Where can I buy Nodules for knapping Gun Flints?

[Hatchet-Jack]

Hi folks! I learned Flint knapping on obsidian as a kid. I would like to try my hand at knapping my own gun flints. Does anyone know where I can buy English Flint large nodules? Dixie Gun Works lists them. Anyone bought theirs?

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...egory_id/339/product_name/FA3000+Flint+Nodule

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I bought one from DGW many years ago. At the moment their shipments are running at least 4 weeks late. I am still waiting for inlay wire that was ordered on 12/24.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Dover, England. Go to the white cliffs and climb up.

 

[Notchy Bob]

I bought two nodules from Dixie several years ago. I had intended to try some knapping, but, as with many of my grand schemes, nothing came of it. There they sit.

You'll get a lot of material with the raw nodules from Dixie, although I expect a lot of it will end up as waste. I will say, their nodules appear to be the "real deal," black flint in large, irregularly shaped lumps partially covered with white chalk.

I still haven't learned to knap, but after researching it some years ago, I uncovered a few resources. You might be better off getting some spalls or shards already broken off the nodule. I would suggest www.goknapping.com as a resource. I've ordered a few odds and ends from them a couple of times. It's a small, family operation with fast response and good customer service. One time, they enclosed a beautifully knapped finished projectile point with my order, as a "thank you" gift.

Good luck with your endeavour!

Notchy Bob

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Dover, England. Go to the white cliffs and climb up.

Did that in the 70s, the piece I brought home didnt last but 2 years :-(

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I bought two nodules from Dixie several years ago. I had intended to try some knapping, but, as with many of my grand schemes, nothing came of it. There they sit.

You'll get a lot of material with the raw nodules from Dixie, although I expect a lot of it will end up as waste. I will say, their nodules appear to be the "real deal," black flint in large, irregularly shaped lumps partially covered with white chalk.

I still haven't learned to knap, but after researching it some years ago, I uncovered a few resources. You might be better off getting some spalls or shards already broken off the nodule. I would suggest www.goknapping.com as a resource. I've ordered a few odds and ends from them a couple of times. It's a small, family operation with fast response and good customer service. One time, they enclosed a beautifully knapped finished projectile point with my order, as a "thank you" gift.

Good luck with your endeavour!

Notchy Bob

Thanks for the info @Notchy Bob !

 

[Rudall]

It’s all over the place here!
Anyone who is interested might want to look up Chislehurst Caves. Begun by the Romans and greatly extended as a flint mine during the Napoleonic Wars. Very well worth a visit for anyone who is ever in the vicinity.

 

[Whitworth]

A few on EBAY.

 

[ord sgt]

I have chunks of English flint nodules that were dredged up from the bottom of the Delaware river by a dredge. The nodules were part of the ballast from the sailing ships, then they were thrown overboard to make way for the goods being sent back to England.
I have sent some pieces to M. De Land in exchange for some of his chert.
We might be able to work out some kind of deal, Hatchet Jack.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I have chunks of English flint nodules that were dredged up from the bottom of the Delaware river by a dredge. The nodules were part of the ballast from the sailing ships, then they were thrown overboard to make way for the goods being sent back to England.
I have sent some pieces to M. De Land in exchange for some of his chert.
We might be able to work out some kind of deal, Hatchet Jack.

Thank you @ord sgt. I would like to discuss it with Mr De Land. Is he a member of this board? If not perhaps I could PM you to discuss how to contact him?

 

[toot]

isn't it just easier to buy flints allready made?

 

[Rudall]

I have some targets with ready made holes at a good price if you are interested.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I have some targets with ready made holes at a good price if you are interested.

I’d have to see the grouping first.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Yea but where's the fun in that? There's basically 2 or 3 suppliers of decent English flints in the US. Go look and you'll see they are out of stock. Define easier when you can't get them.

 

[ord sgt]

Thank you @ord sgt. I would like to discuss it with Mr De Land. Is he a member of this board? If not perhaps I could PM you to discuss how to contact him?

I have several nodules of English flint. Most still have the chalk outer coating. These nodules have been immersed in the Delaware River, near Philadelphia since the 1700's. A river dredge brought them to the surface.
Yes, M. DeLand is on this forum. I have chatted with him many times. I received some pieces of chert that he knapped into rifle sizes flints. I sent to him some chards of the flint nodules in exchange for his handiwork.

If you would like some of the flint that I have, we can work out some type of deal. Let me know.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I have several nodules of English flint. Most still have the chalk outer coating. These nodules have been immersed in the Delaware River, near Philadelphia since the 1700's. A river dredge brought them to the surface.
Yes, M. DeLand is on this forum. I have chatted with him many times. I received some pieces of chert that he knapped into rifle sizes flints. I sent to him some chards of the flint nodules in exchange for his handiwork.

If you would like some of the flint that I have, we can work out some type of deal. Let me know.

I will PM you @ord sgt. Thanks!

 

[Johnny Tremain]

isn't it just easier to buy flints already made?

What happens when there isnt any more. Right now the entire firearms industry is out of just about everything.
I can make everything needed to operate it.
I can use the modern firearms for defense. Ammo is already darn hard to find.
I can use the flinter for hunting.

 

[Matt Soultz]

I do flintknapping as a hobby and have made quite few gunflints. You dont have to use english flint you can use any chert or flint. It just needs to spark.

I recommend using any Texas chert, Georgetown Chert, Indiana/Kentucky Hornstone, any tough chert will work. You can always test it with a steel striker.

Flints can be both unifacially flaked or bifacially flaked. Natives often made their own flints from local cherts using the same methods to make a projectile point.

Heres a few articles that I like.

https://www.hsmcdigshistory.org/clu...om-cobble-to-gun-making-do-in-early-maryland/
https://albertashistoricplaces.com/... of information,where the flints were stored.
https://prehistorics-uk.blogspot.com/2014/08/

 

[Rob M.]

What happens when there isnt any more. Right now the entire firearms industry is out of just about everything.
I can make everything needed to operate it.
I can use the modern firearms for defense. Ammo is already darn hard to find.
I can use the flinter for hunting.

Exactly....

 

[Scota@4570]

Unless you are a good knapper you may not get many usable flints out of a nodule. I tried, I made mostly junk. I can make arrowheads. You all that have good rocks in your area are lucky. In coastal California we have nothing.