Fire Kit sample photos

Can we pre-order? Or at least sign up to get notification on availability?

And by the way, it's disappointing the compass is not provided and epoxied in the butt cap -- I would pay extra for that.

Also, I would vote for a black matte or bead blasted (non-glossy) finish.
 
That looks really awesome :thumbup: Can't wait to try the misch metal too. I've been able to start a fire using natural tinder and a ferro rod on a rainy day but to be honest I don't feel 100% competent to pull that off in every situation, so bring on the misch metal for me :D
 
Well, there is an advantage to not securing the compass into the inside of the lid. You can replace it easily if it gets damaged. They are readily available, they are the standard BCB type of 20mm liquid compass.

Here are two links, both 20mm diam. and 7mm in height, one wet and one dry.

http://www.thecompassstore.com/20mmdrycomp.html

http://www.thecompassstore.com/universe20.html

Jeff could mic out the height of his compass he is using and see if it is 7mm or less. These are 12 packs and quite inexpensive.
 
That really came out nice.

I didn't know there was going to be a compass in there when I suggested a striker on the inside of the cap. If I would have known that, I would have suggested making the cap so the compass could be removed very easily in case of damage or the thing quits working.

I came up with an idea for doing this when I make my own match case this for my brother for Christmas.

Here is how I am doing it. I am going to machine out the inside of the cap so the compass will fit inside it. The compass is going to sit deeper in the cap, and not flush. The reason is, I am going to machine a groove just above where the compass face sits and I will take a rubber O-ring and install it into this groove. Now the compass is never coming out because the O-ring will hold it in place, but the O-ring can be removed with a dental pick and the compass removed and replaced. I used a rubber O-ring because a steel snap ring would throw off the compass reading.

At least this is what I drew up. It doesn't really cost anymore to machine one more groove in the cap either.

This is just one of several ideas I have for his case as well as mine.
 
Forgive a question from an unedjamakated rookie, but as this is a last ditch survival tool, wouldn't it make sense to have the rod a wee bit longer? I havent had any experience with this type of firestarter, but it seems that the longer the rod, the easier it is to use. Normally this might not be a problem, but if its extremely cold or wet, or if someone is hypothermic or injured it could be a very major factor.
 
macgregor22 said:
Hmmmm, last ditch survival tool.
How many strikes will that rod be good for?
Click to expand...

I don't know about this particular composition of rod, but if it is anything like a ferrocerium rod, uh, A LONG TIME! :D

Great idea about the extra groove with the O-ring, too.
 
That looks very nice. I'll definitely be picking up at least one of these when they come out, they look really handy.
 
R.A.T. said:
I put a preliminary page up about the kit: http://www.ratcutlery.com/fire_kit.htm
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting.
The part about it needing a very sharp edge to work got me thinking, why don't you have Shon use some of the scrap steel from the blank cutting process made into strikers for the rod.
Wouldn't really have to follow any guidelines on shape or size, just any little bit thats ground, HT'd, and a hole drilled for lanyards.
 
The problem with supplying a striker is it's going to increase cost quickly. When you get in the machine shop business, processing scrap into a usable tool costs just as much as making anything else.

It would be much cheaper for the user to pick up a small gas station knife and use that as their striker, or just use the knife they're carrying. Again, this is a survival tool not an everyday fire starting tool. The one I plan on carrying in my pocket kit will have a small standard Ferro rod attached to it with a split ring keychain. That way I have my every day striker and my "shit hits the fan and nothing else works" striker as well. :D
 
On that same note, that's the reason we are not supplying the button compass for the cap. Anything we add increases the price and we're trying to get this unit out as cheap as possible and then let the user do the small mods. If we do a bunch of options (such as with and without compass, with and without striker, etc.) then that creates issues (and extra costs) on our end with all the various SKUs, not to mention forcing all the dealers to buy a bunch of different models. Again, RAT is just trying to look out for the end user and hold costs down on some good gear.
 
Nope. the Fire Kit will be a stand-alone unit that we sell through our dealer network.
 
I must say, Jeff, you and your company put out some of the best survival products, and the ideas they generate, I have seen.
I will be getting some stuff from you as soon as I can.

ETA on the Izula?:D
Thanks, Terry
 
Thanks, Terry. We appreciate the comments.

Izulas are getting close! Shon sent me a production prototype of the molded sheath last week. It's great. He has to do a little bit of polishing work around the mold's perimeter and we should be good to go. We are hoping that we will be shipping knives by December 1. At the latest December 15.

Also noticed that you were with Boker. Great company and I love your products! If RAT Cutlery can ever be of assistance in any way to Boker, just let us know.
 
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