A Fire-Bow Demo with AskDaMice

Hey Guys…

This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure of having Rick Marchand
(AskDaMice) join us at our campfire while we were camping literally
minutes from his front door.

He brought with him some of his wares including a small flint and steel kit,
a cool little handmade leather fire-kit pouch and a handmade knife with a
whitetail deer crown handle. Holding the knife you feel the life within it, which
I believe is energy from the maker..

We had some nice conversation, around the campfire. My dad very much
enjoyed talking with him and some of his travels.

Rick also brought with him his fire-bow which he so Graciously agreed to
demonstrate. Also in attendance was my oldest son Eric, my nephew and
brother in law…He also showed us a little cordage making with ordinary
grasses and saplings.

Here are some pictures of Rick’s fire-bow in action.

Here Rick is cutting down the shoulder on his spindle so it doesn’t hang up in
the fireboard socket

Beginning to make the fire-board socket

Fire-board socket is being burned and dust is collecting around
the spindle (dust will be saved and used as a coal extender)

Checking to see that the spindle and board are mating up properly

Socket is now burned the spindle and board are mated properly.

Cutting and the checking the notch

Beginning to work on a coal

Spindle is building up major heat and a coal is forming.
Rick is pumping the bow at full speed

Checking for a coal

Coal has formed, however isn’t visible with the camera flash, you
can see a clear indication from the light wisps of smoke coming
from the dust.

Rick is preparing to tap the coal onto his coal extender
and tinder bed

Coal is nestled in the small tinder bed and is getting larger

Coal and tinder bed are transferred to a larger bundle.
The coal at this point is larger than a cigarette heater.

Watching his coal grow

Rick blows the coal with one breath into life giving fire

Success!

Rick’s fire-bow kit including fire-board, bow, spindle and
handmade stacked leather socket.

This had been only the second time that I personally watched
a fire made with a fire-bow. Although I have seen it done many
times on tape from various sources.

This was Very exciting for me. Fire no matter how it is made always
amazes me.

Rick is Very meticulous about how he prepares his fire-bow, and painstakingly
prepares each piece of his kit. Rick believes that each time he makes fire it is
a spiritual process and is almost ritualistic in preparing everything so that
it is just right. I agree and feel the exact same way about it.

I’d like to Thank Rick for coming out even though he had a busy day
and was tired.
I’m very grateful to be able to call him a friend and enjoy his company
and experience very much.

Thanks Rick!

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and I encourage
everyone to learn this Very valuable skill.

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

_________________
ericn@mnsi.net

www.onscenetactical.com
On/Scene Tactical

Professional Quality, Synthetic Sheath Systems

Thats awesome! Thanks for sharing Very Happy

eric

Good stuff Smiles alot Laughing

is that Jute ? you are useing ?. Good post.

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

damn look at his boots! this guy is hardcore. to make fire that way is such a cool skill.

smart of you to take pics, thanks for sharing!

Great post! Thanks guys! Very Happy

_________________
"Asinus sæculæ maximus."

That's great Eric... the night was alot of fun. Your father is a pleasure to talk to... What a Worldly man, indeed. Forum members... Eric and his relatives are a "one in a million" family... I felt at ease from the moment I neared the camp and heard the gentle hum of his dad's harmonica(he was playing german folk songs, I think.) This was the first time I met his family and by the end of the night his kids were giving me goodnight hugs! I was truely honoured.

I hope this thread doesn't portray me to be some kind of bush guru... cause I'm anything but that. I was just there to see his family and enjoy myself... we sat and talked for sometime before the opportunity presented itself to attempt fire by friction. As Eric said... I enjoy practicing these skills and I have my so called "rituals" I go through... It's definately not the only way to get the job done, but I find it the most enjoyable. With all the genuine interest everybody showed toward this craft... I new the bush would allow us a coal, in the least. I knew as soon as I saw the sheer size of the coal (roughly the size of jellybean) that the Earth Mother was showing off for us that night.... once nested inside the tinder I waited a few moments and literally one whisper of breath ignited the bundle... What a joy.

We did a little cordage and talked for a bit but it was getting late so I mounted my White Steed (Norco pedal bike) and rode of into the darkness (catching a few branches in the face as I made my way out.)

Thanks for posting this, guys.

Next time we'll try the "no knife" firedrill method.

Rick

_________________
"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing."

woohoo go rick Cool

_________________
"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

Rick's da man! Wink

_________________
"Asinus sæculæ maximus."

Nice, you seem to know quite a bit judging by your posts, and the fire drill isn't easy. Good going.

_________________
Outdoor Blog
Last.fm

Time passes softly and I'm a day older.
But still I'm living days gone by.
Ashes to ashes, the rain's turning colder.
Finding tomorrow, the ashes, the rain and I.

Thanks for the compliments, guys... Embarassed

_________________
"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing."

Good stuff. Cool

_________________
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. - Psalms 53:1

	Askdamice wrote:
	Next time we'll try the "no knife" firedrill method. Rick

that must be pretty hard how would you do that? a rock?
good post i have been trying the firebow for a while but yet to get a flame just lots of smoke lol

how long did it take you to get a flame.I love to watch people build a fire Very Happy

_________________
"what was once bait is now dinner"-Bob and Les deep woods

better to fail at something you love then to succeed in something you hate.

Hey Rick can I ask what you use for the string? THat seems to be my biggest set back

_________________
"There dosen't look like there's much shelter over in those mountains, but that's the only choice I got right now, this is gonna be a long week" - Les Stroud Arctic

Looks like paracord.

_________________
-Till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the Last Day.

-Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!!!"

on mine i use a piece of leather Very Happy

everything else i use stretches to much

The string looks like Paracord, stretching is the reason why we put our bows under so much tension partially, then if it stretches, you can continue, the bow just soaks up the stretch... to a degree, it can be too tight too, which doesnt work too pretty. Yes NorthernHunter, he would use a rock most likely. In Trackerschool, at your advanced standard, they have you make a bowdrill again...only catch is you can't use your knifes, only native natural materials and you have one hour to make a fire. I won't mention what happens if you fail to make fire Shocked

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We only have one Earth, take care of her and she will take care of you. ~ probably someone else

Brian wrote:

The string looks like Paracord, stretching is the reason why we put our bows under so much tension partially, then if it stretches, you can continue, the bow just soaks up the stretch... to a degree, it can be too tight too, which doesnt work too pretty. Yes NorthernHunter, he would use a rock most likely. In Trackerschool, at your advanced standard, they have you make a bowdrill again...only catch is you can't use your knifes, only native natural materials and you have one hour to make a fire. I won't mention what happens if you fail to make fire Shocked

oh no haha i guess you better not fail then eh lol

Our class got fire 5 seconds after time, so they decided it was close enough for first time and didnt punish us...phew

_________________
We only have one Earth, take care of her and she will take care of you. ~ probably someone else

i was out working with my fire bow again today and i just keep getting smoke and then i get to tired to keep going is there a trick to this or something?