Does my firesteel make me look fat???

Started out using loops on sheaths, lost one firesteel. Went to a lanyard with a carabiner on a belt loop and the fire steel in my pocket.
 
I use the firesteel loop on the sheath of my favourite knife. I also have a ranger band on the sheath, which tightens up the firesteel loop, so the firesteel won't come out if I take a fall, and it will stay tight on the firesteel as it gets used up. The ranger band also gives me a spot to slip in the firesteel striker so it isn't dangling(I prefer using the striker over the spine of the knife), and I also slip in a couple pieces of fatwood for emergency tinder. The ranger band itself makes for an emergency firestarter as well if I needed it.

If I'm carrying a knife that doesn't have a firesteel loop I just use a ranger band to hold a firesteel.
 
6shooter said:
The ranger band also gives me a spot to slip in the firesteel striker so it isn't dangling(I prefer using the striker over the spine of the knife), and I also slip in a couple pieces of fatwood for emergency tinder.
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Good point!
 
I don't like having it burried in my bag and I especially like to have it separate from my regular fire kit (flint, steel, char) which IS in my bag. Match case in a shirt or pants pocket somewhere (refills in a coat pocket) so if I lose control of one, I don't lose control of all. I also always have a BSA Hot Spark and P38 (among other things) in a front pants pocket in the sack my last Benchmade came in. May seem paranoid, but I don't intend to be without a means to get warm. As a kid, I always had a brass match case blanket-pinned inside my coat pocket, but I have "gone redundant" after a few occasions of not having THAT particular coat when I wanted fire.

If you can stand "plastic wrap" on your knives, there a a few options.
I prefer to lock onto the handle when the design allows:
ZZBBPSKKII01042708.jpg


HARRY03.jpg


If it's a small sheath, or narrow sheath, this is very secure but a little of a pain to get in and out. I have attached full-sized LMFs to Mora sheaths in this manner. This one is a BSA Hot Spark on this side and a P38 on the other side:
MMKPSK20.jpg

MMKPSK21.jpg


I think that on my next leather sheath, I will just make a pouch on the front with a flap and snap. Other Kydex ideas are to form the normal style loop only about 340 degrees and curl the loop tighter toward where the edge ends so it will have a spring fit for reduced diameter. Works better with thinner Kydex. I still don't trust that entirely and prefer the handle lock method. I don't like a lot of goo-gaw on my sheaths, but I do like to have my ferro rod with my knife. Eliminating the handle on the firesteel opens more possibilities.
 
I keep mine with related materials in a zippered pocket of whatever pack I'm carrying. Don't know why I need to be able to quick draw a firesteel, or why I'd carry something that wears, corrodes, and that I don't want to lose on the outside of a knife sheath.
 
Nice Pics JeffH - thats a swanky firesteel kydex if I ever did see one!
 
kgd said:
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 have a different firesteel in each of our "let's go" bags, each of our day hike bags, & both of our truck bags. Also have one in our camping equipment for that "j.i.c." time. I have a figure "8" keyholder I ordered from BePreparedToSurvive.com. I have an Aurora firesteel, photon micro-light, Fox mini-40 whistle, & a tops folding saw on one loop of the figure 8 & my keys on the other. My wife braided a neck loop from #550 para-cord that is attached to a carabiner which is attached to the figure 8. Being I just got the ESEE addiction a few weeks ago, I have not had a chance to fit any of my knives yet with an individual pouch like T.T.D. has shown in his posts.
Have learned a great deal about firesteels in just the short time I have been on here, so thanks to all the guys for their time & information they put into the posts, it really is getting used by us.
Be safe.
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A homemade "Ranger band" cut from a bicycle inner tube makes for a simple solution.

FireSteel.jpg
 
kgd said:
Nice Pics JeffH - thats a swanky firesteel kydex if I ever did see one!
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Thanks, KGD, those were for others.
I have never made one for myself, prefering the ol' "Ranger band" myself.:o
Low budget, low key.;)
 
OwenM said:
.....Don't know why I need to be able to quick draw a firesteel,........
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You could probably dig yours out of your bag faster than I could dig one of the BSAs from under the band. It's pretty much there to stay unless I am in a pickle. The point is more about having at least one means of making a fire on my person - which is where that knife is going to be and even that is not that fast to get to because it will be tucked in between two buttons on my shirt.
 
I like the leather/nylon sheaths that come with the Leatherman Wave. This is my current load out.
IMG_1511.jpg


IMG_1514.jpg
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Didn't say that - it's always on my belt. My pants aren't always on me.

Doc
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Oh, the comments could go on and on and on. That was easy DOC, too easy.:D I'll leave it alone though.

I carry my firesteels in a loop on my sheath. They all get a shock cord lanyard that I wrap around the steel sticking out the bottom.

I have various sizes and makers, stashed in all my gear, from 2x1/8" to the GoinGear Moose Model. Seriously, that's what its called. :D

Plus th bics, doan's, coghlans, and bow drill kit, I ain't goin' without fire. Plus a small 5"x1" road flare. I likes me some road flares.

Moose
 
kgd said:
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???
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No sweety, it's not the firesteels fault you look fat. ;)
 
great thread title Ken..:thumbup: i have always prefered to have the firesteel attached to my sheath.. i use shock cord or p-cord to loop it around and hold it in place.. if i am carrying a knife that doesn't have a firesteel loop i usually have it in my pack or pocket..

IMG_7282.jpg
 
A well worn one on my keys in one pocket, another one in my other pocket and more often than not another one in my kit bag !
 
I have the firesteel and striker tied around a short length of paracord. Then I just loop it around and through to attach it to whatever I want. Belts, packs, keys, carabiners, whatever.

JGON
 
I don't know where my pics are and don't feel like taking more at the moment, but I've been making FS loops for orders as two pieces for the larger models. The loop tapers towards the bottom and is open on the side, so as the FS wears down, there's still tension on it. It's still a good idea to loop the lanyard on any non-handle gripping setup though IMO.

That said, I do carry mine loose in my pocket or in a dedicated FS sheath.
 
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