A little tinkering on Friday (and Thursday) - fire steels

[Mike Ameling]

This is some of what I was "tinkering" on yesterday and today in the blacksmith shop. Actually, I usually make a pair of each style of fire steel when I work on them, so there's a second one of each of these not pictured. I heat one up as I forge on the other. It keeps me focused and busy/productive. And I try to base each one on an original style documented to an area and time period.

Bottom row:
left - French 1566
Bottom right - French trade 1630's
Second row:
Left - English trade 1700's
Right - Roman 1st to 3rd century
Third row:
Left - English Crown early to mid 1700's
Right - Roman 1st to 3rd century
Fourth row:
R and B - American Colonial early to mid 1700's
French Bar - New France mid 1600's to mid 1700's
Far right - English trade - early to mid 1700's
Top:
Mexican/Spanish Colonial 1700's to 1800's

So goes life "tinkering" out here in the Hinterlands

Mike Ameling

p.s. I also posted this pic in the DIY Gallery.

 

[Tadpole]

I rather like the look of the roman style ones, especially the one on the second row right. If the gap between the curled bits was fully closed I guess you could thread it on a thong and wear it round your neck.