I also sell Ishi Sticks ............$24

Made as if I have to use it... I didn't skimp on the dimensions and built them rugged.  I'm still using the same stick for the past seven years and it's identical to what I sell.

Black Delrin Ishi stick with copper tips on both ends.  7/8" diameter X 24" long.  
The 7/8" diameter is the most commonly used size because it provides the proper flexibility needed for most lithic materials.  It's will NEVER break (unless it's used in some other extreme application... prying boulders for instance).

Email:  knivesofflint@yahoo.com

ISHI STICK ORDERING INFORMATION:

Purchases are made easy:  Shipping is immediately upon completion of payment.  Sorry, no credit cards.  
    A)  PayPal is the simplest method of payment.  With my instruction PayPal will email a 'Payment Request' and you deal directly with them.  
    B) Personal checks must clear the bank before shipment is made.  It's much faster if you have a major branch that's located in my neighborhood for direct access.  
    C) Money orders are welcome too but MUST be US Postal Money Orders available at any post office (most other money orders are easily counterfeited). 

Shipping and handling:  Ishi sticks are $6.50 for S&H.  S&H for knives are $8 (all skinners plus medium size knives) or $12 (large display knives) via USPS Priority Mail or first class.  S&H for all orders to Canada are $12.  No orders outside of North America except for to US military personnel with an APO, FPO, or DPO address.  Multiple orders will have to be determined separately.

My guarantee:  I guarantee you'll be satisfied with your purchase or I'll give you a complete refund with no questions asked.  This includes any shipping damage (I pack 'em good). 
 
eBay:  Occasionally I sell on eBay under the name tx_atakapa .  I strive to maintain my 100% rating with the same guarantee.

HELPFUL FLINTKNAPPING TIPS


I was recently asked "what's the best way to get started with flintknapping?".  Here's my reply that I wanted to share with anyone with the same desire:

#1:  Go to a knap-in  near you.  (links to knap-in calendars are found on my 'LINKS' page)  The knappers there will gladly teach you how at no cost, and also supply you with rocks and tools (usually at a price).  Costs can be adverted if you know where to find local knappable rock, and the tools are easily made if you are handy.  I bought a ton of "bull rocks" (large chert nodules from central Texas) from a local landscape business for about $12.  They were low quality and tough rocks, but perfect for my basic learning.  Don't waste money on expensive exotic material to learn on.  Some people learned knapping on the bottoms of beer bottles, but these days they are too thin and are not flat.  Any glass that's 1/4" or thicker, or even toilet tank tops, are good to learn on.  The people at knap-ins will supply you with endless suggestions and seeing their abilities will be an encouragement.  Not all of them are master knappers with years of experience.  Some have been at it for only a short time yet turn out great work.  Those are the ones that encouraged me the most when I was starting to learn.

#2:  Buy a video... I suggest "The Art of Flintknapping" by DC Waldorf for the basics.  There's a few who sell it on-line.  Waldorf doesn't primarily use an ishi stick for pressure flaking, but I highly suggest it because it can prevent damage to your hands and shoulders.  I can't stress that enough.  I believe it will also improve your knapping because you are using your more powerful leg muscles to pry off flakes instead of the arms and shoulders.  Get (or make)  one at least 20" long, or longer depending on your arm length.  There are some on the market that are 18" and are a waste of money... unless you're a small child. They don't have to be of space-age Delrin plastic either.  A broom handle is fine.  If you don't want to invest in a DVD, then the next best thing is to see what's on YouTube.com, specifically watch Paleomanjim's videos.

#3:  Decide what style(s) of knapping you want to use.  Waldorf covers most all the methods and types of knapping.  You don't necessarily have to bust rocks to make arrowheads but you could work with rock that's already cut into thin slabs and use the pressure flaking method alone to make a beautiful point.  I personally wanted to learn it all and especially how the Indians did it using rock in it's natural state with simple tools.  So I learned how to initially break rock using the percussion method and then using pressure flaking to complete the arrowhead.  I eventually learned how to work slabs, and later still I learned how to use the flake-over-grinding (FOG) method.  There's no real progression to which method you use first but some factors may determine it for you.  To work slabs or FOG could be cost prohibitive with acquiring cut rock or getting the equipment to do it yourself.  Working slabs or FOG with pressure flaking are the easiest methods and you get very nice results but I personally recommend learning percussion first.  It's more difficult but the reward of personal achievement is far greater.  You need to decide what it is that you want to achieve: master ability, or just some mediocre points to fill a frame or two.

