"He (George Eklund) is credited by many with introducing copper billets (type of flintknapping tool), or at least being one of those who invented them."--------2004, John C. Whittaker, "American Flintknappers, Stone Age Art In The Age Of Computers" p. 76.
     "For a while he (George Eklund) made points only partly knapped from a large flake, still attached as if growing out of the stone."----2004, John C. Whittaker, "American Flintknappers, Stone Age Art In The Age Of Computers" p. 76.
    "George may have been the first modern flintknapper to use copper tools. His work shows a wide range of talent and creativity."----2005, Tom Onken, "Modern Lithic Artists Journal" p. 29.
    "The article about you (George Eklund) in the Community Observer was most impressive and to sum up my feelings, I too, "dig you" as being one of the most outstanding youngsters in your field (of flintknapping) who can really devote his timeless efforts in such a stimulating venture."---------1974, Joe Bolger, Legislator - 11th District, Jackson County, Missouri, "Personal letter to George Eklund.
    "I (George Eklund) use deer antlers, a leather pad, and sandstone. I can make about six arrowheads an hour."------1974, "Relics From Past, His Life's Work," The Examiner, Eastern Jackson County's Daily Newspaper, April 23, 1974 (front page).
    "Eklund says finding relics is not as important to him as determining how they were made. He has spent seven years just learning to chip arrowheads like the Indians did"----1974, "Relics From Past, His Life's Work," The Examiner, Eastern Jackson County's Daily Newspaper, April 23, 1974 (front page).
     "In 1968 Eklund nearly severed a thumb while chipping and spent two months in the hospital (printer's mistake, was not that long). The keys to proper chipping are wrist pressure, angle, and beveling, he said."----1974, "Relics From Past, His Life's Work," The Examiner, Eastern Jackson County's Daily Newspaper, April 23, 1974 (front page).
   "George Eklund, a flint knapper who operates out of Independence, Mo., was brought to the Wichita State University campus this week by the archaeology department for a demonstration and question-answering session."----1978, James Michener, "Looking Sharp," The Sunflower (newspaper) p. 5.
     "The Grove (Oklahoma) Public Library's February display features the artistry of "Flint Knapper" George Eklund, whose wizardry in reproducing ancient artifacts has been widely publicized and products of his talent may be found in collections across the United States, as well as abroad."----1996, Bob West, "Steppin Out," news paper clipping.

 
GEORGE EKLUND
FLINTKNAPPER

     George Eklund is a well-known and respected longtime member of the flintknapping community. He began making points in 1963, at the age of 13, long before there were knap-ins or anyone teaching the public how it was done. Don Crabtree (1912-1980) didn't start his summer field school in flintknapping until 1968. There were very few knappers at that time. At least, no where near the numbers of people flintknapping today. George began making "arrowheads" by experimentation and learning on his own. He says both his parents encouraged his interest in flintknapping, especially his mom.
     If you're interested in some of George's lithic art, you can call him at 405 473 6459 or e-mail him at eklundgeorgesr@gmail.com

    A person's life-path is often influenced by small events. In George's case, his inspiration manifested in the summer of 63, when he and his brother were crossing a field on their bikes. His brother yelled out, "I found an arrowhead." George says, "I couldn't believe it and something clicked in me, how did they make this?" So, as they say, the rest is history and " the rock monster" was born.

    George began to learn flake removal techniques by trial and error, using everything from nails to antler. By-the-way, he says dripping water on a hot rock doesn't work. Like Ralphie says, "you'll shoot your eye out." He started by using a metal hammer to remove large flakes and he removed pressure flakes by pressing up instead of down. His path to learning flintknapping was interrupted though. In 1968, one of these upward, "Obsidian," flake removals almost severed his thumb and he spent several days in the hospital. Charley Shewey is the "old time" flintknapper who later taught George how to do proper technical percussion flaking. George said he told him "you can't do percussion flaking by pressure," which is what George was trying to do in the beginning. But George Eklund did learn how to do pressure flaking on his own.

