match cord igniters

[mckutzy]

I was looking around earlier about Japanese matchlocks, and i came across this little thing.. http://www.japanese-guns.com/master_guns_web/japanese_matchlock_guns_catalog3.html
from #5 to #13 pics on this page..

Now i have seen other "igniters-tinder lighter" from around the world, but it got me wondering what was used to have fire for matchcord, besides a braizer or flint/steel, I mean globally not just for battle?

 

[Owen]

Would a flint, steel and char box be a start? Candle lantern? Never really thought about it but interested now in what was used.

 

[bingo1952]

This is speculation on my part but I think flint and steel would suffice if the cord was nitrated and the end untwisted until it was a fluffy ball. That should work on all but the wettest/humid of days.

 

[Owen]

to take that a bit further would that lead to the invent of flint and steel as a ignition source?

 

[mckutzy]

i have done that, with a flint and a steel, maby it is the steel or the flint technic i have been using.
as for back in the day, i would think that there might have been something other that just a flint/steel.

 

[Leonredbeard]

In that movie where the young priest is wandering about in Canada with a matchlock, we see him desparately trying to light his match with flint and steel. This might work with nitrated cotton cord. But the un-nitrated hemp cord I bought at Ft. Frederick this April I don't think it would. That stuff is hard to light with a barn burner. Once it is lit it is hard to put out. I should try it.
volatpluvia

 

[mckutzy]

the only time when i have been able to get any where with the match cord is useing a flintstriker for a torch, now as far as the pc or historicalness well thats out. but if they had something like this back in the day i would think that match lock would have been a short fad. i have used a flint on nitre cord i have, good stuff it is, but i cant light it. oh well.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Mckutzy,
I just went out to try it. I think my striker steel is too hard. I really have a hard time knocking sparks off it. This is really distressing because I see other guys making a nice easy stroke and getting a nice shower of sparks. Before I leave for the Rifle Frolic on Friday, I think I will flash a little fire on it to see if I can make it spark better. I couldn't get any of the sparks I struck to land on the end of the purposely frayed end of my nitrated cotton cord.
volatpluvia

 

[tom w]

What about a burning lense? Works great to light my pipe, I am sure it would set cord and match alight as well....

Just does not work on a cloudy day,..

 

[mckutzy]

my "steel" is a file w/o teeth, so its pretty hard, i threw it on the ground to break the piece i needed. i had been able to get sparks from the steel using the piece of flint, but like u, havent been able to get a light from it. it is a well nitre cotton braided sash cord, on one end frayed to a fine fluff for my trials, not even a slightest glimmer of a light. oh well, maby its one of those things that they thought to speek of back in the day .

 

[Tinker2]

Just a question, but would the cord capture a spark better
with the flint & steel if it is charred?



Tinker2

 

[Leonredbeard]

Hmn, maybe we should try it.
I thought my striker should be softer, so I heated it to blue. Then is was too soft. So I heated it to red and dunked it in room temperature water. Had a hard time getting sparks off it. So I heated it until it just sarted to turn orange. Now I get sparks with great effort but not every strike and they are still small and not numerous. But then my flints are soft and brittle.
volatpluvia

 

[mckutzy]

ahhh yes the never ending battle to make fire, one of mans life long strugles,

as for the match cord, i will try to light the charred bit i have and see how that works.

the burning lens,im no expert but i would think that is somewhat a newer invention like around 1800's or so .

 

[mckutzy]

well that mabe the secret to fire....charcoal.. or a chared match cord.

I struck a light from a file and a piece of flint, a number of strikes but it took pretty well, i guess like charcloth or other tinder lighting material it needed to be burnt a bit. I could see this as a start to my answer to the op of mine. a flint and steel and a charred end to a matchcord. When i build my matchlock i will bring a flint/steel to the range with me. honestly i pretty stoked about this.

 

Just a question, but would the cord capture a spark better
with the flint & steel if it is charred?

Tinker2

Good question Tink2. Figured I'd jump in before I go parasailing with Gustav. A charred cord will definitely catch quicker than uncharred. Charred cloth is wonderful tinder. That time period most soldiers carried a tinder or candle box. Lucifers/matches had yet to be invented. So flint and steel were the zippo's/bic's of the day.

 

[Many Klatch]

I'll bet if you wrapped charcloth around the end of the match you could light it in no time. I saw a guy light a candle with flint and steel that way. Real long wick, wrapped with char cloth, a couple of sparks and poof, light.

Many Klatch

 

[wulf]

I think maybe your suggestion was missed. I can
gather you mean using a cord that has been
chard. Like a nitrated cord being chard?? Worth
a try. But it might be too fragile...I don't
know..............

 

[mckutzy]

well that was exactly what I had done, took some match cord I had that was charred and i struck a light to it.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Mckutzy,
It occurs to me that instead of cutting the burning end of your cord off when done with it, you could do a rolling crush until the fire is out. Then the end would be left charred for lighting the next time.
Good Job!
volatpluvia

 

[mckutzy]

actualy I use a cf case to extinguish my cord, the last time I used my cord I was lighting my pipe. it makes a perfect coal to strike a light to. I am going to have to make a proper steel soon, my chunk of nicholson is hard to hold.