Favorite firestarter/sparker?

[dawgvet]

Looking for best compact firestarter/sparker setup to carry in my pack. I've seen the magnesium ones in Cabelas but interested in others. Any info appreciated.

 

[Fiddleback]

Type 'firesteel' in at epray. Thats where I get the big ones with the pretty oak handles.

County comm has the 3K strikers. You'll have to google that.

 

[longbow50]

I have the Swedish Firesteel in both the scout and army models and they are excellent. I prefer to use the Boy Scouts of America Hotspark more though and as a compact and efficient firestarter kit, take a look at the spark-lite aviators emergency firestarter.

 

[Buddiiee]

army issue mag bar. its a sparker AND has some mag shavings if you need them. take some cord, connect a piece of new hacksaw blade to it, and then tape it to the mag bar.

 

[Pritch]

I have the Swedish Firesteel as well as several similar ferro rods. I met Ruth Ward (Gene Ward's widow) at a Sportsmen's show last month and she has ferro rods seated in fatwood handles. Nice to have tinder right there with you!

I just ordered the BSA Hotspark because it looks small and has a cover.

SkunkWerx recently has posted his review of the Spark-Lite. This is small and inexpensive, but is a bit less effective than a fire steel. One nice feature is that it is operated with one hand.

I'm always looking at new and different firestarters and tinders. Many of these are inexpensive so it might be a good idea to try a couple. Whatever you get, DON'T JUST PUT IT IN YOUR PACK AND FORGET ABOUT IT!!! Practice!!! You'll be as clumsy as the first time you tried to unhook a bra-strap, but it will come!

-- FLIX

 

[Fiddleback]

I like that ferro rod in a fatwood handle. I wish the ferro rod was a big boy. I'd include it in my sheaths then.

 

[kevshin21]

I like the mag stick, it makes it easier to start fires if you cannot find anything really dry and fluffy.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

mine is almost embarassing in all it's newfangled technology, but here's a pic:

http://store.everestgear.com/eqsur130.html

Mine is actually one of the older orange ones, back when it was Gerber, but I'm a big fan of it.

I like it because it throws out a big buncha spark, and it has a large handle that's easy to grasp with shivering, wet, hands. It's a little heavier than a Swedish firestarter, but when it comes to blades and fire, I aint countin' the ounces.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

i love the bsa hotsparks... they are a great buy...:thumbup:

i also have a few swedish firesteels.. made by light my fire... i prefer the army model, seeing how it fits in a few of my sheaths, that have a firesteel loop... www.light-my-fire.se/

 

[Craig_PHX]

I have the Swedish Firesteel as well as several similar ferro rods. I met Ruth Ward (Gene Ward's widow) at a Sportsmen's show last month and she has ferro rods seated in fatwood handles. Nice to have tinder right there with you!

-- FLIX

FLIX,

I watched a few classes from Gene Ward at Sportsman's Warehouse here in Phoenix. He seemed like a great guy. I learned some good stuff from him. Glad to see his widow is keeping his business going. I try to post a link to his website whenever it is appropriate. Does Ruth teach the same class and travel like Gene did?

 

[Pritch]

mine is almost embarassing in all it's newfangled technology, but here's a pic:

http://store.everestgear.com/eqsur130.html

Mine is actually one of the older orange ones, back when it was Gerber, but I'm a big fan of it.

I like it because it throws out a big buncha spark, and it has a large handle that's easy to grasp with shivering, wet, hands. It's a little heavier than a Swedish firestarter, but when it comes to blades and fire, I aint countin' the ounces.

Scissors,

I have the black Gerber StrikeForce as well. It is way too big for my small kit but it is worthy of a place in my BOB/Truck Kit. Similar in size, but designed for one-handed use, is the BlastMatch. I haven't tried this one but have good things about it.

StrikeForce

BlastMatch


The Doans magnesium block with a small ferro rod attached to the side is the first non-match/lighter firestarter I bought. I've started a ton of fires with it, but scraping the magnesium into a usable tinder pile can be a pain.

