Steel Flint Strikers, Strike-a-Lights & Fire Steels

[Harry Marinakis]

Steel Flint Strikers, Strike-a-Lights & Fire Steels


Purpose

This is an overview of Western steel flint strikers during the first millennium A.D. (from the Roman Empire in the 1st Century A.D. through the Victorian Era of the 19th Century A.D.). The emphasis is on classifying the various steel strikers by time period. This document is not meant to be a definitive treatise on the subject. In fact, there is no definitive reference on steel flint strikers in that regard.

Nomenclature & Classification

These steel fire-starting tools have a variety of generic names, including firesteels, fire strikers, flint strikers, and strike-a-lights. Hereafter, in this document, these steel tools will be collectively referred to as "steel strikers."

The blacksmiths who crafted these steel strikers had nothing more than their own creativity and regional flint striker trends to guide their hands and hammers. Thus, we see a vast array of basic steel striker types that were created over the millennium, and a seemingly infinite spectrum of variations. Any discussion of steel strikers is further confused by the fact that there is no defined nomenclature or classification scheme of the individual types of steel strikers.

Classification and nomenclature of steel strikers is somewhat arbitrary because of the wide spectrum of styles and the subtleties of the variations. The classification difficulties are the same, whether one considers the purely morphological appearance of the steel strikers, or the evolutionary process of hammering, bending and twisting the steel from one shape into another.

Throughout history, the individual types of steel strikers were known by a variety of names, all of which will be presented when appropriate. The primary names of individual types of steel strikers used in this document are descriptive (morphological), rather than historical.

Historical Development of Striker Tools

The earliest evidence of striker-type fire-starting tools date back about 14,000 years ago to Western Europe. These tools were iron strikers that were made from a naturally-occurring iron sulfide crystalline mineral called pyrite (chemical formula: FeS2) or "Fool's Gold."

Figure: A native crystal of pyrite (chemical formula Fes2), also known as "Fool's Gold." Before the invention of steel, pyrite was used as a flint striker to produce a spark. Photo by Vassil, WikiMedia Commons, File:Pyrite 60608.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyrite_60608.jpg

[Harry Marinakis]

Steel is a carbon-enriched alloy of iron. High-carbon steel strikers produce a much better spark than pyrite. Steel was first manufactured in 4,000 B.C. in Turkey.

The earliest known steel striker was found in a tomb in Afghanistan, and dates to the 5th Century B.C. It has a bronze handle cast in the shape of a lion with a steel striking plate grasped by the lion's feet (see the Figure below).

Steel strikers were first produced in large quantities during the Roman Empire (1st through 4th Centuries A.D.). However, "The Great Age" of steel strikers was from the Late Middle Ages (15th Century A.D.) through the Victorian Era (19th Century A.D.).

The mass production of brimstone (sulfur) and phosphorus friction matches in the 19th Century, that could be lit by striking anywhere, made steel strikers obsolete. These friction matches were called "Lucifers."

Figure:The earliest known steel striker, dated to the 5th Century B.C.

[Harry Marinakis]

Universal Steel Strikers

A variety of steel strikers were universally used throughout the first millennium A.D., including the Roman Empire, Dark Ages, Medieval Period, Renaissance, Colonial Period, and Victorian Era. Variations to these universal types of steel strikers are known, but the specific variations were not all universal. Some variations existed only during certain defined periods. For instance, the universal "B"-type of striker also had a variation in which the striking face was significantly thicker and deeper, but this variation did not develop until the Renaissance.

Please refer to the Figure for the following:

(a) Classic "C" striker
(b) Curved "C" striker
(c) Scrolled "C" striker
The "C" striker was the most common of all types of steel strikers used throughout the 1st millennium A.D. The C-striker, in it's simplest form, is shaped like the letter C with a straight spine. It is possible to find an almost infinite number of variations. The tails can be wavy (a), or curved back on themselves (b), or scrolled tightly into spirals or loops (c). The terminal ends may be symmetrical, or there may be different forms for either tail. The tails can be separated by a gap (open "C") or the tails can touch (closed "C").

(d) "B"-type striker
The "B"-shaped universal steel striker was shaped like the capital letter "B" and was used in the Roman Empire, Dark Ages, Medieval Period, Colonial Period, and the Victorian Era. No extant example is known from the Renaissance period. The "B"-shaped striker has a very functional form, with two finger holes for a secure grip.

