When I was a kid, I was taught to use an Old Horseshoe for steel with flint from a Cowboy, whom was my pack leader! I remember him saying that calvary and pony express riders used them during the 1800s
I ordered a flint and steel kit from SRO a couple of years ago. The steel is straight. I now know why I had better luck getting char to light in the box than when I use the thumb method. As I watched this, I could see the amount of sparks being thrown from each steel and each method. Very interesting and thought provoking. Thanks Dave!
Great timing. I was just cleaning up the garage and came across a fire steel I purchased about 10 years ago. I sit down tonight to watch some videos and was happily surprised to see this video! Thanks Dave!
Man I have learned so much from you this year. Even my kids are learning these skill. We spent the last couple weekends gathering fat wood and punkwood
Love outdoorsy stuff. Back to basics is so relaxing and I'm constantly learning. Thanks Dave. PS.. I got my flint and steal today. And the word tinderbox. I remember my gran taking to me about that many years ago. I'm 70 by the way. Very interesting and great fun watching. Keep Vlogging and I'll keep watching...
Dave I’m an aspiring blacksmith and this is something that I’ve been wanting to forge....thanks for making life easier for me 😃👍 You are still the most credible and best teachers in the field today !
More "rock solid" advice from the guru. Some day, when you are trapping rabbits, you are going to catch one of your avid subscribers emerging from the rabbit hole that you sent him down. When I was a Boy Scout during the mid-to-late 1950s, we learned fire making skills, but we always used a match. The big innovative technology of the day was windproof matches that we carried in small, metal cylinders. They were a big deal back then. As I have continued developing my woodsman skills over the years, I have learned several "new" ways of making fires without matches which I don't even carry anymore. Your treatise on fire steels is mind blowing and explains my successes and failures. Thanks for all you do for our community. You are a national treasure.
I've always considered "In the box, in the house" or in a bird's nest on dry ground, assuming no fire hazardous conditions. The on-top-of the flint is best in wet weather or stealthily situations. I've seen guys light their pipes with the in-the-box (the pipe bowl) method and a 1/2 fingernail size piece of charcloth on top of their tobacco. Now that is really showing off and pretty amazing!
Not a boring video at all, Dave. I think it's very interesting and thought provoking. The gear and tools that we all use, have evolved over time. And I believe that understanding that 'evolution' is just as important as using the tools themselves.
This is very interesting especially the box. I currently use a two pouch belt system of carry. Fire making tools in one pouch and an altoids tin with various tinder material plus wax and 4 Ought mesh steel. I always carry a flint and steel to practice with and I use that very Pathfinder arrowhead one you were demonstrating with. Very useful to know :)
I have followed you on and off for about 10 years. I never thought about the curve of the steel and how that works. Now being into blacksmithing I will take this into account when I make them. Thank you for the information. we can learn every day of our lives. God Bless
I know what you mean Dave, I'm a fire geek also! I have built up a number of fire steels over the years, and I find the curved ones better due to using the preferred method of laying the char cloth on the top of the flint, I find it less likely to hit your knuckles against the flint also! One of my most prized bushcraft possessions, is a brass HBC tinderbox my wife brought me many years ago, which has a removable cover in the centre of the lid, with a magnifying lens in the centre! Infact, that tinderbox was one of the main reasons I got into working with leather, so I could make a nice leather belt pouch in order to keep it safe out in the field! Thanks Dave for everything you do for the outdoor community, and wishing you and your family a happy Christmas and new year.
You have come so far over the years my friend,and what I wouldn't give to have your knowledge,oh nevermind,it's in years of UA-cam vids,and I'm glad I've seen most of em,thanks for always sharing your info to us over the years.... you've made a difference,,,,but in this vid just like all the others,I always, always learn something new...
Never thought about the difference between the arc and the straight edge...very interesting and I believe you're absolutely right! Also you mentioned the width of the steel. I've found that to be a huge factor. I have a piece of broken file that my great-grandfather owned that is 3/8" thick and it throws a spark like nothing else I've seen. Very cool discussion!!
Excellent rundown about flint and steel over time of how and why things changed with the steel! Really like your videos and have watched many over the last few months. New to bushcraft and have ordered a few items from your shop. Keep the information flowing.
Dave since you're a fire geek have you found a book called "the art of fire the joy of tinder, spark and ember" because it's it's a cracking bit of work and teaches you all sorts even how to make a fire piston. I'm sure you know more than enough to get by but it's a good read while camping
So back in the early days people walked around with a small tinderbox with a Fire Steel and Flint rock like folks today walk around with a BIC lighter? I thought Fred Flintsone used a Zip-Rock Lighter that rubbed two small sticks together when he used his thumb to activate it to light his Winston Cigarettes.
