Medium Diameter Twisted Jute Fire lighting taper (37" (95cm) long)

Medium Diameter Twisted Jute Taper (37" (95cm) long)

Slow Match

The slow match, slowmatch, fire lighting taper or match cord is a slow burning cord. It burns slowly and evenly despite most wind and rain. Burning like a cigarette end it does not produce a flame and does not go out when handled roughly. Similar to a conventional lighter a spark, from a ferro rod, can ignite the taper or wick; however it smoulders rather than flames.

Please ensure you have fully extinguished it before putting it away as it can take some putting out, it can be as easy as stubbing out a cigarette, but beware.

NEVER leave a slow match unattended as the holder WILL need frequent adjustment and can spit.

A slow match is often used to keep light going and is safely portable; however it smolders rather than flames. In order to light a smaller and more delicate candle you may find it easier to use a sulphur match or sulphur spill.

Buyers please note that extra tapers, flints, sulphur matches, sulphur spills and other Slow Matches are available in our shops.

The Slow Match

The slow match is a type of cord or rope that has been soaked in a solution of saltpetre and other chemicals to make it burn slowly and steadily. It was used for centuries as a reliable method of igniting guns, cannons, and other weapons, as well as for lighting fires.

The history of theFire lighting taper dates to ancient times, when it was used in China as early as the 9th century AD. The slow match was later adopted by the Europeans during the Middle Ages, where it was used extensively in warfare and for lighting fires. The use of the slow match continued to be popular throughout the Renaissance and into the modern era, until it was eventually replaced by more advanced ignition systems.

Slow Match Origins Early guns were set off by igniting a bit of powder at the touch hole, so there was a need for a handy bit of fire hence the slow match. The slow match was first mentioned in a 1411 manuscript; before that, guns were fired using a red-hot poker. Also used by early gunpowder musketeers and soldiers to ignite matchlock muskets, cannons, shells, and petards; slow matches were ideal for use around black-powder weapons as they could withstand rough handling, wind and rain without going out. In addition, slow matches only present a small glowing tip instead of a large flame that risked igniting nearby gunpowder. Slow matches were used from the 15th century until about 1630, when the flintlock started its rise to prominence. It stayed in use with small numbers of matchlocks in Europe until approximately 1730, and in Japan until the early 1900s.

In addition to its military and practical uses, the slow match also had cultural and symbolic significance in many societies. In medieval Europe, for example, the slow match was often associated with the mythical figure of the "wild man" or "green man," and was used in ceremonial settings to represent the forces of nature and fertility.

Today, the slow match is still used in some traditional settings, such as in historical re-enactments, pyrotechnics, and some religious ceremonies. However, it has largely been replaced by modern ignition systems and is now considered a relic of an earlier era.