PAGE 1

A MODERN LEGEND

ABSTRACT:
REINHARDT'S GRAY GHOSTS
""A MODERN LEGEND""

"GRAY GHOSTS" MADE BY BRYAN REINHARDT

   This article illustrates and describes a series of modern-made art pieces that have been referred to as "gray ghosts" by collectors and even archaeologists for many years. These famous "flint spears" were made by Bryan Reinhardt beginning sometime in the 1940's and continuing well into the 1970's. No one knows how many of these 8 inch (20.3 cm) to 9 inch (22.8 cm) long "spear points" he made. A minimum order was a gross (144) so he must have made countless thousands of them. They were made by sawing out "blanks" of thin rectangular slabs of stone (Edwards Plateau chert). These were then pressure flaked into shape with some type of mechanical lever devise he invented himself.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
"GRAY GHOST" DOVETAIL
MADE BY BRYAN REINHARDT
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   This large point is made to look something like one of the many different styles of Early Archaic Dovetail points. It's made of light brown Edwards Plateau chert and measures 7 7/8 inches (20.1cm) long.

   "Gray Ghosts" have caused quite a lot of confusion for more than half a century now. The buying public has had such a hard time identifying them as either old or new artifacts that they have become a modern legend. The first ones were produced in Bryan Reinhardt's "flint spear" factory sometime in the 1940's. "Gray ghosts" are large modern-made "flint spears" that were made during the 40's, 50's, 60's and early 70's. "Gray ghosts" are scary only when the people that purchase or inherit them, believe they have ancient artifacts of great value. But they're actually nice examples of one man's modern flintknapping art. Each one is a little different and unique. True "gray ghosts" are credited to Bryan Reinhardt because he made so many more than anyone else. He passed away in about 1982, by some reports, of silicosis of the lungs.


EDGE VIEWS OF 4 "GRAY GHOST"
MADE BY BRYAN REINHARDT
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   Points made from sawn preform "blanks" if compared to preforms made in the traditional way with percussion flaking are much more flatter in cross-section. This picture shows four edge views of Bryan Reinhardt's points that were made from slabs cut with a rock saw.

   The term "gray ghost" comes from the color of the Edwards Plateau chert they were made from. This chert ranges in color from shades of gray to brown and a mixture of both. Edwards Plateau chert is found in Texas where Mr. Reinhardt was a resident. Ghost is a word that has been used to describe artifacts without a provenience (origin), like saying "that's a "ghost point." So it seems logical to call these large gray "flint spears" "gray ghosts."


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
"GRAY GHOST" DOVETAIL
MADE BY BRYAN REINHARDT
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   This large point has a Dovetail style base that's obviously copied from Early Archaic  Dovetail points. This example is made of Edwards Plateau chert and measures 9 inches (22.8cm) long. Can you see the ghosts in the stone?

   Bryan Reinhardt began experimenting with flintknapping sometime before WW II. It's believed he started by making arrowheads by pressure flaking by hand without the use of any mechanical devise. He was in the Army Aircorp during the war and may have been a mechanic. It wasn't until after the war that he started making long "flint spears" in large quantities.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
"GRAY GHOST" UNIQUE STYLE
MADE BY BRYAN REINHARDT
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   The shape of this "gray ghost" isn't copied from any of the known prehistoric point types in North America. It has a unique and artistic form with its recurved blade edges and stemmed base with a "bulb" on the end that makes it interesting to look at. This point is made of Edwards Plateau chert and measures 7 15/16 inches (20.2cm) long.

   After the war Mr. Reinhardt bought some rock saws and developed some type of mechanical devise that drove off flakes either by direct or indirect pressure flaking. This enabled him to manufacture these large points by the thousands and the numbers must range into the tens of thousands. The fact that the preforms for "gray ghosts" were sawed slabs makes them easy to identify. Unlike most ancient large points that are "rounded" on one or both side in cross-section, "gray ghosts' are very flat. Lay one on a table and the "flint spear" will touch the surface from end to end, or nearly so. Another feature to look for are places where the original sawed surface is still visible and wasn't removed by the flaking process.

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE TWO

"REFERENCES"

1997, "Grey Ghosts and Old Timers", Chips, Vol. 9, #1, by D.C. Waldorf.

Personal communications with Charley Shewey.

HOME    ORDERING