This holder for a portfire is called a portfire stave. It is a wooden stock with a brass socket fastened to it on one end which was used to hold the portfire. The end opposite has an iron spike. The brass end cap above the spike is missing which is usually the case. The wood surface on this item has some light scuffs and nicks and the brass socket and point look to be japanned. The stave measures 24.75 inches long, including the point.

The portfires held by the stave described above were used to light cannon aboard the wooden deck of a ship.  The portfire itself is similar to a flare. They were a composition of niter, sulphur and mealed powder driven into a case of strong paper. A full-length portfire could burn for about ten minutes and could not be extinguished by water. Portfires were used from the mid- 1600’s up through the Civil War. During the Civil War it was a backup option to igniting a cannon, usually during wet conditions.

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