Flint and steel pouch help....??

[tuxdad]

I'm looking to make a couple of flint and steel pouches for my sweety and I.. I was wondering if any of you would care to share pics of your fire pouches, to get some ideas for it ??

I want it to look somewhat rustic, but also somewhat nice(girlish) for her pouch.. So any help, in the form of pics or patterns would be appreciated..

Thanks in advance !! :hatsoff:

Tux

I might add, I'd like to have it go with the pouch I gave her for Christmas.. Here's a pic of it..

 

[necchi]

Typically called "strike a light" bag or pouch.
Plenty of ideas here; http://www.google.com/search?q=str...ox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGIH

For some reason many have tin or brass cones, and most are shaped with a round bottom much like the pouch you have alreay made. The level of bead work is up to you.
French voyaguer and Metis called them "Gage d'Amour" or labor of love, meaning the bag made was a gift from the heart.
The idea was to keep a smaller top or cover and heavily oiled to keep items (Rocks,Steel and tinder) dry. Welting is added sometimes of blanket or felt but seldom a gusset.

 

[tuxdad]

Many thanks to you Sir !! :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[LRB]

Here's mine. Acually it's a backup or pipe lighter. There is a flint and tinder tube inside.

 

[tuxdad]

WOW !! Now THAT is pretty snazzy !! Do you have a side view of it ?? Is it wet formed, or somehow gusseted ??

Where'd you find the bottom(metal) piece ??

 

[hawk]

:thumbsup:

 

[Trkdriver99]

He made it. It is a striker for starting his fire.

Go to his web site and he might have some for sale.

Ronnie

 

[LRB]

Yep. It's all handmade. Pouch is, as I recall, 2 3/4" X 2 3/4". No gusset. Striker is 1095 steel.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Wick, you are truly an amazing artist. You have many talents, and I for one am envious. :bow:

 

[LRB]

Those are not all that hard to make, just time consuming.

 

[tuxdad]

Am I understanding correctly ?? The steel is the bottom of the case itself ?? OUTSTANDING :thumbsup: !!

That is truly a fine bit of craftsmanship Sir !!
Thank you for sharing !!

Definitely at the top of the list ! Thank you !! :hatsoff:

 

[LRB]

Rich Pierce, a member here, just got an original I believe as a Christmas gift. It's a little rusty and ragged, but usable I think. Maybe he will post a pic if he reads this thread. Here's a pic of drawings of originals.

 

[Twice boom]

I like it,alot. :hatsoff:
Twice.

 

[tuxdad]

Awesome ! Can you tell me the ame of the book ?? Looks like it'd be a pretty interesting read..

I'll have to give that a try but since I won't find any steel for it I'll just make it with having the steel in the pouch as well as the flint and tinder..

Thanks again Sir for your idea !! :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[LRB]

I have no idea what book the pic came from. It was sent to me by email from someone who is no longer on this board.
Another type of kit along those lines was a small sheet iron box with a steel attached on the side of the box. I have seen and held an original of that type, but neither the owner nor I could figure out how the steel was attached. No rivets visible, and no solder visible. I don't think lead solder would be strong enough anyway, and silver brazing would pull the hardness out of the steel.

 

[tuxdad]

Dang !! That sucks !!

Oh well, Thank you anyway Sir, for the help and pics and all.. It's greatly appreciated... :hatsoff:

I'll try and post a pic of my first attempt at making something similar to this..

 

[tuxdad]

Btw, that other flint and steel kit you spoke sounds pretty interesting.. No rivets or solder visible at all ?? :hmm:

Do you have a pic of that one by chance ?? Sounds like an interesting puzzle.. :hmm:

 

[rich pierce]

For Christmas Susan bought me this original tinder bag/box with integral striker. It still has some tinder in it! The striker is made from a file; I can still see some teeth where it was incompletely ground off. I thought it was very cool for many reasons. It shows that files were re-used and also I had no idea these would be so small. Apparently this is all they needed- a little fluff, a musket flint and a striker.

Readers on another forum advised me that this style may well have originated in the Far East and even been imported in large numbers as part of the global economy of the early 1800's. This one was found in upstate New York, by a "picker" who specializes in 18th and 19th century hard goods.

 

[LRB]

Wow Rich. I did not realize it was that small. Pichou said these things were known in England in the 18th c., maybe last half. I don't recall. It seems he said that the English started making them after they were seen in North Africa and the Med. countries. Jason Gatliff has one supposedly copied after an 18th c. original in a private collection. I think he told me he saw the original. I copied his almost exactly. I don't know if they can be positively documented for use in early America or not, but they sure are handy. The iron box types can be documented.

 

[LRB]

No pics TUXDAD, but picture a rectagular iron box maybe near 3" X 2" X 3/4" with all corners rounded. A hinged overlapped lid, with a long narrow steel bar down one side. This one was in near perfect condition, and still had an almost bright finish. I do have a pic of a similar kit, but don't know where.