Flint, steel, and tinder
In a world without matches, starting fires can be very difficult, especially in damp climates or damp weather—precisely the time when you most need a fire. The hardest part about getting a fire started is getting the initial spark, or ember. This kit includes a steel striker, a piece of sharp flint, and some tinder or charcloth. The steel is designed to be held and then struck against the flint. The flint shaves tiny pieces off of the steel, tiny enough that when they oxidize they create a spark of fire.
The spark is struck so that it lands on the charcloth. Charcloth is specially prepared to light even from just a spark. When the charcloth forms an ember from the spark, the ember is transferred to kindling. Kindling is usually gathered from local materials. The kindling must be some light, easily-flammable material such as dry leaves, very small dry twigs, pine needles, or other dry material easily lit by a small fire. Once the kindling forms a flame, it can be transferred to the real fire, which will probably be formed of larger twigs and then logs atop them.
Tinder must be replaced regularly, and must be kept safe from moisture.
