Firesteel, huh?

[Infragreen]

How do we tell a firesteel from a firesteel?

One is a ferrocerium rod, having nothing to do with steel, but sounding like the other one.

The other one is a piece of steel, hardened and selectively tempered to have a tough handle section and a hard/brittle striker section.

The problem is: I don't even know what to call the ferrocerium rod systems.
I just know, that from the beginning, the firesteel was a piece of steel.

Compare with:
Danish: Ildstål (firesteel).
German: Feuerstahl (firesteel).

In fact, the name is a misnomer, as the piece struck with the piece of steel was originally a piece of flint, but now the struck piece is the steel????

So the correct name for the ferrocerium thingy might be something with "flint" in it? It's called lighter flints when used in lighters.

Any suggestions?

Infy

 

[Toddy]

Usage and change of the times I'm afraid.
A 'steel' is either the metal rod used to sharpen a knife or used with flint to strike a spark. A 'firesteel', certainly among this community, is taken to mean the ferrocerium rod.
English is a constantly developing language, very fluid, and with the greatest vocabulary of any. It's speakers will add, and use, words from any language; oral, written, science, whatever; and make them their own. Now we're having to adjust to the limitations of texting and already those words are appearing in mainstream speech too, and text has become richer as even numerals become syllables!

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[andyn]

I personally tend to call the traditional "flint and steel" method either "flint and steel" or occasionally a "Firesteel".

The ferrocerium rod i tend to call a "firesteel" or "firestick".

BUT....Many may also say that the word "firestick" contradicts with another item as I believe the aboriginal word for the hand drill translates as "firestick" too.

At the end of the day lets face it...Its only a word.

Personally - Im amazed by some cultures/tribes that have different words for the same item depending on what it is to be used for. So try not to get to confused or tangled up in it.

In future just say "can you pass me something to light a fire with" and use what ever is passed to you

 

[Toddy]

.....
In future just say "can you pass me something to light a fire with" and use what ever is passed to you

Toddy

 

[Infragreen]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firesteel

It seems to me the smartitude of some salesmen/authors are confounding matters for us.

I'm not for the idea of letting the language being run down/evolutionized by common misconception or advertising schemes.

This isn't even my own language...

But I'd like to offer a suggestion that's easy to use.

How about a "Ferro"? That's Iron, and there IS iron in it?

A "Firo", maybe? Except that sounds like calling your dog.

No, I'm for a Ferro. I even have a Ferro myself, in a Mag block.

Infy.

PS. Toddy, steels are okey with me. I'd even use a burnishing/polishing steel in my metalwork. But a firesteel is a fire-making piece of steel.

 

[Toddy]

If I'm working in iron age or medieval costume, a firesteel is the bit of metal I use with flint. If I'm being me, out and about in the 21st century, a firesteel is a ferrocerium rod.
It's just the same as was mentioned on the other thread; I *hoover* the carpets, but I use a vacuum cleaner to do it, well, actually I use a Dyson

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Jeff Wagner]

God eftermiddag Infragreen. Over on this side of the pond, a hardened steel for use with stone flint is simply called a "striker" and the terms "flint and steel "always mean a "striker and stone flint". The various ferocerium sticks on the market are usually referred to by the product name such as "Blastmatch" etc. Although the one in a lighter is still called a "flint"....

 

[gregorach]

This isn't even my own language...

Then may I respectfully suggest that you stop offering usage suggestions to native speakers? I appreciate that the English language can be extemely confusing to learners, but you don't get to redefine it for us... "Firesteel" to refer to a ferrocerium rod is now common usage, whether you like it or not, and complaining about it here isn't going to change that.

 

[Tony]

Steady

It's just peoples thoughts and opinions

 

[Seagull]

Hello, I.G.

How about, "sparker"? eh?

I tend to call them by a lot of colourful names, (usually ending with; "thing")when I,m having a hard time with it.

