Spunk, or sulfur match

[Plainsman]

Spunk or Sulfur Match - YouTube

Recently I came across a book, "American Boys' Handy Book of Camplore and Wood Craft"

And beside all the other great info in it, it mentioned Spunks or also known as Sulfur matches. I had read of them somewhere before, but kind of forgot about them.

Then I did more research on line and found a few mentions of them in use, one in a older thread on here:  http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3473&highlight=spunk

Also found out that they have been around since 577 AD, when the Chinese invented them! T'ao Ku, mentions them in his book " Records of Unworldly and Strange" Written in 950 AD. But, the earliest I could mind mention of these in use in europe was  1350 AD.




All they are is a piece of wood, usually pine, that has been dipped in molten sulfur.

And to light them all you need is a simple ember from either some type of char, such as you use in flint and steel, or from some form of friction fire.

I see these as being handy for when all you want to do is light a candle or a lantern. Or even for wet/damp tinder bundles when a spark jsut won't get the job done.

Here is how I made mine:

I made a simple sulfur melting set up, using an old pop can and a tea candle



Powdered sulfur, this was from a friend, but i am told it is also sold for fungicide for plants and trees at the hardware store.



I simply let the sulfur melt, which really doesnt take too long. And also made sure to have a breeze so the air was moving and I didnt have to breathe that nasty sulfur in! And then dipped mine splints into it.



they light quite easily



i made several different types, some more modern match size and others alittle bigger (as was said to have been used in europe)



I had also come across mention of them being dipped in wax then coated with sulfur. I tried this as well and it really works well, burns much hotter and with a bigger flame.

[Otter]

Very interesting. Yet another item to make that creates a stink. I am so blessed to have a patient wife!

[Dogshirt]

Very interesting. Yet another item to make that creates a stink. I am so blessed to have a patient wife!

You have a PATIENT wife? Where do I find one of those?

[Hawken50]

  They are few]and far between.Seems like this place has more than average, right fellers.

[Otter]

Darn right!!

[graybear]

That's because it takes a special kind of woman to put up w/our shenanigans, and we've been lucky enough to find them. Of course, some of us didn't find them 1st time around (me for one).

[Dogshirt]

I wouldn't say mine is patient, more like resigned.

[dusty hill]

mine just COOOED when i called her from the MONROE MOUNTAIN MAN gun show and said
SWEETY I JUST BOUGHT YOU A 50 cal HAWKIN. then she went to beatin me at the rondys. my ? is why does she cook and clean more at camp than at home???!!!

[Hanshi]

Now THAT'S news we can USE.

[Watauga]

mine just COOOED when i called her from the MONROE MOUNTAIN MAN gun show and said
SWEETY I JUST BOUGHT YOU A 50 cal HAWKIN. then she went to beatin me at the rondys. my ? is why does she cook and clean more at camp than at home???!!!

Plainsman, Sounds like you have a Keeper to me. 
Don't try to figure her out you cant! (No man can figure out Women ;-) 
Just enjoy and hold on Life goes fast so make sure you have fun!

You might see if she will let you use her HAWKIN a few times