I cleaned off more of the grease and tried again with new cotton. I was able to generate 2 successful “flashes” each taking half-a-dozen plus hits on the piston. Most of the time I was able to generate increasing wisps of smoke. I think I will try tinder fungus and char-cloth, although my experiences with the near fire on the bedroom blanket has me a little nervous using the tinder fungus in a plastic tube, but we’ll see.

I will try and measure the opening in the barrel tonight (if I remember) and report back.

As to uses in the field, it may have potential in a larger kit, but I look at it more as novelty and education tool, just as I do my traditional flint and steel. When we go 18th cen camping, I make it a point to start all of our fires using traditional fire/steel, char-cloth and tow. Keep in mind the purpose of these methods is to generate a small glowing ember to which you start your primary tinder.

My all wood and horn pistons, work well, although for the Girl Scout workshop, I had 2 where the cap and piston separated and the thread gaskets required some maintenance. A little glue should fix the caps and bee’s wax for the gaskets. I also had one piston, which has a wooden barrel and brass piston totally lock up. In trying to remove the piston, the cap separated from the brass piston and I had to use pliers to remove the piston. I am going to take some fine steel wool and polish up the brass piston and then reglue it to the cap.

Pete