Fire Piston

In the vast grasslands of The Steppe, far from the relatively more civilized lands of the Great Eastern Steppe Kingdom and the Great Western Steppe Kingdom, the Steppe People still practice a nomadic lifestyle, driving their herds from north to south and back, from one watering hole, oasis, or lake to the next, following the seasons.   Always on the move, the Steppe tribes have developed technologies and tools that are lightweight, simple, durable, and effective. One of the most important of these is the fire piston.   A fire piston of the Steppe People has two parts. First, a cylinder, usually made of the large leg bone of a cow or bull, cut to about 10 inches (25 cm) long, with a round hole roughly one-half inch (12 mm) running the length of the cylinder, but completely and solidly sealed at one end. Second, a piston, usually made of wood, about 12 inches (30 cm) long, that tightly fits the hole in the cylinder. At one end, the piston is wrapped with some twine or animal sinew such that it forms an air-tight fit in the cylinder. At the other end, the piston has a large cap allowing it to be struck with the palm of one's hand. Just beyond the twine or sinew wrapping of the piston, a small slot or hole is drilled into which dry tinder can be stuffed.   When the cylinder is braced against a hard surface, tinder placed in the slot or hole of the piston, then the piston inserted into the cylinder and struck hard, the rapid compression of the air in the cylinder heats it almost instantly to a very high temperature, causing the tinder to ignite. When the piston is withdrawn, the tinder can then be put into a prepared bed of tinder, dry leaves, and small twigs to start a fire. By using a fire piston, the Steppe People can very quickly and reliable start a fire for cooking and warmth.