Fire-steel, uncommon type

Fire-steel (length 3 ins) of very uncommon type; steel very slender; hinged at one end to bottom of a hollow rectangular brass case, having stamped on each of its sides three small fleurs-de-lys; steel held closed at fore-end by a brass cap or lid, hinged to slide sideways, opening or closing the long narrow cavity (probably for tinder) in the brass casing; hand-hold at back in form of a coiled snake with head of dragon, elegantly cast in steel and rivetted on. ? Spain. [NB: one of fifty-seven specimens (nos. 367-423) believed to be all Spanish, some of considerable antiquity. Most of them were formerly in the Lavedan Collection. The series is remarkable for the excellent artistic design and the fineness of the steel-casting exhibited by many of the examples - these being special features of Spanish steels, which often bear names, initials, or armorial bearings, showing the pride taken in them by their owners.]