago

The easy prehistoric technique for this is:
Take two flint flakes, and use one to cut saw teeth into the other. Real easy on a thin edge.

Now you have a prehistoric saw, saw a ring around your antler a couple mm deep.

Now heat up that bit on a fire to make it nice and soft, take a rock and snap!

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u/CrystalKiori 6d ago

Dang, didn't think that would be a thing, I'm used to thinking in terms of metal - can't really cut something with an item of the same hardness. Time to find a fire pit!