Experiments with tinder fungus

[Flint62Smoothie]

My experiment in historical archaeology! I cut the Birch Polypore (a different species from true Tinder Fungus or Chaga) into 1/4" thick slices, dried it, the removed that hard brownish cap material. The white fleshy part feels like leathery rubber, maybe cork-like is a more apt description. I soaked the 2 smaller pieces in a black powder slurry to nitrate it, but I don't think I really need to … I have a funny suspicion those will go up in a WHOOSH and not sit and smolder!

It already burns to a coal head REALLY well! And that burning head was HOT! I had to tell my wife, "Take the picture ... and FAST!"

I'll be test shooting it with my circa ~1515 Snaplock 58-cal carbine on Sunday!

[Pukka Bundook]

Well done Flint!

you have to be careful putting these out with your finger!
I love the Swedish name for these tinderlocks;
Swamples Lit!

"Mushroom lock"!!

I have one in my head that Has to be made. It is inlaid with mushrooms!!

Sort of like the Tusco-Emilian of Michael's I copied, but not Exactly..
Keep up the good work my friend!!

[rich pierce]

Nice! I’ve got lots of chaga but have not tried this fungus. Does it catch a spark from flint and steel?

[Justin Urbantas]

Could you explain what you're doing with it? Using it like a match for a matchlock, or for tinder to start flint and steel fires? I'm confused.

[Flint62Smoothie]

Could you explain what you're doing with it? Using it like a match for a matchlock, or for tinder to start flint and steel fires? I'm confused.

Prior to matchlocks being lit by ‘matchcord’ or quite simply nitrated rope or cord, they used pieces of tinder fungus to shoot (ignition) the gun. One man in the troop would have a piece of lit ‘something’ and the other guys would grab their little pieces of tinder, light it, stick it in the serpentine, or stick it and then have the other trooper light it, to then fire the gun.

This is an example of a 1515 snap or tinder lock arm. Matchcord is shown in the photo, but only for the photo op, haha, but tinder was really used. A Japanese Tanegashima is another example of a snaplock.

[smylee grouch]

Interesting info. Thanks for sharing and educating 😁

[Justin Urbantas]

ah. Very cool. I have a later period English matchlock, but I didn't realize the early ones used fungus.
Learning every day.

[Pukka Bundook]

Justin,
The early snap -locks were called just that, snaplock or tinder lock.
As Dale says, the tinder was a one shot deal most likely, renewed after each shot.
I believe that the normal practice was to carry a thick matchcord, very often wound aroundnthe left arm, and lit.
This was used to light the tinder.
Early locks (1500-1520-40) were very small, and would not take a thick matchcord.


Rich,
No, the intent of the tinder in this case was not to take a spark.  It has to be lit, and holds a good very hot cone-shaped coal  for igniting the pan powder.


In this detail from the battle of Pavia, (1525) you see both the tinder And the matchcord used to light it.

I must just add that I believe each individual would carry his own matchcord for lighting tinder.
This is apparently the conclusion  Michael's research lead him to.
Logically, in a battle I can't really imagine being without a personal source to light my tinder. No time to scurry around looking for the bloke with the matchcord.

"Where's Albert?!"..............."Oh, he got chopped!" .............".I guess were all screwed then!"   kind of thing.    :-)