This is really a brilliant observation, Dave. I suspsect there is a lot of merit to this in terms of design evolution historically, that you're shedding light on an area gone dark in our collective memory and that this is worthy of presentation to academia. I have several different steel strikers and cannot tell you how many times I've switched from the thumb method to setting my charred material down because the striker I happen to be using that day is too straight and isn't throwing the sparks in an angle conducive to catching it, or vice versa. Though quietly to myself I knew one striker of mine threw sparks in a different manner than another, the thought never occurred to me that this was by design of people far more intimate with the tool than myself and the people replicating them for my use - its use being an essential part of our ancestors well being, livelihood and daily life, so that same intimacy, despite long time use and cultivated skill on my behalf, is not readily at the forefront of my mind without epiphany. Epiphany tested in practice and measured against history as done here. Excellent work!
Never knew about or thought about a divided box for whatever reason. The first time I made hash out of my char cloth from the flint shard and striker rattling around, I just carried them outside of the box. Learned something new today . Thanks for the great video
Your videos are never boring. Interesting, inspiring, thought provoking about history, evolution, or what ever the subject is for the "lesson of the day" is. Thsnk for all you do.
This is something I've always thought about, I find it so interesting to go down this rabbit hole.. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, I would have-to say, I would agree with you.
That is nice information to know and I am learning more of what I would need if in the forest and need a way of survival and this is information I didn't learn while in the Air Force. You have given us the information on the use of the Fire Steel and how to use it to make char cloth and also to make a fire using the material when camping out. I thank you so much Mr. Canterbury for showing everyone how to use the fire steel and in making char cloth for use in the woods.
Growing up, it was Les Stroud who sparked my interest with his survivorman series, then it was bear gryls who furtherd my interest into the world of survival. Then comes dual survival and from there comes Dave canterbury who i followed into the realm of my true passion witch is gaining the skills to not just survive... but to thrive with the knowledge of self reliance. Dave has taught me that the more skills I hone the less tools I need, witch in turn allows me to enjoy my outdoor experiences more carrying less equipment
I read a story set in the 17th century where a character uses a flint and steel awhile back. I have to dig it out and reread the scene for accuracy if there is enough details.
Great and interesting video Dave . I noticed the difference in fire steels over the years but didn't know why. I personally use charred punk wood in my tin so as not to burn up cloth . Not that it matters to anyone. It just seems more easily replenished in the woods.
Good job! I would say the artifact fire steels w/ divots are evidence of your theory (of a transition from charred tinder in a box to char cloth held in the hand). - and also the transition to curved fire steels around the same time. Very interesting.
I know of two historical examples from Scandinavia and Finland from around the 800s that are curved. Both are types intended to be worn on a belt as a part of personal kit. It makes sense.
Very interesting subject. I am new to the whole flint and steel thing and had never really thought about the reason for the difference. I am just starting to forge fire steels and knowing this information I am better set up for making the proper steel ofr the proper intended usage. Thank you for sharing this perspective.
It wears in the center because that is where you are impacting. Just a product of aiming for the center for most reliable striking. You are never shaving off from the entire area, only initial impact point. I do agree with the arced vs straight being best for handheld vs tin. One possible reason the oval was so popular was because they made them very thin for trade since most people wound never wear one out and they would want to conserve material. By welding the two ends together into an oval, they make it more durable then having two separate rat tails and effectively double the amount of material available for striking by making two sides useful.
I live in Florida and, over time, humidity can be an issue with charred material. I've taken to keeping a couple of the desiccant packs from pill bottles in my char tin. It's not period, but it is effective at keeping my char from fouling due to the high humidity.
If I may throw my two cents in about char-cloth. I make and sell a lot of it and people love it because it's not brittle and isn't sooty. The secret is to use thick denim and not to overpack the tin. Have heat surround the tin and remove it the instant it just begins to stop smoking or just before that. It's flexible and lights up easily and very fast.
Great video Dave, very interesting. Flint and steel is my favorite fire starting method and the two different shapes for the two different techniques makes very good sense.
never used a straight steel striker dave but very interesting I've had and used other steel strikers like you mention makes good sense to me thanks for sharing this
Thanks, Dave. Very interesting! I find that convincing. There is no fooling people who relied on flint and steel several times a day for their entire lives. Those designs looked like that for a reason.
