Dear RAT, have you ever given thought to....

Stormstaff

Stormstaff

Joined
Dec 14, 2007
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some form of uncoated "notch" specifically made as a firesteel striker? Would a notch weaken the blade too much?

Just a thought. Wouldn't have to carry a seperate striker, wouldn't have to use the blade edge and wouldn't have to try to use the thumb ramp.
 
I just use the blade...If you use the area closest to the pomel any minimal damage you cause your sharpened edge would not be enough to hurt the use of the blade...outside of a little carbon build up that wipes off easily and a slight edge roll on about 1/4 inch(if that much) of the blade there really no damage done to the blade....I carry a little compound in my pack.....rub it on my leather belt and strop the blade back into shape..I think people worry to much about damaging a blade this way.....
 
Stormstaff said:
some form of uncoated "notch" specifically made as a firesteel striker? Would a notch weaken the blade too much?

Just a thought. Wouldn't have to carry a seperate striker, wouldn't have to use the blade edge and wouldn't have to try to use the thumb ramp.
Click to expand...

You mean like this?

RodanandShango010.jpg


Joe came up with this nifty idea on his Shango design for tops. If it were possible to do a collaboration with him for the right to use it I could see it as a very cool feature to have. :)
 
I just use the blade edge way back towards the handle. I rarely use that part of the edge and it doesn't effect to sharpness too much.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
You mean like this?

RodanandShango010.jpg


Joe came up with this nifty idea on his Shango design for tops. If it were possible to do a collaboration with him for the right to use it I could see it as a very cool feature to have. :)
Click to expand...

thats kinda a sweet looking knife:thumbup:
 
i can get sparks off the back of the blade...even with the RAT fire kit. You just have to push hard enough to get though the powdercoat.


Usually i just use the Victorinox Classic that is paracorded to it though.


I dont really like 3000 degree balls of molten metal on my edge...
 
Yes we have and Shon is suppose to be grinding a prototype.
 
Not surprising! You guys have more ideas than you know what to do with it seems! :D
 
Here's what I finds so funny about this issue: If we made a knife with a cutting edge 1/2" shorter, no one would complain. They'd buy the knife and use it just fine. But if you ask someone to use the back 1/2" of the existing edge to strike a fire starter it's like asking them to shoot the Pope. That's funny to me.
 
Half inch off on an Izula I would complain :( I've used the edge before but it's not pleasant to me.
 
I guess I like this idea because I try to keep my whole edge sharp because I SUCK at sharpening. So, where resharpening because you've rolled the edge on a firesteel is no big deal for most, it's a pain to me.

I have a Lansky kit and a Sharpmaker and I suck at both. Maybe I just need more practice or someone to show me the "right" way.
 
Make friends with someone who is good at sharpening knives. Then bribe with beer or something.
 
So, if we made say the RC-4 with the edge stopping about a 1/2" from the choil then making a step up so there's a second edge that catches the fire steel, what about that? Of course we could put this edge on the spine also but when I'm using a knife my fingers are usually all over the spine in different grip configurations depending on what I'm doing.
 
:DJeff i got the perfect solution....Place a paint mark one half inch from the pomel side of the edge..bam.....instant fire steel edge on the the blade.......;)
 
Personally I would be fine with it on the blade side so that it wouldn't be in the way of choking up on the spine. I may be in the minority though.
 
I used to think about this a lot and would go out of the way to sharpen the spine of my uncoated knives....However, I just like having a devoted little striker blade for my firesteels. You always get all that firesteel back spatter gunk all over your blade. If its an emergency I won't hesitate to use my knife edge. However, I prefer using a devoted striker with firesteel use. Yep, an extra thing to pack but I like it that way. Plus, I tie the striker to the firesteel and they are always together.

Here is one that Bryan Breeden made form me. The chisel grind was specifically for firesteel scrapping and it will spark and spark forever. You can get it to cut if you have to, but it not a good cutter. A knife that is too sharp will slice coils of firesteel that won't ignite very well.

DSC_0001-43.jpg
 
I use the Awl or file blade on my SAK or multitool and I have a Buck hartsook work great as a striker only.
 
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