Looking for a tinder lighter

[Woods Dweller]

Because of a handicap that my wife has she cant use a flint & steel.

I am looking for reproduction tinder lighter. Dixie Gun works has a tinder lighter kit for $89. but I was wondering if any one knows of a place that might be cheaper?

Thanks

PS. At the last Rody she used a flintlock pistol but was told not to fire a pistol in camp. [It was just the flint & spark she used]

 

[pripley]

I am by no account an authority on the subject, but your question interested me. Internet searches are a good source of options. I am intriqued by the fire piston in its simplicity. Fire Pistons There are indications that this method has been around a long time and may suffice for traditional methods. I do have my Lyman Lock as a potential fire starter, after replacing it with an L&R Lock on my GPR. This was not an economical choice however. There are many examples of flintlock type tinder lighters that show up in a Google search. I made some char cloth and tried the method with a steel and flint, and with the flintlock, both worked well. Good luck!

 

[necchi]

Dixies' the only place I've ever seen'm. They come up every so often on auction sites but seldom any cheaper.

Maybe you can fabricate something using that pistol lock that ain't a pistol.?

 

[mazo kid]

Dixies' the only place I've ever seen'm. They come up every so often on auction sites but seldom any cheaper.

Maybe you can fabricate something using that pistol lock that ain't a pistol.?

I got one of the kits from Dixie many years ago. I was also going to say what Necchi just said...make up a flint lock mounted on a piece of wood.

 

[mazo kid]

Just an after thought...I was not too impressed with my tinder lighter from Dixie; it wouldn't hold on full ****, and didn't spark. After I finished the kit it ended up being a display piece as I kinda lost interest in trying to make it work. Maybe others have had a better experience?

 

[Shine]

The problem with fire pistons is that they have been around along time in southeast asia and and the south pacific not here .but this is only valid if you are reanacting. Otherwise they are pretty cool. And are still used in the phillipines.

 

[jethro224]

Dixies' the only place I've ever seen'm. They come up every so often on auction sites but seldom any cheaper.

Maybe you can fabricate something using that pistol lock that ain't a pistol.?

I got one of the kits from Dixie many years ago. I was also going to say what Necchi just said...make up a flint lock mounted on a piece of wood.

Could probably just take the barrel off of the pistol. Poof, instant tinder lighter.
You could always put the barrel back on again and use the pistol.

 

[skunkskinner]

Just an after thought...I was not too impressed with my tinder lighter from Dixie; it wouldn't hold on full ****, and didn't spark. After I finished the kit it ended up being a display piece as I kinda lost interest in trying to make it work. Maybe others have had a better experience?

Same experience for me. I filed the mechanism so it would hold at full **** twice. Must be a soft metal.

:shake: Kind of an expensive display piece.

 

[hawkeye2]

I doubt very much that you will find it cheaper than that. It's the only kit of one that I'm aware of. Navy Arms had them back in the late 70s , early 80s and I bought a kit. The holes were so missaligned that I couldn't assemble it. I'ts still around here but I haven't seen it in 20 or so years. A couple of years after I bought one from NA at their booth at the N-SSA nationals for about half retail. That one is on the shelf in my gun room. Only used it once but it looks cool. Buy a flint & steel, you would be supprised at how easy it is to use. A friend used to light his pipe with one.

 

[Woods Dweller]

I do use flint & steel very well and am working on my bow & Drill skills. My wife on the other “hand” can not use a flint & steel because of a work accident where she lost half of a hand and can not use the flint & steel.

I did do an internet search and only found Antique tinder lighter, Witch may or may not work. Dixie Gun works was the only other place I found a “reproduction” tinder lighter kit for $89.

We do want to be PC 1780 / 1810.

I was hoping someone might know of some place.
I will check into the cost on a flintlock & trigger and build one myself.

Thanks for the help guys :hatsoff:

 

[Woods Dweller]

Well! After doing a search for flint “locks”, I have found that it would be cheaper to go with Dixie Gun works “reproduction” tinder lighter kit for $89.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=1220

Thanks for your help and advice folks.

