Primitive knives

[UncleJak]

I worked on These two today. They are obsidian blades with antler handles. I still need to wrap some sinew to secure them, but here they are: Sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

[peejman]

Cool. How did you form the obsidian?

[smokin45]

Good ones Uncle

[UncleJak]

[quote name="peejman" post="1108115" timestamp="1391899167"]Cool. How did you form the obsidian?[/quote]well....I didn't. A 13 year old boy with a passion for knapping made them. I bought them from him. He used his profits to feed a college fund. He is really good too. Sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

[Mark@Sea]

Believe it or not, obsidian makes for one of the sharpest blades available. 
Sharper than the finest straight razor.  I read once that obsidian scalpels were preferred for eye surgery before lasers came along.

[UncleJak]

[quote name="Mark@Sea" post="1108133" timestamp="1391901708"]Believe it or not, obsidian makes for one of the sharpest blades available. Sharper than the finest straight razor. I read once that obsidian scalpels were preferred for eye surgery before lasers came along.[/quote]that's true. These things are scary sharp. Under a microscope the edge of a obsidian scalpel is smooth; a steel one is jagged. Sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

[Oh Shoot]

Believe it or not, obsidian makes for one of the sharpest blades available. 
Sharper than the finest straight razor.  I read once that obsidian scalpels were preferred for eye surgery before lasers came along.

 

They're still apparently used by some plastic surgeons to minimize width of the scar. Not inexpensive either, I see:

 

http://www.finescience.com/Special-Pages/Products.aspx?ProductId=296

 

 

 

- OS