Craig, Ruth said she has been travelling around and speaking on wilderness survival quite a bit. She said she had started so many fires with a bow drill lately that she had a blister! We had spoken on the phone a couple of weeks prior to the show when I arranged to carry Gene's DVD. It turns out her booth was in the next asile from mine. She's a nice lady.

-- FLIX

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Scissors,

I have the black Gerber StrikeForce as well. It is way too big for my small kit but it is worthy of a place in my BOB/Truck Kit. Similar in size, but designed for one-handed use, is the BlastMatch. I haven't tried this one but have good things about it.

StrikeForce

BlastMatch


The Doans magnesium block with a small ferro rod attached to the side is the first non-match/lighter firestarter I bought. I've started a ton of fires with it, but scraping the magnesium into a usable tinder pile can be a pain.

-- FLIX

I bought a Blast Match a couple years ago for a canoeing trip when I couldn't find my StrikeForce. It didn't even make it out of my front yard before breaking. Oh well, I guess that's why we play with our toys while we're still at home...


Gotta love those Doans. Always been a decent standby. I don't even know how long they've been out, I just know they've always just....been...as far back as I can remember. (Not that I can remember very far back mind you...)

 

[runningboar]

FLIX,

I watched a few classes from Gene Ward at Sportsman's Warehouse here in Phoenix. He seemed like a great guy. I learned some good stuff from him. Glad to see his widow is keeping his business going. I try to post a link to his website whenever it is appropriate. Does Ruth teach the same class and travel like Gene did?

That is a fantastic idea, I am going to make up a couple of my own. Chris

 

[knifeman65]

I have tried many different things but always go back to my Doans magnesium firestarter. First of all you don't even have to use the magnesium as tinder, if you have some natural tinder available. But if you don't, then you can use the magnesium. It works even when wet, burns at 5,400 degrees, and is in every U.S. Air Force survival kit.

Good Luck.

 

[ashtxsniper]

Scissors,

I have the black Gerber StrikeForce as well. It is way too big for my small kit but it is worthy of a place in my BOB/Truck Kit. Similar in size, but designed for one-handed use, is the BlastMatch. I haven't tried this one but have good things about it.

StrikeForce

BlastMatch


The Doans magnesium block with a small ferro rod attached to the side is the first non-match/lighter firestarter I bought. I've started a ton of fires with it, but scraping the magnesium into a usable tinder pile can be a pain.

Craig, Ruth said she has been travelling around and speaking on wilderness survival quite a bit. She said she had started so many fires with a bow drill lately that she had a blister! We had spoken on the phone a couple of weeks prior to the show when I arranged to carry Gene's DVD. It turns out her booth was in the next asile from mine. She's a nice lady.

-- FLIX

I use all of these plus the swedish firesteel.

 

[Craig_PHX]

I pulled the ferro rod out of my StrikeForce and keep it in my pocket. It is only held in with a friction fit. It is a good pocket size.

 

[abiggs]

I have a Blastmatch and love it. I went out on my first try, after never starting a fire from a spark before, and had a fire started within one minute. You do have to be careful with them, though. If you use it improperly you can snap the rod. Follow the directions and you'll be fine.

 

[locomike]

I love my StrikeForce. :thumbup:

 

[SkunkWerX]

plus

plus

Piece of hacksaw blade

plus

Assorted Tinder inlcuding , but not limited to:
-Cotton balls soaked in PJ
-Tinderquik
-char cloth
-toilet paper
-any natural material that catches spark and ignites easily.

Plus, a 3x back-up of another type, whether that be matches, magnifying glass, sparkLite, etc. etc. etc.

 

[Pritch]

I pulled the ferro rod out of my StrikeForce and keep it in my pocket. It is only held in with a friction fit. It is a good pocket size.

Craig, that is AWESOME!!! I just yanked the rod out of my Strifeforce. Much more packable size.

-- FLIX