steel for flint and steel

[GoodOlBoy]

Anybody have any experience with making steels for flint and steel firemaking tools?

I am trying to keep an eye our for likely steel/iron but I am out of my element a bit.

GoodOlBoy

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I believe it's high carbon, but I'm not sure....I bought a couple of strikers in the past, but never really thought about what type of steel they were made out of...let me do some research and I'll see what I can find out.

[GoodOlBoy]

Thanks 16, I am thinking on making them myself, haven't done any blacksmithing in a VERY long time.

GoodOlBoy

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Sorry, GOB, but none of my sources are very specific as to what type of steel it is that they used. About the best reference I could find was from the following:

"A piece of flint, iron pyrite, quartz, or jasper produces sparks when struck with hardened iron steel. An old file, broken off to a length of about 4-5 inches, works well." (from Indian Handcrafts, by C. Keith Wilbur, M.D.

I would assume that this is high carbon steel, but just a guess on my part. I'll keep looking......