I am not a Dwarf, nor do I pursue a Dwarven persona. However, being a Ranger in the North in relatively close proximity to the Blue Mountains and the East Road through Bree, this one part of my kit that is arguably among the most important is only ever referenced as being carried by Dwarves. No references exist for Tinderboxes to my knowledge outside of the Dwarves in the Company of Thorin Oakenshield; they brought two. Given, again, my persona's geographic locale, it seemed appropriate that I give the dwarves a little love.
This was the inspiration for the tin tinderbox, coupled with the references to tinderboxes themselves.The Hobbit, 1960 Revision, New Chapter II – The Broken Bridge., where J.R.R. Tolkien wrote:They met or came up with a number of folk on lawful business: dwarves for the most part going east or west with packs on their backs. Some belonged to Thorin’s people of the western mountains, and they saluted him with a low bow; some were of poorer sort, pedlars(sic) of iron-ware, tinkers, or road-menders.
So matches are a strictly Hobbit toy as of 3rd Age Middle Earth; I've opted out of them as a result. My means of getting an ember, though, remains flint and steel based on this:The Hobbit, Chapter 6: Out of the Frying-Pan Into the Fire wrote:Gandalf, too, was lying down after doing his part in setting the fire going, since Oin and Gloin had lost their tinder-boxes. (Dwarves have never taken to matches even yet.)
Clearly, we know that Flint and Steel, usually just assumed by our group out of convenience, was what Tolkien had in mind. For this reason, my personal view on Middle Earth is that Ferro rods and the like can't be considered Dwarven technology because it's right here: most thorough account on Dwarves we have, and flint is mentioned. Flint's no use on a Ferro rod, so there you go.The Hobbit, Chapter 4: Over Hill and Under Hill wrote:There were six to each dwarf, at least, and two even for Bilbo; and they were all grabbed and carried through the crack, before you could say tinder and flint. But not Gandalf.
Inside the box, we have our tools first: Flint and steel inside a small oilcloth pouch (separated by a scrap of linen inside the bag so they don't bang together), a bundle of tow, 1-2 small dipped beeswax candles, and a few slivers of pine fatwood I've split and dried out of the heart of a problem tree I removed for a co-worker. Dwarves, at least, knew how well pine pitch burned:
If that wasn't proof enough, they even sing of whole pine trees burning whilst in Bag-End.The Hobbit, Chapter 13: Not at Home wrote:Thorin gave way, and Oin and Gloin were sent back to their bundles at the top of the tunnel. After a while a twinkling gleam showed them returning, in with a small pine-torch alight in his hand, and Gloin with a bundle of others under his arm.
Beneath this layer of tools lies a lovely hand-shaped damper which is useful as a tool all on its own, as well as being a nice divider between the tools and the more delicate part of the fire kit: charred materials. I currently have a handful of charred punkwood, a half-charred bit of local turkey tail fungus, and a small stack of charred cloth. Materials come in and out of this area on the trail and as needed. Anything else (ie. a few dry pine needles, etc.) might find a home here on the chance that other dry materials might not be available at any point in time.
I have plans/dreams of eventually hand-engraving at least the damper if not also the lid/box to add some cultural flair, but that may wait a bit. I'm quite pleased with it, though.