Jeremiah Johnson's Fire Starter

[Prepper]

I was watching Jeremiah Johnson last night. He had a fire starter that looked a brass lady's compact. Jeremiah Johnson movie was supposed to be accurate as far as the gear they used. I have looked on the net to find out if that was a real fire starter, but I have found anything on the fire starter used in the movie. Does anyone know about this firestarter?

[Anduril]

that was a container to carry flint, steel & tinder.
some had a magnifying glass set into the lid
something like these here: http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartList.aspx?catID=19&subID=100&styleID=369&PageSize=10&Page=2
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p.s. and welcome to the board!

[HAMMERHEAD]

mmmm......liver!

[don heath]

The versions with the magnifying glass are still hugely popular amongst the bushmen and 'very rural' black folk living here on the edge of the Kalahari desert. I have an 1880's vintage one that lives in my hunting truck

[Anduril]

the magnifying glass is a good tool no doubt, but not much use when you really need a fire NOW when it's getting dark and starting to rain.
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[Hooker]

the magnifying glass is a good tool no doubt, but not much use when you really need a fire NOW when it's getting dark and starting to rain.
..

A man should carry at least 2 forms of fire making more if possible.
I like the Magnifying glass because it has other uses, tools that have multiple uses are a plus in your survival pack.

Pat

[srussell]

never tried it but wouldnt eye glasses work if you wear them of course

[mannyrock]

   For goodness sakes, just carry a Bic Lighter, and a magnesium fire stick with a striker, and get on with it.

Mannyrock

[SHOOTALL]

mannyrock, you lack romance of the old school ways 

[tacklebury]

+1 on the magnesium firestarter.  Saved me from some bad frostbite a couple times.    My second favorite is a swedish match IIRC which is like pull on your coat, but if you unscrew the tab, it has lighter fluid in it and a striker on the side.  That's more convenient, but I like having the magnesium for really windy/wet times. 

[flintlock]

Prepper...Welcome to the board...

He was making fire with a flint and steel...This method of firestarting goes back to the Romans...If you lived in Colonial America, this is how you would have made a fire...We brought this method to the Native Americans, when John Smith pulled out a flint and steel and made a fire, the Powatan Indians were so impressed they traded corn and beaver hides with him...

I give talks on the Revolutionary War to local schools and Scout Troops...Two things they love to see is making fire this way and loading and shooting my flintlock...

[Prepper]

Thanks for the welcomeand for the link.  I do carry bic lighters, but you know Murphy's law.  You never know what can happen while you are miles away from anywhere. 

I also like to know the basic ways of doing everything.  That includes fire starting.   

[mannyrock]

    With all due respect to the old ways, relying on a flint and steel set as a "survival tool" is asking to die of exposure.   There is a reason why people don't use them anymore.  Compared to a lighter or mag stick, they are no darned good.

   If you went back in time, and offered the lighter and mag stick to a mountain man, he would pitch his lousy flint and steel set in the river, and snatch up the better firestarters!

[Scibaer]

i agree with manny. they used flint and steel because thats what they had .
 this past weekend , i used a magnesium block and rod to get a fire going. it worked very well infact.
the wood was damp, i scraped some tinder and used a fast food napkin to collect the magnesium shavings and set the tinder i scraped from a tree branch with my machete over the shavings and then scaped a bit more mag on the tinder itself and used the back of my knife to spark the rod and at on the 4th spark or so, the mag lite and the tinder started to burn real nicely and i had a nice warm fire going in about 3 minutes ..
it gave me the light i needed as i  trout fished
it was an experiment as mush as anything, but i could have made my fire with a bic and have been fine.
i say knowledge is the most important thing but have the most modern equip is a smart move too

[flintlock]

Well...How long do you plan to be out in the wilderness???

One year??? Two years???

Any of you guys know of anyone that has spent a year or more in the wilderness???
What happens when that bic runs out of fuel???

Not saying that the flint and steel is the ultimate, but it's nice to have the knowledge...

Daniel Boone left North Carolina for Kentucky in the Spring of 1769 and returned 2 years later...Few of us could do as well...

