Sulfur Spunks

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

These are not exactly matches...they were commonly used in the 17th and 18th Centuries before the invention of "Lucifers" and other self-igniting matches. They were called spunks in England and were commonly sold by match girls before the advent of the matches as we know them today. They apparently also were made with strips of paper tipped on both ends. A few sources I read said that they were capable of being lit by directly casting sparks on them...haven't tried that myself yet.

Mine are Cedar splints dipped in melted sulfur. You would light some charcloth or other tinder with Flint & Steel and hold your spunk to it; the sulfur would ignite and light the wooden splint.

[J-sews]

Neat!




(good lord, first tinder fungus, and now sulfur spunk...)

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Neat!


(good lord, first tinder fungus, and now sulfur spunk...)

I knew you would bring up my fungus again

[J-sews]

Neat!


(good lord, first tinder fungus, and now sulfur spunk...)

I knew you would bring up my fungus again (Image removed from quote.)

Seems like you would have had it looked at by now...

[prime77]

Spork can you give us some info on the metal striker in the tin next to the flint. I have one similar to it that I was told was an ancient Roman fire striker.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

What type of information? Historical or how it's used?

[prime77]

What type of information? Historical or how it's used?

Historical and how it is used. I just assumed that it was held with the fingers through the loop but I may be wrong.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I don't know much about historically...I don't think the Romans had true steel...it was more "steely-iron" (I didn't make up that term). Flint strikers have been used for many centuries...the shapes sometimes reflect the country or time period they come from.

The one in the photo is from Mussel Fork Forge and it is actually too small to put your fingers through the loops...so it is held in a pinch grip. I do have full-sized Strikers that can be held like a knuckleduster, but I prefer smaller sized one that can be pinched because I feel it gives me more control and fewer skinned knuckles 

[prime77]

I don't know much about historically...I don't think the Romans had true steel...it was more "steely-iron" (I didn't make up that term). Flint strikers have been used for many centuries...the shapes sometimes reflect the country or time period they come from.

The one in the photo is from Mussel Fork Forge and it is actually too small to put your fingers through the loops...so it is held in a pinch grip. I do have full-sized Strikers that can be held like a knuckleduster, but I prefer smaller sized one that can be pinched because I feel it gives me more control and fewer skinned knuckles 

Thanks for the info.  These are the ones I have. My wife gave them to me as a birthday present one year. She was told that they dated from the late Roman Empire but who knows. Mine are kind of rusty and need to be used or cleaned.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I'm sure the shapes are authentic...I've seen similar in Museum photos and such. Not sure how the top one is held though...probably pinched.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Awesome little set up Dave

How many methods of fire lighting do you know now mate?

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

There's some I still want to do, but haven't tried due to lack of materials...

Pot Perm and glycerin
Hand drill
Fire saw
Flint and Pyrite

...and fire Thong

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Neat!


(good lord, first tinder fungus, and now sulfur spunk...)

I knew you would bring up my fungus again (Image removed from quote.)

Seems like you would have had it looked at by now...

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Oh...there's also the Viking quartzite and soft iron method - Viking Answer Lady

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Oh...there's also the Viking quartzite and soft iron method - Viking Answer Lady

Great link