Trivia

[george tichbourne]

When were the first manufactured cutting tools made?

 

[Valolammas]

Stone or metal? If you mean metal, I believe copper was used as early as 4000 BC, give or take a few centuries.

 

[DonShock]

I seem to recall hearing about some stone age tribes which produced superior cutting tools which were found at fairly long distances from the source of the stone. The tribe inhabiting that area must also have been widely trading them because remains have been found throughout a large region which were controlled by other tribes.

 

[NA8]

I heard an interesting story about an old foundry built on the side of a cliff. There were tunnels that fed strong winds to the furnace. Apparently they were capable of producing high temperatures and an early steel blade. Not really THAT old, but curious. Anyone know more details ?

 

[george tichbourne]

According to National Geographic a fellow with the unfortunate name of Homo Erectus made the first stone cutting tools about 3.1 million years ago. These are recognized as manufactured tools because they had to be smashed from rock and sharpened by further chipping.

 

[cutlerylover]

According to National Geographic a fellow with the unfortunate name of Homo Erectus made the first stone cutting tools about 3.1 million years ago. These are recognized as manufactured tools because they had to be smashed from rock and sharpened by further chipping.

Yeah, and at some point he used something like pyrite (fools gold) to smash that rock (flint) and it sparked!!!! Later that night he enjoyed his dinner hot for a change and never looked back!