 

[silverfox]

Mazo kid may be right about the tinder lighter.
I probably have the only one from Dixie that actually works. It also had the trigger problem had to fix that. Then as everyone said they won't spark never heard of one sparking. Fix that by shimming the frizzen until it didn't wobble and resouled it with a piece of clock spring. It now works most of the time. I don't know if you can harden the frizzen of not and didn't have a way to do it therefore the clock spring was the best for me.
If you get the Dixie kit be prepared to fix the trigger and the frizzen if you get it together. Best of luck with the project.
Have you thought of converting one of the flintlock screw barrel pistols????
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[silverfox]

I just read the Dixie discription. Use charcloth in the pan it will catch a spark. better then any tinder I have run across. After it starts glowing add it to tinder and blow into a flame would be the best method.
Fox

 

[jethro224]

Woods Dweller,
A couple other options come to mind.
If she used a large chunk of flint that could be placed on the ground, maybe held in place with a foot, and struck with a regular steel.
Or a larger "steel" that could be held down with a foot or stuck in the ground like a tent stake and struck with the flint.
Just some thoughts that I had.

 

[Woods Dweller]

A couple other options come to mind.
If she used a large chunk of flint that could be placed on the ground, maybe held in place with a foot, and struck with a regular steel.
Or a larger "steel" that could be held down with a foot or stuck in the ground like a tent stake and struck with the flint.
Just some thoughts that I had.

We have tried all sorts of ways, Part of my wife's problem is her fear of hurting her hand when striking. She wont hit hard enough to create a spark. Half of her hand was sewed to her stomach to replace some flesh she lost, This flesh has no nerve and she cant feel anything. Sometimes working around the house she will cut her hand and she don't know it until she sees blood all over the place. I don't want to take a pistol apart.
I think I will get the Dixie Gun works tinder lighter. I am good with fixing thing and will do what I have to to make it work. And if push come to shove I will take the barrel off my flint lock.
Thanks

 

[blackhorse]

I got one years ago in a junk shop in Ohio. It works. Whatcha got interesting to trade for it.

 

[PA.1740]

Just saw one on Ebay 6 days left on bid.
Under Collectibles Revolutionary War.
If you are still looking.
Hope this helps you.
Good luck

 

[Woods Dweller]

Thanks guys for all your help. Someone PM me and offered to give me one he had. I am very grateful for all of the help you all offered me. Thanks
:hatsoff:

 

[mazo kid]

Just an after thought...I was not too impressed with my tinder lighter from Dixie; it wouldn't hold on full ****, and didn't spark. After I finished the kit it ended up being a display piece as I kinda lost interest in trying to make it work. Maybe others have had a better experience?

Same experience for me. I filed the mechanism so it would hold at full **** twice. Must be a soft metal.:shake: Kind of an expensive display piece.

As I said, I got mine many years ago from one of Dixie's sales flyers, cost about $22-24 at the time. Maybe one of these days I'll take it on again as a project.

 

[Woods Dweller]

I started this thread searching for a tinder lighter for my wife to start our fire. being that she does the cooking around our camp fire she wants to start the fire as well. Being that she has lost half her hand in an accident she can not use a flint and steel. So! I started this thread searching for a tinder lighter and many of you were a great help. Thank you very much.

My Wife and I want to publicly thank Mr Rod L / Rodney Lassey who PM me this message:

“Have you found one yet? If not, I have one of the old DGW ones that you can have, for free, if you'll pay shipping. It's just sitting out at my cabin gathering dust, and I haven't used it in years. As I recall, you may have to have the frizzen either case hardened or refaced---as others have noted, they aren't good sparkers. But even so, if you want this one, you'll have less in it than buying new from Dixie”

I sent Mr Rodney Lassey the shipping cost for said tinder lighter. Today I received in the mail the tinder lighter and it works fantastic! I struck it 20 times and it worked great every time.

My wife was so excited as to how well it worked that she challenge me to a contest to see who could start a fire the quickest. Me with the flint & steel or her with her new tinder lighter. :hatsoff: I tip my hat to you Mr Rodney Lassey and I ask the Lord to bless you.

Now! I have a request to all of you who offered me good advice and who have one of these tinder lighter that has been sitting around just gathering dust.

I received another PM message from a gentleman who also has lost his left hand in the service. Here is his PM to me.

“sorry to hear of the mrs' accident.
i am a upper extremity amputee, having lost my left hand in the service and faced the same dilemma as you mentioned. I first thoght of the tinder liter but decided against. the first technique I tried was sitting on the ground with feet together and holding the tinder and char with my heels. that worked, but was clumsy. I now simply brace the flint on my knee, or in my tinder box with my residual limb and strike a lite very quickly.
your wife will just fine as soon as she finds what works for her. she not as handicapped as she is inconvinienced.
if i can do anything at all to help, just let me know.
Cheers
Skagan”

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showuser.php?uid/1709/

If anyone can help Skagan pleas do.
Again thank you all for your help'

Peace :v