(e) Classic oval striker
The classic oval striker was another universal steel striker. The classic oval striker was common during the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, the Colonial Period, and the Victorian Era, but rather uncommon in-between during the Dark Ages and Medieval Period. The oval striker, especially the brightly-polished oval, was most widely distributed in the Great Lakes region of North America during the fur trade of the Renaissance and Colonial Period (16th though 18th centuries) and Victorian Era (19th Century).

(f) Open-work handled striker
The open-work handled striker was common throughout all of the first millennium A.D. As noted previously, an open-work handled striker is the earliest known steel striker ever found. Often the handle of the striker was cast in bronze in a zoomorphic form, which securely held a steel striking blade. Note that the example of an open-work handled striker shown in the Figure is actually a known Viking striker.

(g) Teardrop Striker
The teardrop steel striker was also called a Voyager during the Victorian Era. It was a universal type of striker, both in the blunt-end form (shown here) and pointed-end form. The teardrop was common during Roman Empire, the Renaissance, Colonial Period, and the Victorian Era, but rather uncommon in-between during the Dark Ages and Medieval Period.

[Harry Marinakis]

Roman Empire Steel Strikers
1st Century A.D. through 4th Century A.D.

Steel strikers were produced in large quantities during the Roman Empire. The Romans primarily made three general types of steel strikers: the "C" striker, the "R"-type striker, and the "sled." Of course, there were many other variations and rare types of steel strikers produced during the Roman Empire, but they are all not shown here.

Please refer to the Figure for the following:

(a) Classic "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(b) Curved "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(c) Scrolled "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(d) "C" striker with peaked spine
The Roman "C" with a peaked spine was a variation of the classic universal "C" striker. It had a pointed peak on the spine, opposite from the striking face. This peaked spine is often associated with Viking-style steel strikers, but it actually first appeared during the Roman Empire, and was quite common. Thicker, more compressed forms of this striker were common later in the Viking culture.

(e) "C" striker with a "camel hump" spine
The Roman "C" striker with a pronounced "camel hump" was another Roman variation of the classic "C" striker. It had a pronounced camel hump on the spine, opposite from the striking face. In almost all examples, the tails of the "C" were folded back to contact the hump, forming a closed "C." This style of striker was also common in later Viking culture, and during the Victorian Era.

(f) Rectangular striker
The rectangular striker was one of the most common types of Roman strikers. The rectangular striker was a very functional form, as the frame provided a very secure grip and excellent protection for the fingers while striking the sharp flint. The striker shown here has a small hump on the spine, opposite from the striking face, and the tails are wrapped into spirals.

(g) Triangular striker
The triangular striker was a Roman striker that could be considered a variation of the "C" striker. The tails were angled at approximately 45 degrees at each end of the spine, and drawn upwards to meet at the apex, forming a triangle with three relatively straight sides. The spine, opposite from the striking face, had either a peak or series of rounded humps.

(h) Triangular striker with acute angles
This Roman striker was a variation of the triangular striker. The tails were acutely folded back on themselves at each end of the spine.

(i) "B"-type striker
See Universal Strikers.

(j) Simple pendant striker
The simple pendant striker was a rather abstract, artistic form. Other striker types have an obvious functional shape, but not the simple pendant. The striker had the form of a curved wedge-shaped pendant that could hang on a string around one's neck, with a spiral at the tapered end.

(g) Tailed pendant striker
The Roman tailed pendant appears to be variation of the simple pendant, in which the tail was extended and looped around to the base of the wedge.

(h) Pointed pendant striker
The pointed pendant striker was a variation of the tailed pendant that had a rather acute point on the base of the wedge. Often the base of the wedge had a decorative serration.

(m) Classic oval striker
See Universal Strikers.

(n) Squared oval striker
The Roman squared oval was a variation of the classic oval in which the outer primary curves were squared, leaving the inner primary curves rounded.

(o) Hex oval striker
The Roman hex oval was another variation of the classic oval in which the outer primary curves were squared into a hexentric shape, leaving the inner primary curves rounded.

(p) Teardrop striker
See Universal Strikers.

