Who makes fire...

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gizamo

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It's interesting that so many enjoy the various BP guns and the acoutrements that go with them. Fine folks enjoying the very best of the era. Life is good:)

Yet how many step it up a notch beyond that? Do any of you take an interest in the period and technology of the times? It's one thing to go to the range and truly enjoy the gun itself and mastering the principles of how to make them fire consistently and with great accuracy. Just wondering aloud if many take it to another level and try to master the other technologies of the period.

How do you make fire? Simple question. But it seems to follow the course of the evolution of guns...:)

Flint, Percussion, and Cartridge all seem to see periods of overlap with the simple act of making a campfire....anyone else go to the next level? Or are folks happy just making the gun go bang:neener:


giz
 
I started making fires with flint and steel as a kid.............. collected hunks of flint when I would arrow head hunt :D
 
My 1/2" x 6" ferrocerium rod and the back of my knife make short work of fire starting, when a lighter isn't handy. Cotton lint from the dryer filter makes sure the sparks are caught and held long enough to get things smoking - in a hurry. :D
 
Ditto Acorn Mush. I make my own char cloth and use a flint and steel. .I also have a fire bow set-up I made that works....OK. I'm sure someone more competent would do better.
 
Lighter...

unless I don't have that option... then I dig out the emergency fire starting stuff (rod/steel), drier lint soaked with a mix of wax and vaseline (wrapped in foil).
 
Hmmmm,

Starting to wonder if I said it well....

Period fire starting is what I meant. Don't think many of the old timers would know what we meant if we suggested they use the lint from a laundry dryer...LOL!

giz
 
Well....

You did ask how we do it. You didn't specify the recipe of it you have in mind.... and then ask how many of us use that recipe. :neener:
 
Magnifying glass and char cloth on sunny days, flint and steel on occasion, and steel wool is a good tinder also. I've got a "fire stick", but have yet to make it work consistantly.
 
Ok, point taken....for you modern guys....

Tannerite would be best....LOL!

giz
 
I keep a Flint & Steel kit in my hunting pack & one in my camping gear, I love keeping my more primitive knowledge going for when I may have to really use them, been making my own char cloth as long as I can remember, sometimes I forget to make some when the missus is out because she doesn't appreciate the sweet smell that emonates from the grill when I make it.
 
Propane torch and a cuppa Coleman..... Eyebrows are highly overrated anyway :D

I must admit that it would be interesting to step back in time. Actually there was a show on our national TV channel that ran for a season or two where they took modern folks and stuck them on a few neighbouring farms in Manitoba. They had all the tools including period firearms for hunting and defense as I recall and the ONLY electric power was in the battery packs of the cameras used to follow their exploits for a year. That's right, they gave all the other stuff up to try this for a YEAR! Did their own farming and bartering, cut and adzed their own timber for building repairs, etc, etc.
 
Noble Sniper, My partner and I have set may a fire using the 9 volt battery and steel wool trick. We even had the hilarious misfortune to set an apartment building alight from a fire started with the battery and wool. That was curious incident.:cool:
 
Dad was a buckskinner and used to use his flint and steel for campfires, always! No other way to do it. I still have all his stuff and his flint and steel with tinder in a small leather pouch.

Since I'm a Civil War reenactor I get to use Lucifers! Woohoo! I refuse to use any other type of starter or starting agent though as I see so many people doing in camp at reenactments. Lighter fluid, charcoal, fire bricks, etc. Bleh. Can't stand it. It's amazing how hard it is for some people to start a campfire. I watch and can't believe what people are doing or try to do. Usually, we can get one going right away with only a couple Lucifers. It's more a skill than I realized and gotta always thank Dad for teaching me that one!

When I do events, without the girl (she does stay home for some), I go total campaign style. No tent, shirt on my back, extra shirt and socks wrapped in a blanket roll, and only my most valuable rubber blanket for a ground cloth. We sleep outside under the stars, rubber blanket underneath you and issue wool blanket for cover, that's it!

We even try to eat the way the soldiers did. Our mess bought a 10lb chunk of salt bacon, one guy makes hardtack, we usually bring a couple taters and onions in our haversacks along with our coffee and sugar. Coffee is whole beans that we crush with our rifle butts. Throw it in our tin cups, pour in some water and set it on the fire til it boils, yum! Apples and peanuts are usually brough along in our haversacks too as they would have been plentiful and available along march routes. Now and then someone brings (read forages) a few ears of corn to roast or some eggs for a special breakfast treat. Nothing beats living this way. I totally love it and am always looking forward to the next one.

Couple of weeks ago my mess fell in with the 44th TN. First time all of us did the gray and boy was it a hoot. So strange for me to see all of decked out as Rebels. We did a good job of it though if I must say! It was a campaign style event too. Here is me, on the right and two other guys in my mess as proud Tennessee soldiers.

BoonedocksFarm030.jpg
 
I keep a fire piston in with my hunting gear. And it works great.
Click to expand...

Ya got me Bob, what the hell is a fire piston?

I made up a Flint & steel, char cloth and rope fiber kit I carry in my bag, hope it's not raining, Oh wait this is Orygun, it never rains here.
 
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