A knife edge with a steep bevel offers the best of both worlds but is still nowhere near as sharp as a simple flake. The bifacial edge of an obsidian knife trades stability and durability for overall sharpness. This edge is plenty sharp-but it pales in comparison to the edge of an obsidian flake. The bifacial edge relies on sharpness from a serrated edge as opposed to the sharp, flat edge of a simple flake. A bifacial edge is simply an edge that is knapped on both sides of the biface, or knife, in this example. Knapping obsidian for any amount of time will produce a large quantity of useful flakes.Īn obsidian knife has a bifacial edge. Attach the flake with pitch glue, use until dull or broken, and replace with a new sharp flake. The result is something similar to a modern razor knife. The old boys attached flakes and blades from a blade core (more on this in a later post) to arrows and handles. Ancient cultures made use of this extensively. The flake from an obsidian core IS the sharpest edge known. The key distinction here is the difference between an obsidian flake and an obsidian knife. Obsidian is scary sharp (just ask anyone who has knapped it) and can cut you just by looking at it. This myth about obsidian is partially true. Obsidian Myth #1: Obsidian Knives are the sharpest Knife in the world Check my page on Stone and Tool Suppliers for some easy links. Obsidian is a relatively cheap knapping material and readily available. It is an amazing material, my absolute favorite to knap, and a versatile knapping stone. Black obsidian is the inspiration for my site Black Knife Stone Works. It cools into a knappable volcanic glass that has captured the imagination of knappers and knife collectors alike. Obsidian is a volcanic glass, born of fiery violence, originating deep in the earth as magma. It comes in an array of colors, from deep shiny black, reds, and dazzling rainbows. I am going to discuss obsidian knife care, dispel (hopefully) a couple common myths about obsidian knives, and help you decide if this kind of knife is right for you. An obsidian knife has some definite limitations compared to its steel cousin and it needs to be cared for in different ways. ![]() There seems to be a bit of a legend surrounding the obsidian knife, so I think an article is needed to clarify what prospective obsidian knife owners can expect. ![]() My customers ask about knives made from this material often. Obsidian is a very popular and common knapping material. So you want an obsidian knife? Some things you need to know:
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