Primitive Friction Fire Competition (Bow Drill vs. Bamboo Fire Saw vs. Hand Drill)

Six instructors (three teams of two) compete against each other using three different primitive friction fire techniques in a race to form a coal, transfer an ember, transport a tinder bundle, and light a massive pyramid fire lay to win. Which method is fastest?

This competition is one of several held at Flintlock, the Annual Skills Gathering for the Flint & Steel Critical Skills Group.



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Music used with permission under Artlist Unlimited License Number - 660361 License owner - Joshua Enyart

[Xer]

The pro's sure make it look easy. All three teams way to go.

[carlk]

What a fun day. Learn, play and camaraderie.

[talkingwithtrash]

That was awesome. Been waiting to see something like that. Experience and wisdom prevail. Great job as always. It's nice to see the instructors having fun too.

[ericcapell]

What a great group of people. Looks like a fun time. Congrats on winning but I never had a doubt Team GBGB would win!!

[gregcain]

Way to go Josh and partner! Sure enjoyed this, thanks Josh!

[ronphillips]

Way to go GBGB & partner. Looks like all, had fun.

[SpiritForest]

Fun challenge!! Looks like everyone enjoyed it.

[deltadogification]

That was a lot of fun to watch, just seeing some of the big names go head to head. Your all great. God bless all of you

[mattg]

Team Josh for the win! No surprise there! You mess with the best, get beat like the rest!! Lol another great video good job everyone!

[jamessix]

That was great lol. I thought the bow drill would win it, good job Josh. That hand drill team was really good also. You should have more competition vids like this. Very entertaining.

[kidbach]

awesome Team Bamboo Fire Saw!!! even in competition, you still get to learn proper techniques.

[trashlag]

Only the cool people of this world tech people techniques like these.

[stormytrails]

I've been waiting for fire starting contests for decades and finally GBGB pulls it off! Different levels and difficulties could make lots of excitement by providing challenges at each level. Don't forget tracking contests. Orientation contests (get GPS trackers on each contestant). Erect simple plywood silhouettes of a big bear (full size) that can be pulled up and contestant must quickly react to do nothing at all? Grins. Grabs mace. Grabs gun (caliber? Paint ball gun?). Trails with a few oddities to see who 'sees' or 'notices' these objects. Trapping could be tested with little drones.

There should be a dry day competition with the ability to use but one tool, a knife. Another contest would be in the Master class section. Pouring down rain, soaking wet day to starting a fire using only a knife and poncho. No tinder made up ahead of time. Need to find one's own tinder. How to make one's own tools on the spot to make a fire. Lots of intermediate contests of course with differing tools allowed! Timed. Points given for unique ideas or methods. With a partner or solo. Team work is great at first but who ever ends up with a camping partner that ever 'knows' anything about the wilderness? Huggs! Solo is the only way to learn to make fire. Partners is an interesting problem to test how we think/react during stress with strangers. The ability to divvy tasks immediately, leaders are acknowledged (hopefully earlier than a catastrophe). ..

Points for alertness...back to fire making! People need to learn how HARD it is to make fire like GBGB and other wilderness survival experts. Gosh. Everyone should go out on the patio to start a fire. Try using just a cigarette! Do the bow drill or at least try. Learn the hand drill coal starter, too! I think way easier. Don't expect to be able to survive without practice and preparation and understanding altered states of mind during survival.

[resmeduser]

Forest Wizard Joshua Making a another great video

[LGSkywalker]

Next time, can I be on the ferro rod team? Lol
Freaking epic! Awesome teams, competition, and an insane group of vendors/sponsors! Wow!
Thanks for sharing Josh!

[MrByTheMile]

dude josh this video was freaken awesome!!

[deltadoc]

I’m feeling a blister form...LOL Good times brother!

[southernbushcraft]

Thats awesome i wish i could have made it last year

[etnrutledge]

Very cool! Is it ok if I steal a variation of this for our Scout Expo booth this year?

[GrumpyGrunt]

"We are going until somebody is dead or we get a fire." --GB2 I was team Bamboo before it was cool.