Rev War, or Chinese?

[JTR]

I bought this not long ago. The seller advertised it as a Rev War period Strike-a-light. Now I have to admit that anytime I see anything advertised as being from that time period I'm skeptical as the dickens. But it didn't cost much, so now it's mine.
With the thing in hand, it actually does look old and not recently made. Nor does it look like a Chinese knock-off.
Inside the pouch is a bit of fuzzy looking tinder, but no flint.
I've never seen a strike-a-light pouch like this before, so asked a couple of my more knowledgable buddies. One suggested it might be European, the other said he thought ones like this were brought over with the Chinese when they were imported to build the railroads here.
So what the heck is it; Rev War, European, Chinese, or what?   Or are one of you guys making them
John

[smokinbuck]

John,
can't tell you much about it, rev war or not, but have seen one similar before. Can't remember who had it but the person made it after seeing an original, at least old, one someplace. The flint and char were carried in the pouch and the striker was sewn, or rivited to the bottom of the pouch.
Mark

[art riser]

Possibly Chinese or North Africa? 

[jasontn]

i talked to the late Mike Ameling about these quite a bit. he was of the opinion from his research that these were mostly tibetan. there was a similar style that i have seen attributed to the American
 southwest too, one was included in one of the books of buckskinning. i have one made by Mike Ameling that need to finish up.

[dannybb55]

Kit Carson brought one back from L A on his return from a NM to CA to NM sheep delivery operation. It was listed as from Tibet by way of a China Clipper. His was beaded. Chinese imports were big in the 19th century. Tea, Ginger, Silk and Export China all made it to the Spanish frontier. Kit's strike a light is at his home in Taos, NM. Bent St Vrain and Co and Mexican traders from Mexico City carried the other wares. It Must have been similar on the coast, at least around Charleston, NYC, Boston and Philadelphia with their extensive international trade and smuggling.

[Randy Hedden]

Yes, this is a Tibetan flint striker pouch.  It is part of the dress for Tibetan men.  Every Tibetan man carries one hooked to his belt.  They show up quite frequently on Ebay.

Randy Hedden

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mongolian-Tibetan-Antique-Buddhist-Flint-Fire-Striker_W0QQitemZ370232461511QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAsian_Antiques?hash=item56339308c7

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mongolian-Tibetan-Antique-Buddhist-Flint-Fire-Striker_W0QQitemZ370128987927QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAsian_Antiques?hash=item562d682717

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mongolian-Tibetan-Antique-Buddhist-Flint-Fire-Striker_W0QQitemZ200298514073QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAsian_Antiques?hash=item2ea2b8c699

[JTR]

Thank you guys for the answer!
It seems maybe the seller should have called it a Strike-a-light used by the Tibetan Forces in the Rev War !! Hahahaha .
Interesting though that Kit Carson seems to have had one!
When I get off this ship next month, I'm going to find a piece of flint and see if I can actually light a fire with the thing!
Thanks again,
Wiser, and only a little poorer,
John

[blackdave]

Kit Carson carried a similar strike-a-lite, but this one looks more Tibetan than it does Revolutionary.  I would guess it has seen the other side of the Pacific in its early period.

Your humble servant,

Dave

[California Kid]

John, you've been holding out on me! You didn't tell me you bought a Tibetan strike-a-light pouch!
You dog. HA, HA!

[JTR]

Sorry Jon, I don't think I had it last time you were over..
Tibetan it seems, but according to the seller, Rev War,,,,, so no doubt used by the Tibetan Rev War forces in the colony's  Ya, ya, sure, sure! 

John

[Roger Fisher]

And of course there were contemporary examples made.  I have one around somewhere.  Barbara used it when she was in to this shooting and primative fire making game.  Black leather with the striker riveted to the bottom edge.  The thing did work!