Swedish fire torch

That is an old backpacker trick. It works rather well. Nothing like a hot meal when you are tired from a day of hiking.
 
It only works if you pack a bow saw. You can do similar with some small round logs and 2 good well soaked green branches to set the pot on. Sterno is a lot handier!:yum:
 
I've seen hundreds of methods for starting a fire but this one is also new to me. I even have a few of these methods in my bug bag also none of which would depend on modern things like matches or lighters.. Probably the most modern method (still been around for centuries) is a magnification lens.
 
Yep! the lens make a great twig dryer as well. Had the scout on more than a few wet campouts as well as winter time. Hard to start snow soaked wood also. They learned pretty quick that drying out tomorrow's wood was pretty important while you had a good fire going.
 
Probably the most modern method (still been around for centuries) is a magnification lens.

Joe, I've never tried the lens over here. It would probably work pretty good in a lot of places but where I tried to use it, the UK, you'd be better employed using it to read your map. The sun wasn't strong enough, you could go days without seeing it and I could scorch paper or tinder but I could hardly ever get a red hot ember to actually start a fire. No, I prefer a magnesium bar and striker or a blast match. They work every time for me.
 
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