Alva Review-Courier -

Knives are an important part of history. The first users of sharp-edged instruments were of the stone age when they discovered that some rocks could be used for cutting and scraping.

Those which could be flaked along the edge to sharpen, in a process called knapping, were preferred. Stone can also be sharpened by grinding, a process which came later.

Chert or flint was the favored variety among Native Americans and it was traded extensively throughout the continent. It took some skill to be a “knapper,” and like cutting a diamond, not all were successful, which led to piles of material and dis...