#4:  If possible find someone who will be your mentor or co-learner.  The first ton of rocks you break up can be discouraging but you WILL get better... and it's all in relationship to how many hours you devote to it.  When you hit plateaus of ability then it's time to go to a knap-in or buy an advanced video.  If you have someone who is your knapping buddy then you may get the encouragement to make it past the learning barriers.  Most people who want to learn never make it past a couple of attempts at making an arrowhead because they get discouraged.  You must have a strong inner desire to stick with it and take it all the way.  I didn't have a mentor but what made me continue was seeing a guy at a knap-in knock out a beautiful spear point.  I found out that he had only been doing it a year with about an hour of practice on each weekend.  I figured that he was no more gifted than me and if he could do it, then I could as well.  I'm glad I toughed it out.

My experiences with flintknapping has far greater applications to life in general.  I learned that I can do anything that I set my mind to.  Learning to flintknap was not as great and overwhelming feat I had expected.  That's because I learned it one small step at a time.  Someone once asked me, "How do you eat an elephant?"  The answer is simple, "One bite at a time".  The same attitude it takes to eat an elephant, or to become a flintknapper, can be applied to anything else that you want to accomplish in your life. 

THE GREATEST POINT EVER MADE


Of course, THE greatest point EVER made would have to be made by THE Master Himself... GOD our Creator.

If you are unsure of God's existence then first consider this.  Ever found an arrowhead? 
                                                         
Did you think that it was made by some random accident of nature?  Of course not. You know from the evidence of the purposeful design that it was not a 'fluke of nature' but was crafted by someone with skill and knowledge.  The creator of it also had a plan for it.  All I can say is open your eyes and look around at all that the wonderful things our Creator has made... especially YOU, the crown of His creation!  Why did He do it?  He had a useful plan for you.  Please read on.

John 3:16 (NAS)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

That word 'believe' doesn't simply mean to 'know about' (even the demons believe in who Jesus is) but it means placing your trust in Him.  It's like trusting a bridge to support your car as you drive over it.  You know it will support you, but you haven't trusted in it until you have committed to passing over it.  Do you only know about God's salvation... without the commitment of trust?

OK, so you're a good person.  What does God think about that?:

Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)
"...and all our righteousness are as filthy rags."

That's right, what we think is our best stinks to God.  Our goodness is disgusting when in the presence of the perfect and righteous God. 

So does God need at least some of our help with paying for this wonderful gift? 

Ephesians 2:8 (NAS)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Our sins are no small matter with God.  

Romans 3:23 (NAS)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

All sin carries a death penalty, and all it takes is one sin.  We've all sinned and are condemned to die.  God doesn't send men to hell.  Our sin does.  He doesn't want us to be separated from Him because He loves us.  That's why He made a way for us to beat the legal requirement that we are obliged to pay for.  He created a legal loophole to deliver us from Satan's grasp.  What was impossible for us to pay was covered by Jesus on the cross.  That's why Jesus said "It is finished" when he gave up his spirit.  Essentially He was saying, "The debt of man's sin is now completely paid for."

You wouldn't insult someone who paid a great price for your birthday gift by refusing it, or even offering a few meager pennies to help pay for it, right?   To refuse the free gift of God is to refuse eternal life.  He paid the ultimate price and every good deed we do to 'help' pay for it would be to miss the point of it being a "free" gift.  There's no catch except one.  God is not going to give you eternal life only to have you live for the devil and continue as you were.  Your life WILL change.  God WILL change your heart for the better.  He WILL lead you down a brighter path.  It's win-win for you.  Only a fool would refuse an offer like that.  Sadly, many rather live for themselves, afraid that if God took control then theirs would be a dull existence.  To the contrary God promised an abundant life, full of peace, love and joy to those who receive Him.

The point is....

God paid the FULL price for our sin and offers FULL pardon at no cost to us.  All we have to do is receive his offer with faith, trusting that He's going to fulfill His promise.

You must recognize that your sins have come between you and God and without someone, a savior, to bridge the gap, it's simply impossible for your sins to be forgiven.  That savior is Jesus, God in the flesh.  He died to be your sacrifice, a perfect unblemished lamb, to pay the death penalty that you deserve, to make your salvation possible.  Simply talk to God.  Confess to God that you are a sinner and need to be saved from your sin and to be washed in the cleansing blood of Jesus.  Believe that and you will be saved.  In return, God will send you the Holy Ghost to indwell you and to seal you to Himself for future redemption.  The Holy Ghost will begin teaching you and revealing truths.

Got the point?  Still confused?  Contact me if you like.  Stacy Reeves, knivesofflint@yahoo.com