How do you strike your Fire Steel?

small section of hax saw blade on the lanyard for my firesteel...i found it easier for me then using the spine of my blade.
 
crowdog said:
I just use the sharpened side of my blade, that isn't a big deal to me.
Click to expand...

I did that for over 20 years before I learned I "wasn't supposed to" without noticing any damage to my edge. It really won't phase a good steel with a good heat treat. So now with any new knife I try the spine and if it doesn't work I turn it over and use what I know will work to throw great sparks. Usually using the sharp edge of a knife it will only take one maybe two sparkings anyway...not like you do that all day everyday or anything like that. I wouldn't do it with a knife I was trying to keep pristine...but then again I wouldn't have such a knife in the field anyway...if I even had such a knife :D
 
I have never damaged an edge using it. As a side note, I try to hold the knife still and strike with the rod than the other way around.
 
I too use the included striker. Not sure why you'd use your knife unless it was the only edge you have with you.
 
I will use the spine or my beater knife (because when backpacking, hiking, or anything in between you should have atleast 2 knives and hopefully 3 or 4) to strike up a nice spark
 
JEEZ, the edge of your knife to scrape steel if you can use the striker that any good fire steel comes with, and they usually come lashed together with cord. I only use my knife edge on something like that if I am going to die. Example ESEE fire kit last line of fire. But then again if you want to use your edge just for fun I would - nah don't do that! KNIFEABILITY-a must for all humans
 
I use a countycomm pocket widgy. It works pretty good as a striker. I've used the blade on a multitool before becuase I rarely ever use the blade for anything else.
 
MOstly with the striker, but as you can see in the picture I sometimes reward my knife by using it as the striker. spine only. The rc-3 you see here had to be prepped first by getting rid of some of the coating. If I use a knife for lighting a fire I do not use a big knife because that does not give me fine control on the generated sparks.
attachment.php
 
Edge of knife is fine or like me I prefer a Dedicated Striker, awl on SAK or Striker w/firesteel, partial hacksaw blade....file on multitool,Serration on Esee knives, ETC ETC.....
 
I’ve used my knife edge on a few occasions. The very back of the edge near the choil. Not my preference. In an emergency, I wouldn’t mind it. As Shotgunner said, I really like the striker from GoingGear. It’s like $1.50 or so and can even be sharpened on the corners for some real spark shows!
 
I like the Going Gear striker. If I don't have that on me then I use the end of my LMF striker, which I put a sharpened convex chisel edge on. :D
 
I use the striker that comes with the LMF Army firesteel when firemaking conditions are optimal (dry weather).
When it's wet I like to scrape tiny bits of the firesteel with the tip portion of the spine onto my tinder and use it as a striker. (the knife, I mean :D).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top