Alternative ferro strikers

cmurphy

cmurphy

Joined
Jun 18, 2010
Messages
142
Hey all
Im putting together some altoid tin survival kits for a group of 8-13 year olds who are in my program. The kits are pretty basic so that the students can customize them as they like. Im including a going gear ferro rod in each one. I didnt buy the strikers! Any ideas what else can go in the kit that will work. Most of the students have a knife but not all. What are some other options?
TBH, Im more of a primitive fire guy so Im fairly inexperienced with the ferro rods.

Thanks all
Casey
 
Going gear has some outstanding strikers for around $2 each.
You can make some from from old hacksaw blades. If you have a dremel with a cut-off wheel they are easy to cut. They take up zero room in the tin .
 
cmurphy, hacksaw blades make great strikers like WJCO1 said. I used some "sawsall" blades cut in half, just a wee bit thicker & do not flex as much. Either one will work for the type of kit you are making.
And as a side note, Mistwalker & Moose are working on a top secret collaboration of a bowdrill kit that will fold up to fit into an Altoid's tin . . . watch for the announcement. . . :D :thumbup:
Be safe.
 
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How about those P38's?
Think someone mantioned that they worked good as strikers...
 
Several of the accessories on a SAK will work well as a striker...and SAK or other mini-multi tools are nice to have in a tin. Perhaps a little pricey though for what you are doing?

A discarded razor blade is more plentiful than hacksaw blades were I work...I take an old razor blade to the grinder and shape it to my liking.
 
unit said:
A discarded razor blade is more plentiful than hacksaw blades were I work...I take an old razor blade to the grinder and shape it to my liking.
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Unit, another idea I had not thought of. It's amazing the knowledge you can learn from this site in just a couple of hours a day. Thanks for the tip.
By the way, congrats on #1000 . . . :D :thumbup:
Be safe.
 
I have used sharp pieces of chert/flint.Dont know if you can find it in California, though.
 
Try getting some large steel washers ( 1" O.D.) and file/grind a flat spot on one edge. It's large enough to grip and has a hole for a lanyard ! Cheap & easy.

:)
 
hiwa said:
Try getting some large steel washers ( 1" O.D.) and file/grind a flat spot on one edge. It's large enough to grip and has a hole for a lanyard ! Cheap & easy.

:)
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Get the rigt thickness, and they can double as a flathead screwdriver, if you stuff thing is the handle of your knife, like the HEST or the XCEST. Just an observations.

Moose
 
I use a rock usually, but if it must be included hacksaw blade works pretty well and takes up no space at all.
 
The back spine of a house key in their pocket?

The edge of a zipper from the hoodie they all seem to wear?

The edge of the Altoid tin lid? That might be too curved to get good bite, but banging a piece with a rock oughta fix that without ruining the tin.

Edit: wait--maybe I misread. Does your ferro rod come with a flint glued to the magnesium? If not, my tricks probably will not work.
 
Alright, I love the idea of using a washer! I might have to play with that (just to experiment. I use the spine of my knife for a striker.), and good point about getting the right thickness for use as a screwdriver. Cheap, small, built in lanyard hole, easy to grip...what's not to like? Way to think outside of the box, guys!
 
Thats a lesson I like to teach when doing a course.

Remind the kids that nothing is needed in a survival situation, just things that would make it easier. ;)

Resourcefulness and adaptation are the two key resources to any situation.
 
Fonly said:
Thats a lesson I like to teach when doing a course.

Remind the kids that nothing is needed in a survival situation, just things that would make it easier. ;)

Resourcefulness and adaptation are the two key resources to any situation.
Click to expand...

Exactly, the kit is going to be fairly simple so that the kids can explore their own survival ideas.

Lots of great ideas, I'll probably mix it up so that we can see the differences.

Thanks a bunch
 
cmurphy said:
Exactly, the kit is going to be fairly simple so that the kids can explore their own survival ideas.

Lots of great ideas, I'll probably mix it up so that we can see the differences.

Thanks a bunch
Click to expand...

Perfect.

Give some a Rock, a hack saw blade, a washer, heck give one nothing and see what they do. :D
 
They make miniature razor knives, about 2" long maybe shorter. You've got a sharp blade and a great striker in one
 
I include a Victorinox Classic in my altoids survival tin and the nail file is highly effective for striking ferro rod (you also get the added benefit of having a small blade, scissors, toothpick and tweezers). But depending on the amount of kids in the group that could get a little pricey. Like others have said, a cut down hacksaw blade works great too.
 
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