When I was a kid, I was taught to use an Old Horseshoe for steel with flint from a Cowboy, whom was my pack leader! I remember him saying that calvary and pony express riders used them during the 1800s
I ordered a flint and steel kit from SRO a couple of years ago. The steel is straight. I now know why I had better luck getting char to light in the box than when I use the thumb method. As I watched this, I could see the amount of sparks being thrown from each steel and each method. Very interesting and thought provoking. Thanks Dave!
I've watched Dave since I was 13 lol I've become a modern-day Frontiersman because of Dave Canterbury
Sooo....your like 14 now ? ;)
So your a 14 year old pro! Jk Dave is awesome and I respect anyone out using the skills he teaches... good job man!
I always appreciate your perspective, Uncle Dave.
Respect from Georgia,
-Alex
Great timing. I was just cleaning up the garage and came across a fire steel I purchased about 10 years ago. I sit down tonight to watch some videos and was happily surprised to see this video! Thanks Dave!
Man I have learned so much from you this year. Even my kids are learning these skill. We spent the last couple weekends gathering fat wood and punkwood
Love outdoorsy stuff. Back to basics is so relaxing and I'm constantly learning. Thanks Dave. PS.. I got my flint and steal today. And the word tinderbox. I remember my gran taking to me about that many years ago. I'm 70 by the way. Very interesting and great fun watching. Keep Vlogging and I'll keep watching...
Remember dual survival when David put gun powder in his wound and lit it... savage.
I did something similar back in May. Only difference was that it wasn’t an wound or on purpose. Oh and I wasn’t as savage either lol.
Bad ass no doubt on a scale of 1 to 10 rate this one 85
Dave I’m an aspiring blacksmith and this is something that I’ve been wanting to forge....thanks for making life easier for me 😃👍
You are still the most credible and best teachers in the field today !
My favorite method of fire. I practice it almost every weekend
Your work has inspired me to continue learning bush/woodcraft skills for years, thanks.
More "rock solid" advice from the guru. Some day, when you are trapping rabbits, you are going to catch one of your avid subscribers emerging from the rabbit hole that you sent him down. When I was a Boy Scout during the mid-to-late 1950s, we learned fire making skills, but we always used a match. The big innovative technology of the day was windproof matches that we carried in small, metal cylinders. They were a big deal back then. As I have continued developing my woodsman skills over the years, I have learned several "new" ways of making fires without matches which I don't even carry anymore. Your treatise on fire steels is mind blowing and explains my successes and failures. Thanks for all you do for our community. You are a national treasure.
Mr Canterbury at his best. Thanks alot Dave for all ur free information.
I've always considered "In the box, in the house" or in a bird's nest on dry ground, assuming no fire hazardous conditions. The on-top-of the flint is best in wet weather or stealthily situations. I've seen guys light their pipes with the in-the-box (the pipe bowl) method and a 1/2 fingernail size piece of charcloth on top of their tobacco. Now that is really showing off and pretty amazing!
This actually answered a few questions & my flint & steel ignition just became way more efficient. Thanks Dave🙏
Not a boring video at all, Dave. I think it's very interesting and thought provoking. The gear and tools that we all use, have evolved over time. And I believe that understanding that 'evolution' is just as important as using the tools themselves.
This is very interesting especially the box. I currently use a two pouch belt system of carry. Fire making tools in one pouch and an altoids tin with various tinder material plus wax and 4 Ought mesh steel. I always carry a flint and steel to practice with and I use that very Pathfinder arrowhead one you were demonstrating with. Very useful to know :)
As always humble and informative I have been watching you on this platform for years Dave thank you as always and god bless
I have followed you on and off for about 10 years. I never thought about the curve of the steel and how that works. Now being into blacksmithing I will take this into account when I make them. Thank you for the information. we can learn every day of our lives. God Bless
I know what you mean Dave, I'm a fire geek also!
I have built up a number of fire steels over the years, and I find the curved ones better due to using the preferred method of laying the char cloth on the top of the flint, I find it less likely to hit your knuckles against the flint also!
One of my most prized bushcraft possessions, is a brass HBC tinderbox my wife brought me many years ago, which has a removable cover in the centre of the lid, with a magnifying lens in the centre!
Infact, that tinderbox was one of the main reasons I got into working with leather, so I could make a nice leather belt pouch in order to keep it safe out in the field!
Thanks Dave for everything you do for the outdoor community, and wishing you and your family a happy Christmas and new year.
You have come so far over the years my friend,and what I wouldn't give to have your knowledge,oh nevermind,it's in years of UA-cam vids,and I'm glad I've seen most of em,thanks for always sharing your info to us over the years.... you've made a difference,,,,but in this vid just like all the others,I always, always learn something new...
