My father is really into flint knapping and recently he’s been branching out and trying other materials besides obsidian like agates and glass. I want to get him something cool to experiment with for Christmas? Any ideas on something maybe more colorful or unique? Thanks!

I don't frequent those platforms but wondered if they have knapping communities. If so. What are they like in comparison.

Hi Everyone! I am just wondering if anyone does Obsidian Knapping. We are looking for an amazing craftsman who can custom order something like the photos attached. If you know someone, or if you are interested in doing this project please get in touch with me, I'll give you further details. Thank you so much in advance!

https://preview.redd.it/yo919z0dra3e1.png?width=1658&format=png&auto=webp&s=d734064545910ceed80e0b5fc8354f137f8806e9

https://preview.redd.it/rnlood78ra3e1.png?width=1076&format=png&auto=webp&s=00c20acea6b2047994908e9b9f680459fa00d336

Got my hands on some English flint. This stuff is pretty nice. It Flakes so easily. Almost as easy as working with obsidian.

The three on the right are two different grades of Georgetown, the first one is Keokuk, and the one below it that looks like a cracker sprinkled with salt is Buffalo river chert. All of these little points were rendered from flakes. I have some dover flint/chert that I'm getting accustomed to. I had hoped to include a bigger point with these little guys but I broke it prematurely. I'll get it the next time. All of these were made with indirect percussion, minimal pressure flaking. I have gotten better with the latter, but if I'm being honest, I don't really like pressure flaking. I know it's an integral part of the process, but I spent most of my time with indirect because most of these flakes were pretty thick (up to 3/4" and 3" long) in some areas and it just made more sense.

Lately I've been spending my "knap time" just thinning out really gnarly flakes, and attempting to biface spalls. Before I could never get them flat, or achieve an actual biface. I've finished 2 bifaces, (but only to destroy them later on ) and I'm getting pretty good at taking off the bulb of percussion, and removing the centerline that often forms on the other side of flakes. You know the one. It's getting easier to set up platforms and handle problem areas. Hopefully in another 2 months I'll be even better, and I can start to make points from an idea instead of just trying to clean up a flake and then see what the rock allows me to come away with.

Playing around with some heat treated buffalo River