     George is known for his ability to finish points quickly. In fact, Some flintknappers call him "the rock monster" because he "devours rock" so quickly. A newspaper article in 1974 quotes him as saying, "I can make about six arrowheads in an hour." Now, in 2014, George says he can make twelve in an hour. Whittaker (2004) writes that George is "one of the most exciting knappers to watch." He describes him as working so fast that it's hard to follow. "He often handles large pieces and works very fast, flipping his bifaces up in the air as he turns them over to work on the other face and striking them almost before they are at rest again." (Whittaker, 2004)

     George is credited, by some, as the inventor of copper billets. In the very least, he is one of the inventors. He definitely launched the idea, early on and influenced many other flintknappers with the use of copper tools. George has been saying for a long time, "let the tool do the work." A billet percussion flaking tool made of copper can remove flakes much easier and faster than one made of antler. He began using antler but switched to copper for most of the years he has been flintknapping. Copper knapping tools are also more durable and cost effective, compared to antler tools. He says you have to find a piece of copper that has the right hardness for the type of work you want to do.

     George Eklund is a prolific flintknapper. In other words, he is productive, creative, and inventive. These descriptive words reflects his ability to make unique forms of art. He may be the first person to have made the points-in-stone art he's famous for. These are partly finished points that are still attached to either nodules or flakes. They appear as if they are growing or emerging from the stone. He's also made frames of points that are mounted in soil with sticks, stones, and other debris, as they might look when first discovered in a field. Other forms of art include points attached onto driftwood, as if they settled that way in a streambed. He's also hafted broken segments of wooden shafts onto some of the points-in-stone sculptures. George is also known for different types of eccentrics, such as Valentines Day hearts and, believe-it-or-not, guitars. Waldorf wrote that, "He has come up with something new that I got a kick out of. He chips a guitar out of stone and they sell like hotcakes (Waldorf, 2006)."

     George Eklund has made all types of points. His favorites seem to be Archaic types, like Afton, Etley, Dalton, Hardin, corner notched, and Sedalia. But he can make any type of point, including, very good looking fluted points and fine art points. His flaking style is not to make them appear as perfect and uniform fine art points. But to make them appear as "normal" and natural looking. This is one of his unique flintknapping abilities. He can make them look old, which is difficult to do.

    George Eklund has appeared in many many newspaper articles, newsletters, and books over the years. They all seem to agree that his flintknapping art has been a worthy endeavor. One Oklahoma newspaper describes his ability as "wizardry," "The Grove Public Library's February display features the artistry of "Flint Knapper" George Eklund, whose wizardry in reproducing ancient artifacts has been widely publicized and products of his talent may be found in collections across the United States, as well as abroad." In 1974 he received a letter from a Jackson County Courthouse County Legislator saying that, "The article about you in the "Community Observer" was most impressive and to sum up my feelings, I too, "dig you" as being one of the most outstanding youngsters in your field who can really devote his timeless efforts in such a stimulating venture."

    Over the years, George has demonstrated flintknapping to the general public and university students. One story involves the anthropology department at Wichita State University. They invited him to demonstrate the art of flintknapping to archaeology students and asked him to copy a Dalton point they had in their collection. When he finished, they said he didn't copy it perfectly, even though he thought he had done a pretty good job. Everything on the point was a perfect match, except for one thing, his bevel was backwards. He is left handed and produced a left handed bevel. The point they handed him was made, typically, by a right handed knapper and, of course, it a right handed bevel.

     It would be safe to say that George has produced a great many tons of points and "blanks." The blanks are simple percussion shaped preforms that he has sold to other flintknappers. No one will ever know how much stone George has gone through by now but it surly must fill up one boxcar by now.

     George has used more Burlington formation chert than anything else. Other types of rock he's used are Mozarkite and Jefferson City chert from Missouri, Georgetown flint from Texas and Spanish Diggings quartzite from Wyoming. Most everything he's made is raw un-heat treated stone. He hasn't heat treated any rocks himself for twenty years or more. What little heat treated stone he might use now, he buys.

     George Eklund is a serious knapper. He's made a living chipping rocks which is impressive on its own. His many different unique forms of art is a pleasure look at. If there is one thing for certain, where ever George Eklund goes, a trail of flakes aren't far behind.

"REFERENCES"

1974, "Relics From Past, His Life's Work," The Examiner, Eastern Jackson County's Daily Newspaper, April 23, 1974 (front page).
1974, Bolger, Joe, Legislator - 11th District, Jackson County, Missouri, "Personal letter to George Eklund.
1978, Michener, James, "Looking Sharp," The Sunflower (newspaper)
1996, West, Bob, "Steppin Out," news paper clipping.
2004, Whittaker, John C., "American Flintknappers, Stone Age Art In The Age Of Computers."
2005, Onken, Tom, "Modern Lithic Artists Journal."
2006, Waldorf, "Chips," Vol. 18 #4.
1990 Personal Communication with George Eklund.

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