Well done . Interesting AF as the Corporal says lol.
He says Outstanding
You amaze me in the variety of topics you come up with and the way you find to look at the same subject from different angles. Another great video.
Never thought about the difference between the arc and the straight edge...very interesting and I believe you're absolutely right! Also you mentioned the width of the steel. I've found that to be a huge factor. I have a piece of broken file that my great-grandfather owned that is 3/8" thick and it throws a spark like nothing else I've seen. Very cool discussion!!
No need to apologize for providing folks with an education. Many thanks
Thank you Dave for your thoughs.
You did not bore me. Learning is never boring.
Excellent rundown about flint and steel over time of how and why things changed with the steel! Really like your videos and have watched many over the last few months. New to bushcraft and have ordered a few items from your shop. Keep the information flowing.
Thank you so much for sharing this and everything you share I’m trying to learn everything I can between your videos and your books .
Shared in my local blacksmithing and knife making page. Cheers Dave
Dave since you're a fire geek have you found a book called "the art of fire the joy of tinder, spark and ember" because it's it's a cracking bit of work and teaches you all sorts even how to make a fire piston. I'm sure you know more than enough to get by but it's a good read while camping
So back in the early days people walked around with a small tinderbox with a Fire Steel and Flint rock like
folks today walk around with a BIC lighter? I thought Fred Flintsone used a Zip-Rock Lighter that rubbed
two small sticks together when he used his thumb to activate it to light his Winston Cigarettes.
😀❤
This is really a brilliant observation, Dave. I suspsect there is a lot of merit to this in terms of design evolution historically, that you're shedding light on an area gone dark in our collective memory and that this is worthy of presentation to academia.
I have several different steel strikers and cannot tell you how many times I've switched from the thumb method to setting my charred material down because the striker I happen to be using that day is too straight and isn't throwing the sparks in an angle conducive to catching it, or vice versa. Though quietly to myself I knew one striker of mine threw sparks in a different manner than another, the thought never occurred to me that this was by design of people far more intimate with the tool than myself and the people replicating them for my use - its use being an essential part of our ancestors well being, livelihood and daily life, so that same intimacy, despite long time use and cultivated skill on my behalf, is not readily at the forefront of my mind without epiphany.
Epiphany tested in practice and measured against history as done here.
Excellent work!
Thanks Dave, makes perfect sense. 👍 stay safe and god bless you and your family.
Very interesting. I will now have two flints in my box, one straight and one curved. Thank you.
Dave, you have NEVER bored me or repeated a thought in a boring fashion, EVER. Honest injun!
I enjoyed this video as much as i have all your videos. Keep em comin' as long as you can.
Never knew about or thought about a divided box for whatever reason.
The first time I made hash out of my char cloth from the flint shard and striker rattling around, I just carried them outside of the box.
Learned something new today .
Thanks for the great video
Thanks Dave. I appreciate your knowledge
Again Dave, thanks for your research and all the work you do for us.
School never ends great video. THANKS DAVE C.
Very Good information. I can use it on making strikers. Thanks
Thanks Dave..I enjoy your take on the ways of the past, always interesting. Merry Christmas
Fire making and flint and steel never gets old
Thanks for the vid
Your videos are never boring. Interesting, inspiring, thought provoking about history, evolution, or what ever the subject is for the "lesson of the day" is. Thsnk for all you do.
Excellent thoughts,
presented well !
Thank You.
This is something I've always thought about, I find it so interesting to go down this rabbit hole..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, I would have-to say, I would agree with you.
I could watch these instructive history lessons all day
Makes sense. Great video, Dave.
Thank you for that information. It helps me understand the process.
Great history lesson AS EXPECTED for you...... THANKS!!!!
EXCELLENT video Dave!
Interesting! I would never had even given it a thought. But I am very glad you did. Thanks for a great video.
That is nice information to know and I am learning more of what I would need if in the forest and need a way of survival and this is information I didn't learn while in the Air Force. You have given us the information on the use of the Fire Steel and how to use it to make char cloth and also to make a fire using the material when camping out. I thank you so much Mr. Canterbury for showing everyone how to use the fire steel and in making char cloth for use in the woods.
