Author Topic: Combination Gun Tool with Fire Steel  (Read 1515 times)

Offline Elnathan

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Combination Gun Tool with Fire Steel
« on: October 31, 2023, 09:06:31 PM »
OK, you all will like this.
Spanish, no date given: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8076199/fire-steel-length-3-ins-firesteels
I suspect the missing "pipe-prick" was actually a vent pick.

A little bit off subject from this forum, but this museum has quite a selection of firemaking materials, mostly inherited from the collection of a now-defunct match company. Few items with dates or descriptions, alas, but any one interested in firesteels will find some interesting examples: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/search/categories/firemaking?q=Fire

Edited to add:
There are actually a bunch of combination tools involving fire steels on that site. Here is another Spanish one very much like the first, but with a screwdriver (the first on probably did have a screwdriver originally but it appears to have been worn away): https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8076197/fire-steel-length-3-7-8-ins-firesteels

This one is German: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8076107/fire-steel-length-2-1-2-ins-firesteels
Tiny little vise, that. It seems a bit small for a mainspring and I can't see why one would need to remove the frizzenspring in the field, so what was it used for?
« Last Edit: October 31, 2023, 09:58:53 PM by Elnathan »
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

Offline Rado

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Re: Combination Gun Tool with Fire Steel
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2023, 10:41:21 PM »
Some really cool pieces. Thank you for sharing!
Born in Poland, living in Germany. Just a guy who loves history, ideas of freedom and handicrafts.

Offline TDM

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Re: Combination Gun Tool with Fire Steel
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2023, 05:28:10 AM »
Have never seen such before. Very, very neat.

Offline jbigley

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Re: Combination Gun Tool with Fire Steel
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2023, 04:28:48 PM »
Hey Nathan--Thanks for posting this. Fires steels/ fire making has always been one of my interests. Fire making  IMHO one of the most important skills to have. Very interesting.--JB

Offline rich pierce

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Re: Combination Gun Tool with Fire Steel
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2023, 04:46:33 PM »
Very cool but I’m having a hard time seeing how it’s a gun tool unless it’s just a holder for the worm or it’s for pistols with 2” barrels. ???
Andover, Vermont

Offline Elnathan

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Re: Combination Gun Tool with Fire Steel
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2023, 04:30:55 PM »
Very cool but I’m having a hard time seeing how it’s a gun tool unless it’s just a holder for the worm or it’s for pistols with 2” barrels. ???

Worm, ball (or wad) puller, pick, and screwdriver (now worn away in the first example). Lacks a knapping hammer, but otherwise it has the same function as this one: https://flintlocks.com/parts.htm so I'm not sure why we wouldn't refer to it as a gun tool. It just has a firesteel added on...There are some other combination tools on that site which are more of a general character, but these seem specifically geared towards a shooter.
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling