The Ultimate Point

- The Ultimate Point

Ahh yesssss. The Ultimate Point. Thought not the most ultimatest picture the point did come out real cool. Let me
tell you about it.

But zoom in an check it out -

It was around 7 at night some random night, I was getting
something outside and had the urge to sit down an make
something. I work outside doing percussion flaking. Also to
there was this big flintknapping event I was trying to go to
and knew that I wasn't going to be the best there but I would
bring my best work.

Ultimately the event for me didn't happen for me, just didn't
pan out. But this piece as it sits before you measure out to be 4 1/4 inch by just a hair line over 7/8 inch wide.

When I started it exceeded 3 to 4 times that big. From a huge chunk with the new tools I was hittin here, hittin there, removing big flakes things were going good. Got done, we went off to the store. Some days later I knew I could get it even thinner. I was maybe 7 inches, 8 to 6, not sure, but I did get alot thinner. Thought I wasn't pleased with how wobbly it was meaning there were some parts thicker than others.

Left it still for some more days until last night I was up in the wee hours of the morning chipping away, makin stuff till I couldn't stop. And the progression was slow, its a means of dozens an hundreds of flakes. I'm seeking to get a solid pattern down, and if you zoom in you'll see where the "flake scar" is and even in that you'll notice different wave patterns within them. Some, or most ripple like water disturbed and yet some elegantly smooth.

And I'm more partially there with I identified a new technique. It's to where I'm holding the piece in my hand, wrist bent backwards level with the ground inside of my palm facing up, pressure flaker lined or slightly above the edge and I load pressure using the back muscles of my arm while maintaining a stiff straight line via tools and body and then sorta wrist snap it down. If done right flakes fly off like nothing. That too includes having a good platform yes but more a place for the flakes to go. It has a certain distinctive sound to it, a very specific look.

It was placed like a long thin spear point and as I was working the edge I placed my flaker at the wrong place and snapped off a chunk. It was unfortunate, lost maybe an inch or more, and as i started doing the side notches I originally intended to do only one side and leave the other long and smooth.

But I figured once I release this picture or not even that once I stop I'm done. 9 out of 9 1/2 times I finish the pieces on the spot and don't retouch them or do any kind of further work when I do the pressure flaking. So kept at it and it was very difficult to do. Just the wrong stupid pressure can snap these pieces like breakin some spaghetti.

Each pass, each side notch was semi-nerve wracking/testing.
But I just slowed down, took it tiny piece by tiny piece and after a long while I finally finished it. I seen even before I stopped and in the photo not all area's are lined up or even. But the more I went in the further I risked it breaking so I did the best I could.

I'm not too sure what I'm gonna do with this piece if it strikes your heart get ahold of me. Other than that partial motivation to do this was for an interview I have coming up with Mr. Dwayne of Modern Flintknapping. That'll be this Friday. He's at - www.modern-flintknapping.com/i… and also one with the Homie Catswire and also some other things I wanna start doing. Some new, next level type of stuff. An just a final note, stability is highly noted in this pressure flaking, that in combination with the angles makes a global difference. Thought I'm still getting there I am progressing. Oh an it might look like some black obsidian but it's really some dark grey - That's all.

Talk to you later -

D. Pierce