Bushcraft Fire Making: Flint and Steel

Flint and Steel components and extras

As I was looking through some gear and making sure it is all organized, I noticed I have several various types of steel strikers for Flint and Steel fire making.  Then I realized, I almost never put Flint and Steel in any of my fire kits that I take on outings or trips.  This led me down the rabbit hole of why does the Bushcraft community hold Flint and Steel so highly as a good fire starting source?    

Is it the romance or nostalgia of using a “primitive” or “percussion” fire making method?  Is there value of training and skill in being able to manipulate Flint and Steen with natural materials?  Is this the most functional way to start a fire?  Does that mean Flint and Steel are no good?  

Classic “C” Pattern Striker

NO it does not.  I truly believe that Flint and Steel is a valuable skill for not only fire starting, but you need to have a good understanding of ignition sources, natural materials, charred materials, creating charred materials and so on and so on.  Personally, I think there are way better options to carry with me on any outings, which I will get to later.  

 

Striker Awl and Flint Knapped arrow head to strike the steel made by Jamie Burleigh

What I mean by this is, if you study Flint and Steel and learn the science behind it you will discover words like pyrophoric, oxidation, and ignition point to name a few.  To put things in layman’s terms as I like, you’re basically scratching the Steel with a hard Rock (flint, chert, quartz etc), and the steel scratched off combusts into a spark.  Then the spark needs to come into contact with a very dry tinder source (powder like tinder fungus, dry grass, well processed natural materials), or something already charred (cloth, natural materials).   Personally, I tend to use charred materials from the previous fire, it can be done with Flint and Steel, Magnification Lens, and a Ferrocerium Rod.  I also prepare charred punkwood or char cloth if I’m going to practice Flint and Steel or some other methods.  

“U” Shaped striker with flint

Flint and Steel when practiced as a skill can teach many lessons to aid in various other fire starting methods.  Understanding the how and why of the sparks, and how they are a certain temperature compared to other spark producing ignition sources can really teach us how well the materials need to be prepared in order to achieve a good long lasting fire.  

 

The Reel Striker with bow drill divot and Flint to strike with, designed by Jamie Burleigh and sold at CampCraft Outdoors

For more practical and realistic reasons, the better options to carry are a lighter, ferro rod, magnification lens or matches.  These items eliminate the step of making tinder or as Mors Kochanski called it “Synthetic Tinder” (Kochanski, 1991).  Additionally, I carry a flare in my pack and vehicles for true emergency situations (I am a believer that a flare is the best immediate fire making tool on the market).  I do enjoy practicing Flint and Steel and how it prepares me for more fire making challenges.  What are your thoughts on Flint and Steel and its application?  Do you think there are better methods, why or why not?  We would love to hear your feedback and ideas.  

 

Chert and Iron Pyrite

Works Cited

Kochanski, M. L. (1991). Northern Bushcraft. Edmonton, Alberta CAN: Lone Pine Publishing.