- Joined
- Sep 14, 2002
- Messages
- 1,786
Not strictly knives this one, but as Jack is one of this forums' most well-known members I thought I would.
A recently had a conversation with Jack regarding fire lighting. I told Jack that although I've got quite proficient with a ferrocerium rod, I'm uesless with a flint and steel despite much practice. I was thinking that either the steel I have is poor quality, the flint I have is poor quality, my technique is rubbish or a probable combination of all three. Made more difficult by the fact that flint is virtually unknown in my part of England.
So Jack said he'd send me some quality knapped flint shards he had. So after getting in from work today I found a brown envelope inside of which was not only some very high quality flint but the dinkiest little fire steel I've seen, plus a postcard of England's finest warship, HMS Victory.
A quick try with the flint and steel and I managed more sparks than I've managed in the past year with the old steel.
Anyway, I know many have been recipients of Jack's generosity, so I'd like to voice a public thank you to this kindest of gentleman.
Thank you very much Jack, made my month this
And next to the larger steel with which I've had no success whatsoever.
A recently had a conversation with Jack regarding fire lighting. I told Jack that although I've got quite proficient with a ferrocerium rod, I'm uesless with a flint and steel despite much practice. I was thinking that either the steel I have is poor quality, the flint I have is poor quality, my technique is rubbish or a probable combination of all three. Made more difficult by the fact that flint is virtually unknown in my part of England.
So Jack said he'd send me some quality knapped flint shards he had. So after getting in from work today I found a brown envelope inside of which was not only some very high quality flint but the dinkiest little fire steel I've seen, plus a postcard of England's finest warship, HMS Victory.
A quick try with the flint and steel and I managed more sparks than I've managed in the past year with the old steel.
Anyway, I know many have been recipients of Jack's generosity, so I'd like to voice a public thank you to this kindest of gentleman.
Thank you very much Jack, made my month this
And next to the larger steel with which I've had no success whatsoever.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 
O1 is pretty good, hardened, but not tempered 
You can certainly make a spark with a file though (I have a wee one I carry for my axe, which I sometimes use), but probably even better if you softened the steel some. Same with the back of any carbon steel knife 
