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GEORGE EKLUND'S
FLINTKNAPPING TOOLS
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COPYRIGHT
JULY
31, 2014 PETER A. BOSTROM
This picture brings to mind a surgeon's
operating room where all the tools are neatly laid out. These are
the tools George Eklund uses to make his lithic art. The tools in
the top row are copper billets. The eight tools to the right in the
bottom row are copper pressure flakers. The right side of the
picture shows George resharpening one of his pressure flakers on a
small grinding stone.
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. A billet percussion
flaking tool made of copper can remove flakes much easier and faster
than one made of antler. George 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.
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