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Thanks for the heads up on the area around Branson. We're plotting on a drive through the US and that could by a great drive through.
Found Chert
- Thread starter Rnegelein
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Chert or flint is very common where I am at. It ranges in color from snow white to a dark grey almost black, and even a deep dark red. I am constantly foraging for good specimens. I use a rock hammer to break them open and test them with a fire steel. Identifying chert is not always easy when covered with dirt and the parent rock material, that’s where the hammer and steel come in.
All forms of chert that I have found will work great for a fire steel and they will work in a flintlock provided you can properly shape them; Although your lock ignition time may be slowed.
Some quartz type rocks and even granites will work for a fire steel, basically anything with a proper hardness and a sharp edge will throw a spark
A sharp edge is critical when using chert to get it to throw good sparks. One of my flintlocks has a piece of driveway chert in it right now.
Many of my fire kits that I put together have a piece of chert in them no bigger than a musket ball or rifle flint and they work just fine.
Grab a hammer and a fire steel and go have some fun finding what will work in your area, you might be amazed at what you’ve been stepping on all these years.
All forms of chert that I have found will work great for a fire steel and they will work in a flintlock provided you can properly shape them; Although your lock ignition time may be slowed.
Some quartz type rocks and even granites will work for a fire steel, basically anything with a proper hardness and a sharp edge will throw a spark
A sharp edge is critical when using chert to get it to throw good sparks. One of my flintlocks has a piece of driveway chert in it right now.
Many of my fire kits that I put together have a piece of chert in them no bigger than a musket ball or rifle flint and they work just fine.
Grab a hammer and a fire steel and go have some fun finding what will work in your area, you might be amazed at what you’ve been stepping on all these years.
