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

[theonew]

I'm one of these folks.

 

[PayetteRucker]

My Koyote has one at the very base and it works well. I like to use the first serration at the base of my RC5, that works even better. My HEST I use the wire breaker. 95% of the time, I don't even use a knife, I use a rusty washer I found on the side of the street or a busted up hacksaw blade.

 

[gander6]

Maybe I have the wrong technique, but my problem using the blade is I get more shavings off the ferro rod than sparks. From a tip given on an older post here in the RAT forum I filed the powder coat off the thumb grooves. I can get good spark from the bare grooves.

 

[Dizwolf]

Theonew- lmao!

Gander- I keep the knife at a 90* angle. Seems to work well

 

[10Beers]

When I want a FIRE I take a propane weed torch connected to a 20lb bottle.. When I'm camping or out goofing around, I like to use the firesteel more for fun of it. Plus it's good practice if the time would come when I really needed to have those skills.

I'm a little OCD about keeping things tidy and would beat someone 1/2 to death for using my RAT edge for fire steel practice. To that end, I carry a Buck Smidgen as a dedicated firesteel. Nice thing is I don't have to use that blade either, the spine edge makes wonderful sparks and the little edge is nice to have for fillet'ng goldfish or whatever. and it's like $15.

ON the other hand, if the SHTF, I'd use the blade for making sparks.

 

[Bonescraper]

I always just used the back of my rc4, Works fine!

 

[myright]

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 modded mine - I'll post a thread.

 

[Merost]

I converted the very back of the blade on my RC-5 into a "fire steel striking surface".

If I am forced to use the blade to strike a fire steel I never use the part of the blade close to the handle; I use the part of the blade closer to the tip. I find I use the part of the blade near the handle more often for cutting chores (shaving feather sticks, etc) so I want to preserve that part of the blade.

 

[myright]

Here is my attempt with pics

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=683305

 

[Sasnakra]

Jeff 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.......

Jeff, you could also at the same time add the various City, State, Federal, and International "warning" labels (don't forget Braille) about how being outside, using metal tools, sharp edges, sparks, fire, etc. can be hazardous to the user, environment, global relations, etc. ......

 

[drew1095hc]

Jeff, you could also at the same time add the various City, State, Federal, and International "warning" labels (don't forget Braille) about how being outside, using metal tools, sharp edges, sparks, fire, etc. can be hazardous to the user, environment, global relations, etc. ......

now that right there is funny..I don't care who you are that's funny...

 

[Teague]

When I start a fire, I use matches. It works every time.

 

[myright]

When I start a fire, I use matches. It works every time.

:thumbup:

I just like to practice the more primitive methods. I WILL get this notch down pat that I cut in the end of my RC3