[TheForge] fire steels

[Andrew Vida]

Bob Ehrenberger wrote:
> I know this ran it's course a month or so ago, but at the BAM conference we 
> had a couple smiths from colonial Williamsburg demonstrating so I asked them 
> about fire steels.  They said that as far as they knew they were made from 
> solid steel and not steel welded to wrought iron.
> 
> I guess there is always a chance that it could have been done the other way, 
> but that would not have been common.

	The old timey smiths weren't stupid.  Cost of an extra ounce of steel 
vs. the extra time it would take to weld and then reforge a compound 
piece... and for what price?  It's a striker, not and ornate length of 
railing.  Besides, from the practical standpoint, a solid steel piece is 
superior from the standpoint of longevity.  I could imagine that nothing 
would piss you off worse than finding yourself stranded out in 
who-the-hell-knows-where and finding that your striker is worn to the 
wrought.  I don't but the welded construction claim on that basis alone.

	-Andy

PS: older age sucks ass.  Moved a couple largish stones into place on my 
creek dam and today I feel like I have a meat ax in my back.