Growing up, it was Les Stroud who sparked my interest with his survivorman series, then it was bear gryls who furtherd my interest into the world of survival. Then comes dual survival and from there comes Dave canterbury who i followed into the realm of my true passion witch is gaining the skills to not just survive... but to thrive with the knowledge of self reliance. Dave has taught me that the more skills I hone the less tools I need, witch in turn allows me to enjoy my outdoor experiences more carrying less equipment
Being a fellow fire geek, I found this extremely interesting. Thank you for the post my friend. God bless you and your wonderful family. John
Really enjoy my arrow-head fire steel. Thanks Dave.
Great video as always. I noticed you got my tent in the background. Pretty awesome piece of gear till you got to move it.
Fascinating video. Thanks for sharing. 👍
I read a story set in the 17th century where a character uses a flint and steel awhile back. I have to dig it out and reread the scene for accuracy if there is enough details.
Great insight, now I'm looking for a firesteel with a straight and a curved side!
Now that make good sense to me. Thankful you put that out. Hope all is well.
Great and interesting video Dave . I noticed the difference in fire steels over the years but didn't know why. I personally use charred punk wood in my tin so as not to burn up cloth . Not that it matters to anyone. It just seems more easily replenished in the woods.
Good job! I would say the artifact fire steels w/ divots are evidence of your theory (of a transition from charred tinder in a box to char cloth held in the hand). - and also the transition to curved fire steels around the same time. Very interesting.
Surprisingly more interesting than I initially thought. Thanks for the video.
I know of two historical examples from Scandinavia and Finland from around the 800s that are curved. Both are types intended to be worn on a belt as a part of personal kit.
It makes sense.
This is a great video and a great explanation of flint and steel
Very interesting subject. I am new to the whole flint and steel thing and had never really thought about the reason for the difference. I am just starting to forge fire steels and knowing this information I am better set up for making the proper steel ofr the proper intended usage. Thank you for sharing this perspective.
ROCK SOLID INFO DAVE!! MAKES PERFECT SENSE
Great old fashioned Canterbury art. Loved it
David, Excellent historical perspective... LJ
It wears in the center because that is where you are impacting. Just a product of aiming for the center for most reliable striking. You are never shaving off from the entire area, only initial impact point. I do agree with the arced vs straight being best for handheld vs tin. One possible reason the oval was so popular was because they made them very thin for trade since most people wound never wear one out and they would want to conserve material. By welding the two ends together into an oval, they make it more durable then having two separate rat tails and effectively double the amount of material available for striking by making two sides useful.
Dangit Dave...you just dont stop...Wonderful video!! Its why I always follow and learn because we can never learn to much...Thanks!
Always learning something new from Dave! Thanks for the video more things to try out on my next outing
I've made fire with quite a bunch of different things and this taught me quite a bit thank you for posting it. I do love to learn stuff
I live in Florida and, over time, humidity can be an issue with charred material. I've taken to keeping a couple of the desiccant packs from pill bottles in my char tin. It's not period, but it is effective at keeping my char from fouling due to the high humidity.
Outstanding Dave, you are the Master Fire Blaster.👍🇺🇸
If I may throw my two cents in about char-cloth. I make and sell a lot of it and people love it because it's not brittle and isn't sooty. The secret is to use thick denim and not to overpack the tin. Have heat surround the tin and remove it the instant it just begins to stop smoking or just before that. It's flexible and lights up easily and very fast.
Been trying to talk myself into one of these. Gotta brush up on all forms of fire to feel well versed. Thank a ton friend.
Good job explaining the way they have evolved. I have not heard this from anyone else.
I'm in 100 percent agreement. Good video.
Great video Dave.
Thanks again, I have learned so much from you over the years!
Getting my first steel soon! Enjoyed the video.
Cool new intro! Great info as always!
Wow very informative and interesting !! Thank you Dave for posting !!! Take care and stay safe my friend
Great video Dave, very interesting. Flint and steel is my favorite fire starting method and the two different shapes for the two different techniques makes very good sense.
Always love youre historical intervention , permits me to learn alot more about the tools used in Bushcraft and they're origins , thank-you
I love the new intro. Short and badass. Dope!
Great vid Dave. Thanks for posting.
never used a straight steel striker dave but very interesting I've had and used other steel strikers like you mention makes good sense to me thanks for sharing this
Good topic explained well. Thank you.
Great content for the community. That's why we come for info
Definitely interesting!!! Ty Dave
Great info Dave.
Interesting video Dave, thanks for sharing it with us.
Thanks, Dave. Very interesting! I find that convincing. There is no fooling people who relied on flint and steel several times a day for their entire lives. Those designs looked like that for a reason.
Awesome video Dave
Thanks Dave
Flint and steel is such a fun method of lighting fires by far my favorite (not saying its the most practical)