Does my firesteel make me look fat???

kgd

kgd

Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
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The title is in jest to the variety of expensive custom firesteel holders that abound. Hey, if you want to spend $60-$75 to have a firesteel match your knife handle that is cool too. I only made the title provocative to get you looking at this thread :D :D :D

So really, I want to ask how you guys carry your firesteels. Firesteel loops on sheaths are fairly common but they also have a dilemma associated with them. First, the loops are sized to a specific firesteel type. Second, your firesteel gets smaller in diameter with usage and it gets looser and looser in the loop through time. Hence a lanyard and locking loop, preferrably out of shock cord.

Another dilemma occurs, when you are like most of us addicts on this board, that you have 5 or 10 (or 250 if you are Rock6) favorite knives that get the rotational use. I'm betting some of them probably have firesteel loops and others don't. Do the ones with firesteel loops all have the same size of loop? Do you keep separate firesteels in the different sheaths or do you rotate your firesteel from knife to knife as you use it? Do you have $800 in firesteels, each matching a custom knife? (ha ha....I still can't get that thought out of my head).....

I have a bit of a problem with different sheath having different sized loops. One of my 'fixes' was to have a custom SAK sheath made for my OHT-trecker with an integrated firesteel loop. A constant in my life is that I always bring my SAK even if I rotate my main fixed blade. So having a firesteel attached to my SAK means I always have a firesteel with me. It still forces me to standardize the size of firesteel I use though.

Is there such a thing as a dedicated Firesteel loop that attaches directly to your belt? I always though this would be a pretty cool batman-belt type device on its own. Kind of like the shotgun shell loops, but just one, sized for a firesteel....

A nifty trick that I see Rick do, is just make a long lanyard on the firesteel and loop it around your belt or a belt loop. Attach by a carbiner or a simple tie out knot and place in your pocket. The lanyard keeps the firesteel secure even while it is in your pocket.

How many people just keep their firesteel buried in their pack?

How many just keep one in their jacket or pants pocket?

Lets get some options......I'm presuming that ya'll at least carry a firesteel with you....Don't you???
 
My firesteel is one of those 6" long, 1/2" diameter jobs from Goinggear. I just stash it in a pack or in a pocket. I wrapped 1/2 of it in paracord for a handle.

"... having a firesteel attached to my SA[c]K..."
Talk about an image that's tough to get out of one's head...
 
hlee said:
"... having a firesteel attached to my SA[c]K..."
Talk about an image that's tough to get out of one's head...
Click to expand...

Fifty strokes will get you a fire every time ;)


Man - the 6" x 1/2" firesteel. Thats huge!
 
I always keep one in my pocket when I'm out and one in my packs fire tin.
I don't like a loop built onto the sheath. I use a couple pieces of cut inner-tube if I want it on the sheath.
 
I like it on my sheath, I prefer a 3/8ths rod, once it wears down a little the lanyard secures it in the loop. If the sheath I am using doesn't have a loop, the rod goes in my pocket. I also keep a spare in my pack as well.
 
I edc the mini LMF one on my keychain and then have a bigger one in my pack. Usually the scout model but I'm thinking of putting my 4 x 1/2 inch one back in. I took it out becuase it's heavy but I've reduced the pack weight considerably since then. If I'm practicing skills I'll generally have both in my pocket. Never been interested in the sheath mounted ones.
 
i just keep multiple ones - in my pack, pants pocket & jacket. when i usually see pics i notice that the firesteel in the sheath loop looks unused most of the time. maybe they don't use that one since it's a backup and they use something else that's in the pack? that would prevent the sheath loop from becoming too big.
 
kgd said:
Man - the 6" x 1/2" firesteel. Thats huge!
Click to expand...

I wanted something that I could hold on to. I've also got a LMF sized steel, but the thing is soooo small that I'm always scraping my knuckles on the ground and rocks (and knocking and scattering my tinder), and it never really seemed to work out well. 6" is a lot of handle to hold on to, and gets my knuckles out of the way of the ground and my tinder. I can always remove and replace the paracord, and the entire length of the steel can be used to create sparks. The other thing that I like about it is that you can scrape down it slowly and create a pile of shavings that go up just like magnesium shavings from a mag bar. With 1/2" of diameter, yo can do it a lot and not worry about using up your firesteel...
 
I'm getting away from a fire steel loop on the sheath and I now use a ranger band around the sheath. The fire steel fits snugly regardless of how worn down it becomes. Since I have many different diameter steels, this method of carry works best for me.
 
There are little elastic tubes on the sides of my leatherman's pouch. I slide the firesteel into that which holds it snugly. It is also attached redundantly with a lanyard though I've never even had it come close to slipping out of the elastic.

My pockets are too full of everything else to have a firesteel in them. :D
 
I keep mine in my pocket. The one I carry is 1/4" by 3" I believe. I have others, of course stored away around the house. On the sheaths that have a firesteel loop, I do put a firesteel in them but rarely use that firesteel.
 
There are little elastic tubes on the sides of my leatherman's pouch. I slide the firesteel into that which holds it snugly. It is also attached redundantly with a lanyard though I've never even had it come close to slipping out of the elastic.

My pockets are too full of everything else to have a firesteel in them. :D
 
I've been tethering them to my sheaths' belt loops with a loop of jute twine (which can be used as tinder, of course).
 
I got a sheath for my sak that has the sharpening steel holder. I stuck a firesteel in there. I predict as it wears down and the leather stretches I may need do something more or different. No handle, no dummy cord.

I want to make a sheath for my belt knife. I was trying to come up with a different (maybe even better) way to rig the rod with it.--hoping to see something crop up here
 
So we gotta a few folks using the belt loop as a tie off....One using a ranger band on the sheath for a snug loop. Some good ideas folks, keep 'em coming!
 
i think i have two sheaths that have loops, and a bunch that don't

might get kydex loops to bolt onto some of the kydex sheaths, but i'm not too worried about it.

*somewhere* i did see a nice leather firesteel loop that was a belt slider. can't remember where it was.

i've got six 3/8" x 3" firesteels that are clones of the LMF from DealeXtreme.com for a very inexpensive price. price includes shipping and they have several models. the ones with the red handle look just like a LMF except they're slightly longer and have a bead chain instead of a cord.
 
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