(q) Covered sled striker
(r) One-finger sled striker (aka "P"-style)
(s) Two-finger sled striker
(t) Pointed sled striker
The sled-shaped striker was a common Roman steel striker that was made in various forms. The "covered" sled striker had a sled-shaped spine with a tail that looped back to cover the entire sled. The one- and two-finger variations were sled-shaped pendants, the two-finger version being relatively large in size. The "pointed" sled striker was a one-finger variation with acute points at each end.

(u) "R"-type striker
The "R"-type striker was an elegant Roman design.

(v) "X"-type striker
(w) Triangular "X" striker
The "X"-type strikers were very stunning styles of Roman striker. The tails were acutely folded three times, accordion style, to form four wings (like the four ends of an "X"). The spine had a central peak, opposite from the striking face. The ends of the tails were drawn straight together, or pulled upwards to form a triangular-like design.

(x) Open-work handled striker
See Universal Strikers. This example shows a Roman open-work striker. The handle is brass, cast in the shape of a running lion, and there is a steel striker plate mounted at its base.

[Konstantin the Red]

Let's double check that term "Shiite." Shi'ites can't happen before 632 AD.

[Harry Marinakis]

Dark Ages Steel Strikers
5th Century A.D. through 10th Century A.D.

The following steel strikers were used during the Dark Ages, primarily within the Viking culture.

Please refer to the Figure for the following:

(a) Classic "C"
See Universal Strikers.

(b) Classic Viking "C" striker
The classic Viking "C" striker is a variation of the classic "C" striker, but with the characteristic pyramid-shaped peak opposite from the striking surface. Thought this pointed pyramid is often associated with the Viking strikers, this feature was first commonly used on Roman strikers.

(c) Curved "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(d) Scrolled "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(e) Viking "C" striker with peaked spine
The Viking "C" striker with a peaked spine was a common form of Viking steel striker. The Viking "C" strikers tended to be more compressed and more oblong (with a smaller height-to-width ratio) when compared to the more oval shapes of universal "C"-type strikers. Compare the dimensions of (c) to (e). Many of these types of strikers were found in the Viking Birka graves (dated 9th-11th centuries) in Sweden.

(f) "Viking C" striker with a "camel hump" spine
The Viking "C" striker with a pronounced "camel hump" was another variation of the Viking "C" striker. It had a pronounced camel hump on the spine, opposite from the striking face. In almost all examples, the tails of the "C" were folded back to contact the hump, forming a closed "C." This style of striker was also common during the earlier Roman Empire.

(g) Viking "C" striker with serpentine tails
Viking "C" striker with serpentine tails is a classically-beautiful and easily-recognized striker of the Viking culture. The tails are elegantly folded back on themselves three times to create a beautiful striker style.

(h) "Viking boat" striker
The Viking "boat" striker is also known as the Oseberg ship striker, named after the Viking ship on which the original was found. This is a simple but elegant striker design.

(i) "B" type striker
See Universal Strikers. This striker was used during the Roman Empire and Medieval Period, but no extant examples are known to exist from the Dark Ages.

(j) Viking triangle striker with a central peak
A triangular striker from Novgorod (dating to the 9th-10th centuries).

(k) Viking triangle striker with a central squared hump
A triangular striker from Novgorod (dating to the 9th-10th centuries).

(l) Viking open-work "C" striker
An open-work "C" striker from Berge, Norway. Open-work strikers were found in the Viking Birka graves (dated 9th-11th centuries) in Sweden.

(m) Simple pendant striker
A Viking simple pendant striker.

(n) Classic oval striker
See Universal Strikers.

(o) Open-work handled striker
See Universal Strikers.

(p) "Pin" striker
Viking "pin"-style striker, found at a camp in Greenland.

[Harry Marinakis]

Medieval Steel Strikers
11th Century A.D. through 15th Century A.D.

The 15th Century marks the start of the "Golden Age" of steel strikers, during which time a very large number of abstract and functional strikers were produced, too many to catalog in this document. The following steel strikers were the most commonly used strikers during the Medieval period.

Please refer to the Figure for the following:

(a) Classic "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(b) Curved "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(c) Scrolled "C" striker
See Universal Strikers.

