Fire Steels.
Researching Three Types.
I am sure after doing
so much research on fire steels, that there is still a lot to learn on my part.
I have not even scratched the service on iron & steel properties &
whether or not all steels were a combination of the two metals.
There are such a
variety of steels from different countries, both in design, & in size. It
also occurred to me whilst looking at the close resemblance of one steel to
another, if perhaps some of them may have had their rat tailed handles repositioned
after forging by the owner. Then there is the problem of not knowing if the
artefact actually belonged to the site where it was found, or whether or not a
Viking may have stolen a steel from an English village & taken it home with
him on his return.
So I have tried to
focus on three types or designs of steels only, principally because these are
the particular ones I am interested in.
Birka Grave Fire steels
Viking.
Post Medieval found in
England. This same fire steel has also been described as being Roman.
This one is almost a
dead ringer for the one above, but this one was found on the Dawson Road
convict site in Tasmania, Australia.
The following two
steels were found in England.
At 9 cm long, these
two steels are quite large in comparison to some copies made today. Going by
the design & the amount of wear, my best guess at their period of
construction is 17th century to mid 18th century, &
both made in England.
From The Collector's
Illustrated Encyclopedia Of The American Revolution By George C. Neumann &
Frank J Kravic.
Top right you can see
two steels which are very close in design to the steels found in England. All
the steels in this image were found at American Revolution sites, but this does
not mean that they are dated to this period, they could just as easily date to
the French & Indian War or earlier.
This style of steel was
surprisingly the most difficult to research. There is no doubt more information
out there, but to date I have been unable to find it. This steel was shown with
a late 18th century tinderbox with candle holder, but again, this
does not necessarily date this steel to the same period.
http://www.collectivator.com/c/wendy-hamilton-antiques/sheet-brass-tinder-box-england-late-18th-century;
Again, a very similar
steel, & even with the same amount of wear, but unfortunately there is no
date on the steel.
Record ID: LON-6357F6
Object type: STRIKE A
LIGHT
Broad period: POST
MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London
Authority
Workflow stage:
Awaiting validation.
A Post Medieval iron
tinder strike (17th century). This object has the characteristic rectangular
body and curving square-sectioned arms with coiled terminals. There is a
triangular notch in the upper surface just slightly off-centre. Dimensions:
length: 78.86mm; width: 40.69mm; thickness: 5.78mm; weight: 29.91g.
Identification and dating by Tony Pilson and Ian Smith based on foreshore
context.
This example I think comes close to matching the squarer & sharper shoulders of the original I am researching.
Amsterdam 1650-1700.
Despite the similarity of all "C" type steels to one another, it is quite obvious that the original example that I have been trying to date is quite unique in it's design, with squarer sharper shoulders than any other of this type I have found so far.
The third design has
been the easiest to research, & has been far more common than I first
expected. In all these types & designs we must of course bare in mind that
these steels have been made far & wide by different Blacksmiths with their
own ideas of how a steel should look, or what particular style was perhaps
easiest to use.
This is a closer look
at the steel I have been trying to date. Note that the rat tail arm reaches
down only just over half way, & that the wear is quite excessive
considering the amount of steel that is shaved off each time when struck a
glancing blow with a piece of sharp edged flint or other similar rock. Note the double cut marks of the file it was made from.
This steel is purported
to be dated to 1620ad.
This steel showing
very similar wear is dated to the 18th century. Again, note the double cut of the file this was made from.
This one is very
similar, but much smaller.
Record ID: LON-891A42
Object type: STRIKING
EQUIPMENT
Broad period: POST
MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London
Authority
Workflow stage:
Awaiting validation Find awaiting
validation
Fire steel, striker
light, dating to the post medieval period. The lighter is U shaped, and has
flat surfaces on both sides. On side of the u shape is thicker, the thinner
side curves into itself at the terminous
This one when seen in comparison
to the size of the tinderbox it was displayed with is obviously large, at least
I would say 9cm.
Tinder box with
striker and flint. Photo taken at Ludlow Museum, Castle Street, Ludlow,
Shropshire, England. (Photo credit: Wikipedia). Again the file cuts can be seen.
This steel reported to
be from the medieval era is again very similar in shape. These are found open
as this one is, & also closed with the rat tail handle closed against the
main body of the steel.
In this detail from a
painting The Fire by Giuseppe Arcimboldo 1566, two different fire steels can be
seen in the ear & the nose. The nose is very similar to the one above,
& the original I have been researching.
Recognition:
My sincere thanks to
my close friends Russ Tyenna in Tasmania & Alan Poole in England for their
major contribution to this article. Without their assistance it is doubtful I
would have written this article.
Keith H. Burgess 4/4/2015.
Keith,
ReplyDeleteNot a firesteel, but somewhat related to the topic in that this axe head was found in North America centuries before iron was introduced to the Native Americans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wlfWXtauiY
Many thanks Yankee. Our government has limited our use on the internet, so we have to watch videos before 1pm !!! So I will check this video tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Keith.
Interesting!
ReplyDelete