How to strike a steel?

[Mr_Yarrow]

I was lucky to get the fire steel in this picture (the blade went to someone else)



My question, is how the heck are you 'supposed' to hold the darn thing in your hand as you strike down with your bit of flint?

Rgds

[dommyracer]

You should strike the steel onto the flint, not flint onto the steel.

I found easiest way was to put my index finger and little fingers through the loops, but some prefer to hold it in between thumb and forefinger.

[Phil562]

You strike the steel to the edge of the flint, search for a thread by British Red he did a nice little tutorial

[ArkAngel]

Hold it like a knuckle duster and as said strike the steel on the flint

[BorderReiver]

Wrap your charcloth over your flint and hold twixt forefinger and thumb.

Hold the steel by the curly bits and clip the edge of the flint/cloth smartly with a downward flick of the (steel holding) wrist.

Having done it once,it should be simple to keep doing it.

[Klenchblaize]

What a “donut” I have been! I was sure, until now, that one struck the steel with £300 worth of Alan Wood Damascus!!

Cheers

[BorderReiver]

Each to his own.

[Ogri the trog]

Its almost like banging out a chord on a guitar....
A deft flick of the wrist to present the flat of the steel to the sharp edge of flint without smashing the edge to pieces.

You'll soon pick it up

ATB

Ogri the trog

[British Red]

You strike the steel to the edge of the flint, search for a thread by British Red he did a nice little tutorial

Ta mate

Heres the relevant picture



Full tutorial

Flint & Steel Tutorial

Red

[Mr_Yarrow]

Ta muchly chaps, most appreciated.

And thanks British Red, nice tutorial, I will have a go. I dont have char cloth as I use a tinder tube, but will experiment on the weekend

Rgds

[British Red]

I dont have char cloth as I use a tinder tube, but will experiment on the weekend

Ahh but the how to make charcloth tutorial is here Mr Yarrow

Charcloth

Red