(d) "B"-type striker
See Universal Strikers. This example shown here is from 14th Century Spain.

(e) Classic oval striker
See Universal Strikers.

(f) Teardrop striker
See Universal Strikers. The example shown here is a pointed teardrop striker from Puchberg Castle, Austria.

(g) Covered sled striker
(h) One-finger sled striker (aka "P"-style)
The sled-style of strikers was very common during the Roman Empire, but subsequently its use is very rare. According to one source, the sled and "P"-style strikers fell out of favor entirely in the 14th and 15th centuries, but an example of a Renaissance "covered sled" striker is known.

(i) Italian rosace key striker
These oval Italian strikers with open work from the late 15th Century resemble the rosace key designs found in the stained-glass windows of Medieval cathedrals.

(j) Burgundian striker
A typical Burgundian striker from 15th-16th centuries. The Burgundian striker became a heraldic symbol of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

(k) Open-work handled striker
See Universal Strikers. Note that the example shown in the Figure is actually a Viking striker.

(l) Spear striker
A spear-shaped striker from Italy (15th Century) with a rosace key and long handle for suspension from a belt.

[Harry Marinakis]

Renaissance Steel Strikers
16th Century A.D. through 17th Century A.D.

The following steel strikers were used during the Renaissance. The Renaissance is the "Golden Age" of steel strikers, during which time a very large number of abstract and functional strikers were produced, too many to catalog in this document; some of these strikers are included for illustrative purposes.

Characteristics of many Colonial strikers included coiled tails, and a thickened and deepened striking plate that may be the remnants of the old, worn-out file used to make the striker. For example, see (g) and (h) in the Figure.

Please refer to the Figure for the following:

(a) Classic "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(b) Curved "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(c) Scrolled "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(d) "B"-type striker
See Universal Strikers. The example shown here is a 16th Century steel striker from Spain in which the tails are coiled.

(e) Classic oval striker
See Universal Strikers

(f) Teardrop striker
See Universal Strikers. The example shown here is a 17th Century pointed teardrop from England.

(g) Covered sled striker
The sled-style of strikers was very common during the Roman Empire, but subsequently its use is very rare. According to one source, the sled and "P"-style strikers fell out of favor entirely in the 14th and 15th centuries, although an example of a Renaissance period "covered sled" striker is shown here.

(h) French "C" Striker
A French "C" striker from the mid 1600s. This style of striker was also traded in the Great Lakes region of North America during the fur trade of the 17th and 18th centuries.

(i) Open-work handled striker
See Universal Strikers. The example shown here is a striker with handle that was cast in the form of a running lion (France, 17th Century).

[Harry Marinakis]

Colonial Period Steel Strikers
16th Century A.D. through 18th Century A.D.

The following steel strikers (were used during the Colonial Period. The Colonial Period is the "Golden Age" of steel strikers, during which time a very large number of abstract and functional strikers were produced, too many to catalog in this document; some of these strikers are included for illustrative purposes.

Characteristics of many Colonial strikers included coiled tails, and a thickened and deepened striking plate that may be the remnants of the old, worn-out file used to make the striker. For example, see (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (m) and (n) in the Figure.

Please refer to the Figure for the following:

(a) Classic "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(b) Curved "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(c) Scrolled "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(d) "C" striker with a thickened striking blade
This Colonial Period "C" striker has a thickened and deepened striking plate that was common with many of the Colonial-era strikers.

(e) "Snake head" striker

(f) English Double Curl steel striker. Traded in North America during the 18th and 19th centuries.

(g) French "C" Striker
A French "C" striker from the mid 1600s.7 This style of striker was traded in the Great Lakes region of North America during the fur trade of the 17th and 18th centuries.

(h) "B"-type striker
See Universal Strikers. This is a Colonial example of a "B"-type striker. Note the thickened and deepened striking plate that was common with many of the Colonial-era strikers.

(i) Ram's horn "C" striker
A very elegant striker from the 18th and 19th centuries. Also called the Colonial snail style, this style of striker has been found in the Great Lakes region and was traded with the Seneca natives of New York.

(j) Ram's horn teardrop striker
A very elegant striker from the Mohawk region of the Great Lakes, 18th and 19th centuries.

