Some people ask why we don’t write about primitive skills more often. The thing is, they don’t leave all that much to write about. These are pretty easy skills to learn. The mechanics of flint knapping, for instance, are pretty admirably covered in this short YouTube video. Of course, perfecting that skill takes practice, and to be good at it will take an enormous amount of practice. But this is just a lil’ ol’ blog; we can’t do your practicing for you. You’re going to have to go do that for yourself.
Hmm… Doing some research, it seems like there are some flint-like minerals. Chalcedony and Chert being most common in Nova Scotia. I guess I’ve just never been actually looking for these things when I’ve been out exploring.
Have we podfaded? Honestly, yes. We still harbor plans to bring back the podcast, once we have a place where we can record! Expect us back sometime in 2008.
The Directory gathers links to some of the best rewilding and primitivist sites we know of, gathers them in one place. Syndicated from the Anthropik Ma.gnolia Group.
Hey, taxes, hunting & fishing licenses and all the rest cost money. Besides, you'll need field guides, books, and some other gear anyway. The indigenous peoples of the world have spoken: the most useful thing to come out of civilization is the t-shirt.
Some people ask why we don’t write about primitive skills more often. The thing is, they don’t leave all that much to write about. These are pretty easy skills to learn. The mechanics of flint knapping, for instance, are pretty admirably covered in this short YouTube video. Of course, perfecting that skill takes practice, and to be good at it will take an enormous amount of practice. But this is just a lil’ ol’ blog; we can’t do your practicing for you. You’re going to have to go do that for yourself.
Comment by Jason Godesky — 1 November 2006 @ 1:04 PM
Wow! Awesome Video!
Unfortuneatly there is almost no flint lieing around to grab in either Nova Scotia or Vancouver.
Scavenged iron shaping is probably more likely come the apocalypse for me and my crew.
Comment by MatthewJ — 1 November 2006 @ 2:43 PM
Gasp! No OSHA-approved ASTM-certified protective eyeware!
Comment by JCamasto — 1 November 2006 @ 2:45 PM
According to “Caveman Chemistry”, you can practice on pieces of glass. Wear eye and hand protection.
Comment by -Sean. — 1 November 2006 @ 3:13 PM
Oh sure, the most highly prized rock around — for a sharp edge — was obsidian. Can’t get more ‘glassy’ than that
Really, Mat? What kind of rock do you have — lots of different types will do — they just may not be the best general purpose…
Janene
Comment by janene — 1 November 2006 @ 4:55 PM
Hmm… Doing some research, it seems like there are some flint-like minerals. Chalcedony and Chert being most common in Nova Scotia. I guess I’ve just never been actually looking for these things when I’ve been out exploring.
Comment by MatthewJ — 1 November 2006 @ 5:13 PM
Hey –
Yeah, I know chert is a good stone to work with — very similar to flint. Chalcedony I have not run across in this context, but what the hell
Janene
Comment by janene — 1 November 2006 @ 6:07 PM
What a wonderful video. Thank you for the great find.
Comment by Frank Black — 1 November 2006 @ 8:44 PM
From Beer Bottle To Arrowhead
Comment by casemeau — 1 November 2006 @ 11:07 PM