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Post by Leifer on Apr 24, 2014 8:20:25 GMT -7
I have a "U" shaped fire steel that i've made many fires with, but I'm wanting to get an oval fire steel as well. How many of you guys use a bright oval fire steel? Where did you get yours from?
Leifer
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Duane
Mountaineer
Lethbridge Alberta
Posts: 209
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Post by Duane on Apr 24, 2014 21:29:19 GMT -7
Hello there Leifer,Chuck Burrows recommended this guy to me.Jerry Rodri, Nine Tongs Forge,he lives in Durango,Ph# 970-385-7670.I hope that helps you out..Duane
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Jon
Mountaineer
Posts: 82
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Post by Jon on Apr 25, 2014 4:44:05 GMT -7
Hey Leifer. Turkey Creek Trading and Forge has a couple, large and a small, that are nice steels. I found a website called "Primitive Fire" that I bought a "spanish style" steel that I like a lot. I didn't see much else on the primitive fire site that I needed but the steel was neat. My favorite is the one the blacksmith at Bent's Fort in Colorado made me. He was a nice fellow that didn't charge me anything and it throws a nice shower of sparks. I know that the Fort Union Association has one for sale under there "trade goods" section but I've never owned one and can't say how well they throw sparks. I too, like Duane, have been recommended Nine Tongs Forge and though I've never had one of Jerry's steels, I'd bet money that they are excellent quality.
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Duane
Mountaineer
Lethbridge Alberta
Posts: 209
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Post by Duane on Apr 25, 2014 18:13:33 GMT -7
The Museum Of The Fur Trade,sells a bright oval as well,but I have know idea if it is any good or not.I think that you would be better off to get one directly from a smith..Duane
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Post by Rod on Apr 27, 2014 10:15:27 GMT -7
I got mine from the late Mike Ameling. He made them right, fairly thin, and polished bright (Warrented Bright Ovals). Too bad he's no longer with us. His website, though, is still up, and a good source of information on firesteels. www.angelfire.com/journal2/firefromsteel/Rod |
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Pare
Mountaineer
Posts: 153
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Post by Pare on Apr 27, 2014 15:49:12 GMT -7
I got mine from Mike Ameling, too. I think they were $10 or $12 in '05.
Pare-
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Post by teakmtn on Apr 28, 2014 9:24:38 GMT -7
I too am fortunate to have a Mike Ameling Bright steel oval. The key word is "Bright". However, I got mine from one of the blacksmiths that bought Mike's inventory after Mike passed away. I believe several blacksmith/vendors picked up quite a bit of material. The fellow was offering for sale his own manufacture steel ovals, not bright. I PMed him if he could make "Bright steel ovals" that's when he told me he had one or more of Mikes which he had yet to temper. It may have been Don Abbott or Brian Street. I think I have bought regular/non Bright oval steels from both of them. Also, Jim Kimple had and sold some of Mike's inventory. Maybe you could contact these fellows to see if thev'e still have some or better yet, maybe if they realized the interest, someone will start making some.
I believe, the steels from Fort Union store have "fort Union" stamped on them.
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Post by Rod on Apr 28, 2014 21:29:24 GMT -7
"I believe, the steels from Fort Union store have "fort Union" stamped on them"
Not that I know of, but they aren't polished, either--they're also kind of thick. I think the ones you have in mind are some from the Museum of the Fur Trade, which do have the museum name stamped on them.
Rod
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Post by teakmtn on Apr 29, 2014 9:35:47 GMT -7
OK, Thanks for clarifying that for me Rod. I knew one of the offerings were stamped but mis-remembered which was which. I should have double checked.
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Post by Leifer on Apr 29, 2014 10:12:35 GMT -7
The most recent ones from Fort Union were of the "u" shape and were fortunately thinner, which replaced the thicker one I had gotten at the Fort back in the 90s. I checked and the fort does have a new shipment of the oval fire steels coming in. I'm hoping they will be thinner vs. thicker. While I can get the thicker strikers to work, the thinner ones seem to shower the sparks better.
