Projects for my Adventures in the Iron Age.

[Toddy]

We usually demonstrate fire by friction for the Iron age, but we do know of iron strikers....thing is though, there's not a lot of flint in Scotland.
On the whole if you find flint in Scotland, someone took it there, it was a trade item.

We have a lot of good chert though, and good chert is at least as good as middling quality flint. We also have bloodstone and pitchstone on Arran....but again, it's a fair walk with it.

The flint we do know of comes from a site at Den of Boddum, in Aberdeenshire.

Den Of Boddam | Canmore

canmore.org.uk

We also have some sea washed pebbles along the west coast that have come across from Antrim. By the time the sea's done with them though, the flint is often not so good.

Basically, fire by friction's easier to explain to folks, besides, it works, and it looks interesting, it's engaging, and most are up for a shot at it

 

[John Fenna]

I demmo flint and steel though also show how locally available Quartz is almost as good as flint for sparking - and that friction fire is hard work in damp conditions! I use a repro of a Roman steel (made for me by Mr Budd of this parish) and sell the sets I make (with old file strikers) through the on site shop

 

[Tengu]

Got some tendon.

How do I turn it into sinew?

Hit it when dry or soak first?

 

[Chris]

Need to dry it and then give it a good thrashing with a smooth rock/mallet/bat/something else solid and heavy.

 

[John Fenna]

And it takes for EVER! A real winter evening job.... but it is worth the effort

 

[Tengu]

Some of my leatherwork tools need sheaths



As do my spears...shafts coming later



Friend got a me a kuksa for my birthday

Ill probably give a new thong and decorate later



Ive cleaned uo my arrows ready to put new fletchings on



This is my shammy shirt I mane last year...will probably make some trews to match.

 

[Tengu]

Righty;

Ive found some interesting bits of hazel...should a Shillelagh have the bark on or off?

 

[Pattree]

I don’t think there are any rules. My Irish grandfather called his walking stick a shillelagh. It was a normal walking stick with a knob handle. The touristy ones are like hammers and have their bark intact but I doubt one of those was used in anger.

 

[Broch]

Tourist Shillelaghs have bark on usually (makes them look rougher) - a decent knob is required, sometimes filled with lead

 

[Chris]

Tourist Shillelaghs have bark on usually (makes them look rougher) - a decent knob is required, sometimes filled with lead

That last part takes a good marksman

 

[Broch]

Nah, drilled and filled with molten lead to cause more cranium damage

 

[SoldierPalmer]

Nah, drilled and filled with molten lead to cause more cranium damage

I think they were traditionally made from black thorn too.

 

[crosslandkelly]

I think they were traditionally made from black thorn too.

Hawthorn will do the job too.

 

[Broch]

There's another thread running on the subject of Shillelaghs, however they have been traditionally made of oak, crab, blackthorn, ash, hazel and willow.

WANTED Shelelaigh

(Did I spell that right? Never mind) A proper one, not a tourist one. Im looking for one of my own but so far all the blackthorns seem to be less than straight) I have a lot to trade, as usual. Wenger wash kit. (Nice this is, but I already have one) Canvas sholder bag Eurohike down...

bushcraftuk.com

 

[Tengu]

Yes thats me. Ive found a couple of interesting hazel trimmings; one looks more like a staff than a cudgel though.

 

[Tengu]

Knife sheath finished; Not a fancy one, just to protect and keep safe.