Before the popularity of matches and lighters, the preferred fire starting method by early pioneers and mountain men was by flint and steel. The action of striking a hardened piece of carbon steel against a piece of rock (with a Mohs hardness higher than 7) sheers off a thin piece of the metal, igniting it with friction and creating sparks. When these sparks are caught by carefully prepared tinder, they form an ember which can then be blown into flame.
It wasn't actually until I met Mors Kochanski that I started using this method, as it was him that gave me my first set; a piece of English flint and a broken hacksaw blade.
...it failed miserably.
The ember simply grew until it consumed the whole bundle without producing a single flame. With the tinder bundle engulfed we started over from the beginning and took extra care when preparing the poplar bark we used as tinder. Perseverance payed off as I was able to produce a flame the second time around, you never get anywhere if you give up after your first failure.
Since then I've begun carrying a with me small tin with a piece of flint, broken file, charcloth and some jute twine.
I'm not always able to start my fires using this technique, but using it before techniques I'm more comfortable with at least gives me the practice I need to improve. Of course when I do get it, it is immensely satisfying.
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