(k) Classic oval striker
See Universal Strikers. Brightly-polished oval strikers were widely distributed in the Great Lakes region of North America during the fur trade of the Renaissance and Colonial Period (16th though 18th centuries) and Victorian Era (19th Century).

(l) Teardrop striker
See Universal Strikers.

(m) Crown striker
A striker from the Great Lakes, 18th and 19th centuries.

(n) Triangular striker
A very elegant striker from the Mohawk region of the Great Lakes, 18th and 19th centuries.

(o) "n"-type striker
The "n"-type of striker was a very common form of Colonial striker. It was also called the single finger loop Colonial striker of "D" striker. Note the thickened and deepened striking plate that was common with many of the Colonial-era strikers.

(p) Covered sled striker (aka "P"-style)
The sled-style of strikers was very common during the Roman Empire, but subsequently its use is very rare. According to one source, the sled and "P"-style strikers fell out of favor entirely in the 14th and 15th centuries, although an example of a Colonial period "covered sled" striker is shown here.

(q) Open-work handled striker
See Universal Strikers. The example shown here has a handle that is cast in the shape of a snake (France, 18th Century).

The following illustrate some of the more abstract and unusual steel striker designs of the Colonial Period:

(r) 18th Century Italian steel striker

(s) 18th Century Spanish steel striker

(t) 18th Century Spanish steel striker

[Harry Marinakis]

Victorian Era Steel Strikers
19th Century A.D.

The following steel strikers were used during the Victorian Era. The Victorian Era is the "Golden Age" of steel strikers, during which time a very large number of abstract and functional strikers were produced, too many to catalog in this document; some of these strikers are included for illustrative purposes.

Characteristics of many Victorian strikers included coiled tails, and a thickened and deepened striking plate that may be the remnants of the old, worn-out file used to make the striker. For example, see (e) and (j) in the Figure.

Please refer to the Figure for the following:

(a) Classic "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(b) Curved "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(c) Scrolled "C" striker
See Universal Strikers

(d) "C" striker with a "camel hump" spine
The "C" striker with a pronounced "camel hump" was another variation of the "C" striker. It had a pronounced camel hump on the spine, opposite from the striking face. The example here was collected in the 1800s from the Tsimshian natives of the Canadian Pacific Northwest, who obtained the steel striker in trade with the Russians. This style of striker was also common during the earlier Roman Empire and Viking Period.

(e) English Double Curl steel striker. Traded in North America during the 18th and 19th centuries.

(f) Classic oval striker
See Universal Strikers

(g) Teardrop striker
See Universal Strikers

(h) Flattened triangle
This striker, collected from Athabascan natives of the Canadian Sub-artic region in the 1900s, is a flattened triangle form.

(i) "B"-type striker
See Universal Strikers

(j) File striker
Sardinia (19th Century)

(k) Open-work striker
This open-work striker from Spain (19h century) is reminiscent of the Viking Oseberg striker with the addition of elaborate open-work decorations.

(l) Open-work handled striker
See Universal Strikers. This is an example from France (19th Century).

[Harry Marinakis]

Summary

Steel strikers of the first millennium A.D. were made in a very large variety of forms, especially during the 17th-19th centuries. There were some fairly universal forms that persisted throughout the millennium, such as the "C" and the oval striker designs. There were also some very definite temporal and regional trends, in terms of striker morphology, such as the Burgundian and Italian rosace strikers of the Medieval Period.

Blacksmiths seemed to be very creative during the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages; some of the Viking strikers are, arguably, the most elegant of all striker designs. Then, during the early Medieval Period, striker designs seems to have become fairly standardized, with comparatively little variation in designs.

The "Golden Age" of steel strikers, starting with the late Medieval Period, produced a vast array of creative striker designs that are simply too numerous to catalog in this paper. If you see an artistic Western steel striker design that you do not recognize after reading this paper, then it is likely a steel striker from the "Golden Age" of steel strikers.

Sadly, in the end, it was the widespread manufacture of a little stick of wood, tipped with phosphorus and sulfur, that put an end to the centuries-old tradition of firesteels.

[Harry Marinakis]

References

(1) Cacciandra, Vittorio, and Allessandro Cesati. Fire Steels. Italy: E. Umbaerto Allemandi & Company, 1996.

