Early Medieval Fire Steel

Early medieval fire steel.

The model for this hand-forged fire steel was an early medieval find - grave 18 from the Bavarian cemetery of Mockersdorf. Here, in the 8th to 10th centuries, there was a transition point between Slavic and Germanic settlement areas.

According to Wolfgang Zessin's typology, the heart-shaped fire steel from Mockersdorf is called a Pirin type after a Bulgarian find. The heart-shaped fire steel was quite common over a long period of time during the Middle Ages.

A heart-shaped fire steel is already known from a Longobard grave of the 5th - 6th century and is still found in the Slavic finds of Menzlin and Groß Raden from the 9th - 10th century.

The medieval fire steel replica is forged by hand from carbonaceous iron.

Dimensions of the fire steel: 8.5 x 3.5 x 0.5 cm.

The early medieval fire steel is large enough for a woman to reach into it with her fingers and protect them from the sharp edge of the flint.

---

With dry tinder, flint and a little practice, a small spark can be produced by evenly striking the fire steel, which, with a little luck, causes the dry tinder to smoulder.
Through continuous, careful blowing, a delicate glow soon turns into a small flame that is able to light the kitchen fire.
The best tinder for the fire iron is dried birch fungus, which is also frayed a little, as well as the inside of bulrush and fine birch paper.
For the flint, of course, use the flint that can be found all along the German Baltic coast.