Ceeg

 

[falling rain]

Blimey Infragreen you really seem to have a 'bee in your bonnet' about this one, I thought we'd discussed this on the other thread. Why is this so important to you? As far as I'm aware the traditional 'flint and steel' or 'strike a light' as used since around Viking times is the usually 'C' shaped steel striker but sometimes 'U' shaped as per Hudson Bay Company, is the tempered steel you're talking about. 'The Firesteel' or 'Swedish Firesteel' is the ferrocium rod used so much by Bushcrafters coming in the scout or army models.

Call it how you will, we'll understand what you mean.

 

[Wayland]

I use "flint and steel" daily in a Viking context. I never refer to it as a "firesteel" as I can find no historical evidence that they were ever called such by the Vikings.

In fact most original strikers/steels seem to have been case hardened iron rather that steel so the name would never have occurred to them.

Certainly the modern synthetic rods are commonly refered to as "firesteels" and I cannot see that practice changing whatever Wikipedia suggests.

New definition : Wikipedia, the encyclopedia nobody would pay for.

 

[BorderReiver]

I tend to call them by a lot of colourful names, (usually ending with; "thing")when I,m having a hard time with it.

Ceeg

I've got one of them

Funnily enough,Jason01's steel never lets me down,it's usually the modern firesteel that gives me trouble.

 

[Woods Wanderer]

my rod is my sparky thingy and thats what i allways call it and my flint and steel is a flint and steel
but considering id never met another bushcrafter until last weekend it never mattered what it was called

 

[-Switch-]

I can't believe that after three seperate threads you lot are still going on about this

 

[pierre girard]

How do we tell a firesteel from a firesteel?

One is a ferrocerium rod, having nothing to do with steel, but sounding like the other one.

The other one is a piece of steel, hardened and selectively tempered to have a tough handle section and a hard/brittle striker section.

The problem is: I don't even know what to call the ferrocerium rod systems.
I just know, that from the beginning, the firesteel was a piece of steel.

Compare with:
Danish: Ildstål (firesteel).
German: Feuerstahl (firesteel).

In fact, the name is a misnomer, as the piece struck with the piece of steel was originally a piece of flint, but now the struck piece is the steel????

So the correct name for the ferrocerium thingy might be something with "flint" in it? It's called lighter flints when used in lighters.

Any suggestions?

Infy

We've always called them spark lighters or "strike o light."

PG

 

[Infragreen]

Sorry if I seemed overzealous by starting a third thread.

I just couldn't find the first two, decided the moderator had deleted them for being a mite too harsh, and so posted this one.
I'll go find the others and read your replies there.

I just find it confusing to use the steel name for something that a: Is not steel, and b: Is struck with steel.

And maybe a little condescending to the blacksmiths, but that is a matter for the marketing dept. and the blacksmiths.

But considering the multitude of different views on the matter, I rest my case.
I never intended this one to be a conflict.

Gregorach: Yes, you may... Respectfully!

Jeff: Tak! Hvor har du lært at tale dansk?

Cheers, all!

Infy

 

[Toddy]

This forum is moderated very gently, a thread that is simply a discussion is unlikely to need any assistance.
If you wish to find a thread that you have started or replied to, simply click on your username and then on the "Find all posts by ....." that comes down. Similar information is available by finding your profile in the members list.
This is the third thread that you have brought up the firesteel name question on, in a month. The consensus of opinion appears unchanged, time to give it a bye .

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Jeff Wagner]

Jeff: Tak! Hvor har du lært at tale dansk?

Cheers, all!

Infy

Goddag Infy. Hvordan har du det? Jeg lære Dansk af medarbejder nulevende i Roskilde.

 

[Infragreen]

Thanks Toddy.

I found those other threads now. Tried my CP, but never thought of just clicking my username.
No need to restate my confession to doing a triple post or the restful state of my case I read it a couple times already.

I can live with flint and steel; that's what I use.

And I can HEARTILY agree with anyone objecting to calling their kit a ferrocerium rod. Or any mischmaschmetal cylinder composed of yattata yattata...

Sorry for appearing rude in the two first threads. That DID come out harder than intended. And that's why I figured they'd been taken off forum.

Now let's go light some cozy fires

Infy