One of a series of eighty-one fire-steels

[One of] A Series of eighty-one Fire-steels (most being from 3 to 4 ins long and from 1/8 to 1/4 in thick); all believed to be English; all perfectly plain and destitute of ornamentation, other than slight twisting or coiling of the tang or tangs forming the hand-hold at back; all range in date from the 16th to the 19th centuries, most being probably of the 18th century; many clearly made from old files; one (no. 234) obviously made from portion of an old kettle-tilter; most show signs of use, the striking-face in front being worn away by frequent contact with the flint; some show obvious signs of long use, the striking-edge being deeply cut away; one (no. 236), bought in Chester, has striking-edge almost completely destroyed; many take by chance the form of letters of the alphabet, U (inverted) being most common, C (reversed), D (reversed), and O being common, and R (reversed) occasional. England.