Obsidian Knives

[ltorlo64]

Green spiderwed obsidian
http://www.gunsnet.net/photopost/data/555/medium/Obsidian_knife_1.JPG

Brown mahogany lace obsidian
http://www.gunsnet.net/photopost/data/555/medium/Brown_Obsidian_1.JPG

Both together
http://www.gunsnet.net/photopost/data/555/medium/Obsidian_pair.JPG

No, I haven't tried them!

[Dr. Gonzo GED]

Those are darn pretty!

[Richard Simmons]

Interesting and good looking. I know obsidian can be razor sharp when it's flaked off and IIRC the Aztecs or maybe the Mayans made all of their swords from it, probably arrowheads too as they had no steel or iron working skills to my knowledge. I've thought about trying to make some cutting instruments from rock but I don't know if we have any suitable material here in VA?

[ltorlo64]

I think that anywhere there is rock there is suitable material. I have not made one myself, but from watching it takes patience and a rock type that is very brittle. Granite and obsidian are obvious choices, while pumice and sand stone would not.

[Richard Simmons]

Flint is one we probably have but that's about the only one I know of that fractures pretty easy and will produce sharp edges.