Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Darren Bush. There is
something magical about making fire from materials other than
the standard Bic lighter or Ohio Blue-Tips. Moreover, it is
often a better method than matches. Using flint and steel is one
of the easiest of the match-free fire-making methods. Here’s how
it’s done: Flint isn’t really a single rock, it’s more like a
loose family of rocks at about eight or so on the Mohs scale of
hardness. Cherts and flints are multi-colored, depending on
their chemical content and vary in hardness. I use Niagara chert
because it’s easy to find in my area – several unglaciated areas
have chert deposits that are easy to harvest. The ideal flint
for striking a spark has a sharp, acute edge that will take a
bite out of the steel. The flint sometimes needs to be
“dressed,” or knapped with a hammer or other flint to get that
proper edge. A round cobble of flint will not work until it is
properly edged. It is a common misconception that the flint
particles make the spark. Th