Lets talk firestarting

[Africa58double]

I’d imagine a Flintlock would have been used many a times to start a feather stick- just needed to pull the Bullet/Empty powder first.

Although I spend plenty of time in the woods, and am quite proficient with firestarting, I definetly am challenged with flint and steel. I wonder how often in the old old days, a flint lock was used to start a fire? I know that flint /steel lock devices were used in house holds for starting fires/ tinder, /candles, but how about out in the field?I would think it pretty likely.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I’d imagine a Flintlock would have been used many a times to start a feather stick- just needed to pull the Bullet/Empty powder first.

Or put a feather in the vent.

 

[Africa58double]

I was referring to this kinda Feather stick,smaller curls easily catch sparks

 

[Brokennock]

I was referring to this kinda Feather stick,smaller curls easily catch sparks

He meant plugging the touch hole with an actual feather so the gun don't go BOOM....

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I was referring to this kinda Feather stick,smaller curls easily catch sparks

I know. I was referring to not having to pull the load. The feather stick works great with flames but it wont catch a spark.

 

[Brokennock]

Heck, most folks don't even know it's not the rock that sparks!

Yup, sad, ain't it.

 

[flconch53]

Strikers are one of many things in our hobby that are a crap shoot to by off of the internet.

 

[Packrat]

I was with a native American long ago and she told me that sassafras was great for starting fires in wet weather as it didn't hold moisture

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Heck, most folks don't even know it's not the rock that sparks!

Except.... for fine grained pyrite. Here is lighting my wood stove using two rocks.

 

[flconch53]

I spent my spare time for a few months trying to determine what our ancestors used to catch a spark. In a culture that had only 1 or 2 shirts charcolth probably was not used. I found that punk oak or grapevine bark would make char. The nice thing about punk oak is that once it caught a spark you had a small coal. I did this in western NY initially . The downside of this was you had to strike down with the flint rather than to hold the char on top of the flint

 

[Africa58double]

The Feather sticks most certainly start from spark, not flame

I know. I was referring to not having to pull the load. The feather stick works great with flames but it wont catch a spark.

. Just need spark. Key is tiny curls and a very sharp tool to do that.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

The Feather sticks most certainly start from spark, not flame


. Just need spark. Key is tiny curls and a very sharp tool to do that.

Are you using a ferrocerium rod?

 

[smo]

Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire!

 

[Rató:rats]

I’d be pretty surprised to see a feather stick take a spark from flint and steel

 

[Africa58double]

The Flintlock with Feather stick directly next to the Pan. A pinch of Black powder helps. Yet I guess that’s frowned on in competition… if that’s what is being discussed.

My apologies if Competition is the discussion point here- I was thinking more Survival of the mountain man fire starting.

Are you using a ferrocerium rod?

 

[Tom A Hawk]

The Flintlock with Feather stick directly next to the Pan. A pinch of Black powder helps. Yet I guess that’s frowned on in competition… if that’s what is being discussed.

My apologies if Competition is the discussion point here- I was thinking more Survival of the mountain man fire starting.

I'd like to see it.

 

[Africa58double]

There is a excellent video on YouTube showing Char Cloth and Ignition from a Flintlock-

Im just not Savey enough to transfer the Video to the forum.

Char cloth- that’s a nice easy way to start a fire- keep that in patch box.
Feather stick can and has be done ,I’m sure.

Just thinking- what about Tiny dry wood Shavings in the pan of a flintlock?

I can’t be the only one who has thought of that Idea or… used that idea. Spark the Flintlock a few times… I’m sure that would ignite the shavings.

 

[bptactical]

It is made out of an old file , I am going to throw it in my log burner fire next time it is cold enough to use it and let it sit in the coals until it is cool and see if that works . Autumn is fast approaching in the Southern Hemisphere so it won't be too long .

You have the process bassackwards. The process you describe will anneal (soften) the striker.
To harden the steel you need to bring it up to what is known as “critical” heat- the heat where the steel begins to form austinites and then quench it rapidly, essentially “freezing” the molecular structure ie hardness.

For file grade steel the critical heat is about 1300-1400 degrees. A general rule of thumb is a heat where the steel is a bright cherry red. The steel will also cease to be magnetic at this point.
Get it to a good cherry red, hold it there a minute or so to make sure it is even.
Quench in oil, water will cool it too quickly and cause it to be brittle.
Here is a really good read that isn’t overly technical or long.

http://threeplanes.net/toolsteel.html

 

[Tom A Hawk]

There is a excellent video on YouTube showing Char Cloth and Ignition from a Flintlock-

Im just not Savey enough to transfer the Video to the forum.

Char cloth- that’s a nice easy way to start a fire- keep that in patch box.
Feather stick can and has be done ,I’m sure.

Yes, charcloth, tinder fungus and wood punk ignition by flintlock is easy. I'm always open to learning new tricks but am very skeptical on the feather stick. Perhaps it could catch a flame from the flash pan.

 

[Africa58double]

What about simple shavings of dead wood in the pan? I’m sure if dry and tiny… that would ignite, Easy start to a tinder.

The feather stick certainly would work with a pinch of the Good old “Pepper” if that’s not cheating.