(2) Photo by Vassil, WikiMedia Commons, File:Pyrite 60608.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyrite_60608.jpg

(3) The Hindu News Service. Ironware piece unearthed from Turkey found to be oldest steel. Thursday, March 26, 2009.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/00 ... 261611.htm

(4) Ameling, Mike (deceased). Roman-Era flint strikers, from his personal photo gallery.
http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image ... man45b-19/

(5) Ameling, Mike (deceased). Latest Tinkering, from his personal photo gallery.
http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image ... tinkering/

(6) Ameling, Mike (deceased). The Magic of Fire from Steel.
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/firefromsteel/

(7) Author unknown. Flint and Steel Fire Starting Striker Styles.
http://www.spaco.org/Blacksmithing/Stri ... Styles.htm

(8) Viking firesteel
http://www.pbase.com/hajar/image/152826094

(9) Roman open-work striker in the shape of a lion
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Undated-Roman-S ... 20e50ae957

(10) Viking flint striker c. 866-1067 A.D.
http://vikinghoard.com/items/104-viking ... 67-ad.html

(11) Viking Age Fire-Steels and Strike-A-Lights
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/fire.shtml

(12) Ameling, Mike (deceased). Viking-Era flint strikers, from his personal photo gallery.
http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image ... -strikers/

(13) Oseberg Fire Steel
http://www.welandsmithy.com/re-enactment.html

(14) Carloni, Andrea. Strike-a-lights, flints and tinders: which historical sources?
http://www.companie-of-st-george.ch/cms ... al-sources

(15) Novgorod striker
http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/NovgorodMetalp.html

(16) Koch, Eva. Fire.
http://www.evakoch.dk/HTML/ild-UK.htm

(17) Fire-Steel (TYA 619: 273)
http://www.mlab.uiah.fi/Mulli/html/medi ... 9_273.html

(18) Ameling, Mike (deceased). Irish and Burgundian flint strikers, from his personal photo gallery.
http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/image ... -strikers/

(19) Post Medieval iron strike-a-light
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/286534

(20) Strike-a-light
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/411329

(21) Tsimshian Strike-a-light
http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibit ... o01e.shtml

(22) 17th Century striker
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/260082

(23) Tahltan Strike-a-light Steel
http://collections.burkemuseum.org/ethn ... p?ID=90973

(24) Strike-a-Light
http://collections.burkemuseum.org/ethn ... p?ID=51695

(25) Post medieval period striker
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/103812

(26) Stuart or Georgian striker, 17th-18th century
http://www.winchestermuseumcollections. ... LH%20921.2}

(27) Colonial era English Double Curl fire steel or flint striker
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/firef ... to_11.html

(28) 1600's French Fur Trade era fire steel or flint striker
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/firef ... oto_9.html

[Harry Marinakis]

Let's double check that term "Shiite." Shi'ites can't happen before 632 AD.

See page 17 of the first reference:
(1) Cacciandra, Vittorio, and Allessandro Cesati. Fire Steels. Italy: E. Umbaerto Allemandi & Company, 1996.

EDIT: Removed references to Shiites per your comment

[Harry Marinakis]

The author's firesteel collection:

[kenrickb]

This is very, very cool. Does your research go into the rest of the paraphenalia for fire-starting such as char cloth, tow, etc? I have used linen tow with char cloth because that's how I was taught. I'd be very interested in learning about this.

Kenric dux

[Cap'n Atli]

Thank you.

[Harry Marinakis]

My research was limited to the steel strikers themselves. But here are some links that you might find interesting:

A Closer Look at Flint and Steel Fire Lighting

Part One
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2 ... -fire.html

Part Two
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2 ... steel.html

Part Three
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2 ... steel.html

Part Four
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2 ... steel.html

Part Five
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2 ... t-and.html

Part Six
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2 ... steel.html

For tinder, I use punk wood (see bottom photo below), which is that crumbling, spongy wood you can find around rotten trees. I break it into 4-5 inch pieces and briefly char the wood on the grill. I throw the smoldering/burning wood into a clean 1-gallon paint can and seal the lid, air-tight. (You can buy new, empty paint cans at places like Home Depot.) This puts out the fire, and keeps the charred wood nice and dry. Put some of the charred pieces into a tinder box, and you can spark right into the punk wood in your tinder box. It lights very easily. Close the lid when you're done to put out the embers.

