Quest for Fire: Redefining Primitive

[F.F.]

This video of me building a fire shows the primitive skill of hand-drilling.

What is more "primitive" flicking a lighter or using friction between sticks you found on the ground?

I have a character in my first book, traditional sword and shield fighter with a bad attitude, that must drop his steel and go "primitive" in part of Book 2. It is my spin on the classic theme of "spiderman lost his powers" or "Iron man lost his suit" And the question that those kinds of plot bring to the surface is: What remains of this character when those superficial things are gone.

I know I had to develop as a person to learn to make fires this way. Deagan Wingrat will have to do the same, but for him its life or death.

Have any of you gone primitive in real life or in your books?