Fire Steel Item Number: D2.147 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Hand made fire steel, a trade item. Strap is partly stained red. Old file striations are visible on the flattened part of the steel.
History Of Use
Used to light a fire.
Narrative
Fire steels were traded between traders, explorers and First Nations people. They were often made from discarded files which contained the correct amount of carbon mixed with iron in order to make sparks.
Item History
- Made in North America before 1900
- Collected between 1925 and 1955
- Owned by T. R. Stock before December 6, 1961
- Received from H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and T. R. Stock (Seller) on December 6, 1961
What
- Name
- Fire Steel
- Identification Number
- D2.147
- Type of Item
- fire steel
- Material
- rawhide skin and iron metal
- Overall
- height 2.5 cm, width 36.2 cm, depth 4.9 cm
Who
- Culture
- Blackfoot
- Previous Owner
- T. R. Stock
- Received from
- H. R. MacMillan (Funding source) and T. R. Stock (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- North America
When
- Creation Date
- before 1900
- Collection Date
- between 1925 and 1955
- Ownership Date
- before December 6, 1961
- Acquisition Date
- on December 6, 1961
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 44
- Accession Number
- 0067/0022