You should know how to make a fire by several different ways, just makes sense...

[Swampman]

    With all due respect to the old ways, relying on a flint and steel set as a "survival tool" is asking to die of exposure.   There is a reason why people don't use them anymore.  Compared to a lighter or mag stick, they are no darned good.

   If you went back in time, and offered the lighter and mag stick to a mountain man, he would pitch his lousy flint and steel set in the river, and snatch up the better firestarters!

I agree....I know how to use many different methods and most aren't worth the effort and weight.

[Hooker]

I totally agree with using modern methods.
But here's a good test for you bic lighter fans. Wait untill dead of winter and subfreezing temps. then jump of in a lake, stream or your outdoor pool with your lighter then climb out and start a fire.
Keep the lighter for sunny days and good times and get something like a Strike Force and some fire paste for the life and death stuff.
Then while your at it learn some primitive method of making fire because some times the old excrement hits the ocillating rotiserie and you find your self without ready made fire tools.

Pat

[Swampman]

Keep it in a plastic Ziplock bag in your shirt pocket, and it will work just fine.

[scootrd]

Well...How long do you plan to be out in the wilderness???

One year??? Two years???

Any of you guys know of anyone that has spent a year or more in the wilderness???
What happens when that bic runs out of fuel???

I reach in my backpack and grab another Bic . 99c a piece you can easily afford a dozen and they take up very little space. (ps ..I do carry strike anywhere matches as backup but have never needed to use 'em.

[scootrd]

I totally agree with using modern methods.
But here's a good test for you bic lighter fans. Wait untill dead of winter and subfreezing temps. then jump of in a lake, stream or your outdoor pool with your lighter then climb out and start a fire.
Pat

PAT I guarantee , I could jump in a river and stiil have that bic lighting again faster than you could start a fire with any other "old fashion means" shivering in the cold. BTW , I washed my bic in the washer today. took all of two minutes to get it dry and light.  

A wet bic in freezing temps is actually easier to get light than in above zero temps when wet, the water freezes and is easier to get off the wheel put the butt end in your mouth for a minute and let the heat in your mouth raise the temp of the fuel. and light. ( How do I know, - first hand knowledge , it involved duck hunting as young guy and a bad slip off a bank into a lake in mid November. ) I didn't use it that day to start an actual fire , but I did get it lit to light a cigarette while I shivered and walked the 3/4 of a mile back to the truck.

[myronman3]

i am about half a second away from deleting most the responses on this post.  i know that conversations happen, and sometimes things get off topic.   if you want to start a thread about why modern methods are better than old methods, be my guest.  

[spooked]

Started my first fire ever with a flint an steel first try.. Cheated though... used dryer lint fer me tinder! One strike , instant fire..with a little beginner's luck maybe I'm disabled an don't git fer from me cabin..but here on my liddle place i prefer matches..carry my flint an steel some..

[Hooker]

Keep it in a plastic Ziplock bag in your shirt pocket, and it will work just fine.

In subfreezing temps the lighter dose not work well if at all now your wet and freezing but your lighter is dry.
Can you warm up the lighter enough to get it to work before your fingers quit working?
I'm not say that a lighter is a bad choice but it is far from being the best choice.

Pat

[Anduril]

haven't heard much from the original poster
hope he wasn't scared away
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[Prepper]

I'm still around.  The purpose of my inquiry went sort of off track in the post and I did not feel like defending my position.  In my backpack I carry at least 2 bic lighters, 1 magnesium stick and an Aurora Striker.  The purpose of my inquiry was just curiosity.  I do love my modern conveniences, but the old skills have always interested me.  For example, I am proficient with a modern rifle, but I hunt with a traditional bow because of the challenge involved.

I didn't mean for people to get upset about the practicality of flint and steel.  I just had never seen the flint and steel setup shown in the movie.

[myronman3]

I didn't mean for people to get upset about the practicality of flint and steel.

you have nothing to worry about and you did nothing wrong.  it is those that got off track and upset that were wrong. feel free to ask any questions here you want to; that is what this forum is all about.