I also use "spunks," which are home-made brimstone matches. You can light the spunk match from the burning embers in your tinder box, and then use the match to light whatever you want. Spunks are made by melting powdered sulfur in a spoon over an open flame, and then dipping the tips of the wood sticks into the liquid sulfur. (If you use too much sulfur on the tip, like my spunks shown below, the match will drip flaming sulfur when lit.) The liquid sulfur in your spoon will catch fire if you are not careful with your flame; it burns with a faint blue flame that you might not notice right away, so be careful. And do this in a well-ventilated place, sulfur fumes are REALLY toxic to the lungs.

The video below shows how it's done.
http://www.howtohistory.com/2011/03/how ... -or-spunk/

[Isenbrant Blackaert]

Fascinating.

I, too, use charred punkwood. And Keith Burgess is vastly knowledgeable when it comes to flint and steel fire lighting. Not to mention a truly good man, glad to call him a friend.

[Harry Marinakis]

Isenbrant,
Perhaps you could ask Keith to look at this thread and offer any corrections or additions to my data. The more detailed the corrections and additions, the better.

[Isenbrant Blackaert]

Isenbrant,
Perhaps you could ask Keith to look at this thread and offer any corrections or additions to my data. The more detailed the corrections and additions, the better.

Sure, I'll send him a PM and ask.

[Isenbrant Blackaert]

Just thought I'd throw this out there. Keith is also on youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEOMS ... GnoyONuvCQ

[RandallMoffett]

Harry,

A very interesting and informational post. Thanks!

RPM

[Keith]

Good day everyone. I was contacted & asked to check this topic out & make any corrections or add information. Firstly I must say that I feel honoured to have been asked, much appreciated.
I don't think I can add anything to the fire steel per se, & certainly no corrections. I do not consider myself an expert, & my research has mainly been focused on the period 1680-1760ad.
It would be much easier for me, & it would probably save space on this forum, if you were to ask me questions. That way I can be specific. However, I will add some links to my work that you may find interesting, & these may answer some of your questions.
First is a link to info on my Primitive Fire Lighting Book: http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com.a ... itive.html This is not an expensive book & you can also download it if you wish.
I have made quite a lot of videos on various methods of fire lighting, too many to start listing here, but I believe my channel url has already been listed here so you can check them out for yourselves. Here though are a couple that may be of interest:
No Charcloth Flint & Steel Fire Lighting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f9CjH7plps
Field Preparation Of Plant Tinder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5WGTxDS1AE

There were & are a variety of plant tinders available, these varieties may differ from country to country & area to area. Some are available pretty much worldwide. As an example, the flower head of the cattail, here in Australia called "Cumbungi".

A word of caution: Some of the tinder plants I list may not have been used in history. I discovered all of these tinder plants through experimentation before I started researching historical tinders. This means that I can not guarantee that these are tinders that were originally used, but neither can I say that they were not just because I can find no historical reference to them.
Any questions?

[Isenbrant Blackaert]

I didn't expect you to actually register to comment, Keith. Lol (Mike thebushcrafter here). Always good to have your experience and knowledge on the subject.

[AwP]

Has any metallurgical analyses been done on the fire steels? In modern times some blacksmiths have discovered that by "overheating" the steel to enable much grain growth makes for better sparks. I'm curious if that is a modern discovery or a rediscovery of something done back then?

[Keith]

I didn't expect you to actually register to comment, Keith. Lol (Mike thebushcrafter here). Always good to have your experience and knowledge on the subject.

No worries mate. I may find other topics of interest on this forum.
Regards, Keith.

[Keith]

Has any metallurgical analyses been done on the fire steels? In modern times some blacksmiths have discovered that by "overheating" the steel to enable much grain growth makes for better sparks. I'm curious if that is a modern discovery or a rediscovery of something done back then?

Interesting, thanks for posting. I had not heard of this. I usually just heat to cherry red & quench, but I have noticed that some steels create more sparks than others, & have often wondered what the cause.
Keith.

[Thomas Powers]

I was more interested in case hardened vs blister steel vs steeled working surface vs high carbon bloom vs plain wrought iron---another metallographic/metallurgy investigation...

