How do you use the RAT fire tool???

M

mwrenn

Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
5
Just wondering how you use the RAT fire starter...do you use the blade on your RAT/ESEE as the striker?? The only way I can get sparks is to use a sharp blade and it dulls the blade.

Further, I see a number of pictures where there is a fire steel but no striker which makes me believe that some of you guys are using your blades as strikers?? I am still carrying the striker under a ranger band on my RAT-4 to save the edge...please educate me!

Thanks!
 
I recommend a dedicated striker (Firesteel.com makes a great one that I like.) Or you can do like I did and get a hold of a prototype of ESEE's new SuperFire firestarter.

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jumpmonkey said:
I recommend a dedicated striker (Firesteel.com makes a great one that I like.) Or you can do like I did and get a hold of a prototype of ESEE's new SuperFire firestarter.
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photog has balls.... lol Im pissed I cant guess the lens... the background is oddly oof. Im stumped. heat blur maybe...but something is still off....
 
I still prefer the awl on my SAK Farmer. :thumbup:

I have already gone through 1 misch and drilled a 4" blank from goinggear to fit on it now. I really prefer the longer misch.
 
I usually just use the edge, it throws good sparks.

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So far no drastic impacts to the edge, nothing that a ceramic rod or stone doesn't smooth away quickly.

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Speaking from experience I can say if you are new to this and don't do the proper prep and get good tinder, you will dull the hell out of an Izula edge.(I learned a lot that day) That being said, I've got a dedicated striker coming from going gear, and use a cheapo pocket knife in the mean time.
 
I will use the back 1/3 area of the cutting edge of the knife saving the rest of the blade for cutting jobs. Yes it will dull the knife but easily resharpened with a diamond hone in the field. When I am hungry or cold a fire trumps the knife edge:)
 
I use the blade on my RC-3. A couple of strikes dosent have a noticable effect on the edge. At least not while using the blade for carving, whittling and food prep. But if you plan on going back home and slicing newspaper you might feel a difference. :D

In this pic i used the blade to get a good shower of sparks. As you can see on the blade i used the very tip of the edge.

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The thing to remember here, is that if you've done your job right, It's only going to take one pull for fire.
 
Mannlicher said:
that works for me as well. Throws a great spark. I attach the cut off portion of the hacksaw blade to my fire starter with a length of ball chain.
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:thumbup:
Another small benefit from this is that you can use the saw portion to create a little more of that ultra fine tinder saw dust. If it has oils in it (pine/birch) it helps with fire starting in less than ideal conditions.
 
Dizwolf said:
The thing to remember here, is that if you've done your job right, It's only going to take one pull for fire.
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Exactly! In the video I posted above you'll notice it only took one strike to light the tinder, but if you look at the knife it's obvious I struck the firesteel previously. That's because the tinder I was using (seemingly dry sage bark) was not lighting at all! I switched to dry grass and... that's all she wrote!

Correct preparation and the right materials are key. :thumbup:
 
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