Flint, due to its hardness, produced sharp edges when shattered, making it a favored material for the primitive people of the Stone Age. The vast majority of stone tools were made by striking flint, and sparks could be created when flint and metal were struck together. Thus, ancient people used flint as a fire-starting tool. In ancient China, a small piece of flint and a steel "fire sickle" were often used to create fire, giving flint the name "firestone." Flintlock guns also employed a trigger to strike the flint and ignite the gunpowder. In modern times, the hardness of flint has been utilized as a material for grinding.