least intrusive mod to Izula for firesteel

[mtwarden]

I know the blade can be used or a dedicated striker can be carried, but what would be other the least intrusive mod(s) to the Izula for striking?

is there room right in front of the choil? would coating removed from the top of the jimping work?

tia

 

[adaman04]

Man it must be fire steel striker day.

I'd remove the coating from a patch of the spine of the blade

 

[GoNadz]

I'm thinking about something similar to my RC3, maybe removing the coating from the jimping. Anyone do this and have good luck with it? How about using it with the ESE FireKit?

 

[tarditi]

IMHO, if you're going to use a knife as the striker, pull the ferro rod away from the knife (keeping the knife relatively stationary).

This being the case, you could remove some of the coating on the inside of the loop and pull the ferro rod through that. Could also strike a spark with the blade still sheathed, if you so desire.

 

[otis williams]

i took a bit of coating off the spine from the point about an inch back(it was wearing off anyway). works pretty good.

 

[IUKE12]

There is a short article covering this modification here

 

[GoNadz]

Thanks for the link. Will do that soon i think.

 

[mtwarden]

I'd like to hear from someone who had tried the uncoated jimping for striking, not sure how square the spline would be there- the jimping itself looks fairly rounded

wondering if it would be better just ahead of the jimping, almost looks like there is enough room behind the jimping (albeit that's a RC-4)

 

[adaman04]

I’d do it just ahead of the jimping.

 

[mtwarden]

I’d do it just ahead of the jimping.

looking at the pics that's what I'm thinking as well, figured someone has already tried something that worked

 

[BaldingEagle]

I know that there are many here with greater knowledge that myself, but I have been under the impression that the firesteel is softer than most blade materials and therefore you can use the blade itself for striking without losing the edge of the blade. I know that's what I do with my cheepo Cold Steels(carbon steel, bushman, gi tanto) and they have always maintained their edge. Am I wrong?
The Balding Eagle

 

[Jean J. Lautréamont]

I just use the cutting edge closest to the choil; my reasoning is I just dont find it to do a significant amount of damage to my edge. I dont depend on my firesteel for every fire I make, one fire if properly taken care of in a campsite can be made to last.

 

[texastonydobbs]

I just stripped my RC3MIL ,blade portion only.... and lightly sanded a burred area on spine infront of jimped area.

 

[mtwarden]

even though the firesteel is softer than the 1095, it's going to dull it to some degree

probably a lot depends on how much you use a steel to start fires w/- occasionally or for emergency use only- I'd say use the blade, I like to start the majority of my fires w/ a steel (unless I can't for some reason and then the bic gets broken out )

 

[bkzk100]

remove the coating in front of the jimping on the spine of the blade and get over it. if your worried about rust,put the knife in a safe and carry a butane lighter. come on guys its a "tool" and an affordable one at that. why i everyone treating these things as if esee is going out of business tomorrow? use em' and abuse em'. you can buy a new one next week if need be.