[Konstantin the Red]

I should think casehardening would be the very thing you wouldn't want on the strike-surface. Eventually your flints would wear through that carburized thin skin. Then what? -- hike outta the back country and find a smith? Come to think of it just how deep in Injun country are you atm? Shooting a wad of char-cloth up in the air to catch fire is kind of noisy...

[Keith]

I should think casehardening would be the very thing you wouldn't want on the strike-surface. Eventually your flints would wear through that carburized thin skin. Then what? -- hike outta the back country and find a smith? Come to think of it just how deep in Injun country are you atm? Shooting a wad of char-cloth up in the air to catch fire is kind of noisy...

There are a variety of ways to make fire if you are carrying 18th century gear. Case hardening can also be achieved by making a clay receptacle, packing it with animal hide pieces & bone, placing your steel inside, & baking it in the fire.
You can use the pan on a flintlock gun to make fire without using gunpowder. You can use spectacles to make fire with unprepared or prepared plant tinders. You can make a fire-bow & use that. You can use gunpowder in small amounts to start a fire using plant tinder materials (NOT kindling, be careful not to get confused between tinder & kindling).
I have had a hammer fail to spark. All I did was heat it to cherry red in the fire & drop it in my cold cup of coffee! Worked fine & has been working ever since. That was over 20 years ago.
Keith.

[Konstantin the Red]

I guess you meant a "frizzen" as properly speaking there's no hammer in a flintlock. It's a cock, for obvious reasons. Rehardening a frizzen that isn't working would be just the thing. Yay, coffee quench! Warms the coffee back up a bit too, yes?

Some claim you can get spectacles for nearsightedness to light a fire, but I have never seen such a thing. Those lenses do not concentrate light-rays, but spread them. You can observe this directly putting the lens over something white: a dim zone the shape of the lens, and a brighter zone surrounding it brighter than the area further out, where more light rays have been moved to.

[Isenbrant Blackaert]

I guess you meant a "frizzen" as properly speaking there's no hammer in a flintlock. It's a cock, for obvious reasons. Rehardening a frizzen that isn't working would be just the thing. Yay, coffee quench! Warms the coffee back up a bit too, yes?

Some claim you can get spectacles for nearsightedness to light a fire, but I have never seen such a thing. Those lenses do not concentrate light-rays, but spread them. You can observe this directly putting the lens over something white: a dim zone the shape of the lens, and a brighter zone surrounding it brighter than the area further out, where more light rays have been moved to.

You're using modern terms for those pieces, Keith is using proper 18th century terms. It is a hammer, as it was called in the 18th century.

[Keith]

I guess you meant a "frizzen" as properly speaking there's no hammer in a flintlock. It's a cock, for obvious reasons. Rehardening a frizzen that isn't working would be just the thing. Yay, coffee quench! Warms the coffee back up a bit too, yes?

Some claim you can get spectacles for nearsightedness to light a fire, but I have never seen such a thing. Those lenses do not concentrate light-rays, but spread them. You can observe this directly putting the lens over something white: a dim zone the shape of the lens, and a brighter zone surrounding it brighter than the area further out, where more light rays have been moved to.

Isenbrant Blackaert is correct, the proper name for the steel on a flintlock is hammer. This name came about because the early flintlocks had a steel shaped very much like a hammer when viewed from the side, & the name remained in use thereafter.

Here is a video of myself making fire with my 17th century reading glasses. Modern spectacles work fine too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvveEG5yDXc
Keith.

[Harry Marinakis]

Konstantin is correct, case hardened steel is not a desireable material for a striker. In fact, some people make strikers from old, worn-out files because they are usually made from high-carbon steel. However, you have to be careful that you don't use a cheaper case-hardened file instead, for the reasons that Konstantin mentions.

Has any metallurgical analyses been done on the fire steels?

Not to my knowledge. There has been very little research done on the topic of steel strikers. I was not able to find anything in that regard, but I did not do a detailed search of the scientific or archeological literature, either.

[Baron Conal]

However, you have to be careful that you don't use a cheaper case-hardened file instead, for the reasons that Konstantin mentions..

My really nicely shaped striker was made just like that.... Looks great but absolutely refuses to throw a spark.