fire flints

[jayman448]

what variety of stone is good for producing sparks? can all these bloomin turtles i have compiled (of basalt) still be used for say, a flintlock rifle? and how would you go about shaping a rock just for flintlock use or fire???

[nclonghunter]

When a hard rock is struck against a hard carbon steel the friction it produces as it shaves fine particles of steel will cause the steel particles to heat and produce sparks from those particles. In other words the steel is sparking not the rock. There are many ricks that are hard enough to shave steel and produce sparks. About any hard flint or chert will do it.

For flintlocks the size of your lock will dictate what size flint you use. Most sawed flints have two useable sides but hand knapped flints can have four useable sides.

The sharp edges on your turtles will work fir flint and steel fire starters.