Leifer
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Post by Chuck Burrows on May 1, 2014 2:53:27 GMT -7
FYI - I've been smithing myself for over 40 years but I get my fire steel from Jerry...they are the best sparkers I've ever used and his ovals (they are listed on at least one trade list as both bright oval as well as just oval)are of the correct thinness. Jerry does work full time so if you call leave a message for him or try calling either Fridays or Saturdays when he his usually in the shop or contact me via this board and I will get him the message. Being from the Southwest my favorite steel is the coffin shaped chispa with the hole in the wide end. I grind the end to use as a screwdriver to fit the hammer screw that holds the flint - with the hole in the end I can use a short bar for added torque. The other end is ground to fit the lock screws that hold it to the stock. you cans see this type on the top right hand corner of the following image. i4.photobucket.com/albums/y132/ameling/TradeGoods/TinkeringFriday.jpg |
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Mark
Mountaineer
Posts: 90 
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Post by Mark on May 1, 2014 6:59:45 GMT -7
Chuck, I have to agree with you on the chispa firesteel. If that hole is a little over 3/8ths of in inch, it can also be used for a ramrod puller. I like making mine from Nicholson files. They are hardened all the way through. The file portion of the steel can be used for quick touch ups of various kinds. Then too if a small notch is filed in the screwdriver portion of the steel it can be used for knapping flints. All round a good multi-purpose tool.
Mark
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Post by Old Solitair on May 2, 2014 1:41:09 GMT -7
So on a historical note, bright ovals started to show up on early fur trade lists in numbers around the mid 1700’s and have been found at many eastern sites. During the RMFT, I remember seeing one list of one company (AMFco?) shipping 50 dozen up the Missouri, these were wrapped in paper bunches per dozen. That was just one order. They were manufactured not in the field by blacksmiths but in the industrial centers back east, with many orders from Sheffield England. They were very thin, anywhere between 1/8 to 1/32 of an inch thick, not like big chain links. I was able to examine a few that a rancher I met had found along the Little Snake River along the CO. WY. border, along with some other trade items like “z” awls, bells buttons and knifes. This whole valley was well used by traders & natives. The ovals were very thin. Also a couple that were found by another rancher in Kansas.
On a personal note I find it’s a good idea to have a couple or more fire steels throughout your kit. I have left a few to the prairie, to be found some day. I have three with me at all times and my rifle lock. One is a coffin type in my shooting bag, it can maintain my rifle as well (screwdriver/ramrod puller)
Now for you company men of Fort Union, here is something to ponder about the mountaineers and the Fort supply. Did they know how to make fire every which way when the fire steels supply ran out, like the survivalist we all think they should have been?
Page 202 January 20 1852, On the Upper Missouri, Rudolph Kurz:
“Smith wants my fire steel for his benefit early in the morning, for he is going on a hunt. Throughout the entire fort, not a fire steel is to be had for its weight in gold. Not a fire steel-------a utensil of such importance”
“hunters find their flint and steel indispensable”
“Smith is at a loss unless he can get mine. All the other hunters need their own themselves or else----in consequence of the high value placed upon fire steels at the moment-----are unwilling to expose so necessary an object to the risk of coming within the reach of an Indian’s long fingers.”
“a man never knows where he will sleep the next night, or whether he may not be sent unexpectedly into the open, where a fire steel is just as necessary as knife and gun.”
Pretty interesting...
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isaac
Mountaineer
Posts: 331
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Post by isaac on May 2, 2014 6:30:46 GMT -7
Page 202 January 20 1852, On the Upper Missouri, Rudolph Kurz: “Smith wants my fire steel for his benefit early in the morning, for he is going on a hunt. Throughout the entire fort, not a fire steel is to be had for its weight in gold. Not a fire steel-------a utensil of such importance”“ hunters find their flint and steel indispensable”
“ Smith is at a loss unless he can get mine. All the other hunters need their own themselves or else----in consequence of the high value placed upon fire steels at the moment-----are unwilling to expose so necessary an object to the risk of coming within the reach of an Indian’s long fingers.”
“a man never knows where he will sleep the next night, or whether he may not be sent unexpectedly into the open, where a fire steel is just as necessary as knife and gun.” Pretty interesting... Along the same lines, fur trader Alexander Henry, while living with the Ojibwe (1760-70s Great Lakes), was out hunting and noted the only means of firemaking he had was the lock of his gun that was tied on (no bolts). When it accidentally came off and got lost, he was without means of firemaking and was hurting. It often makes me wonder about the idea of carrying multiple fire kits or even steels on us. I like multiple fire options for safety, but wonder how common that would have been?  IW |
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