Prefered fire steels?

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,864
Well basically whats some of the longer lasting firesteels out there? Theres swedish fire steels, the BSA hotspark, those magisium blocks with the flint/fire steel... I had a hotspark some years back when I was in boy scouts, but it wore out pretty quick (although I also played with it a lot!). I like the idea of a magesium block with a built in fire steel, even is the mag. is only useful sometimes, but whats some brands with the best flints/firesteels on them?
 
Well those light my fire steels seem rather expensive all in all, I mean your looking at $15 with shipping. I like the strike force, looks real heavy duty but almost too bulky. I'm going to have to check out my local wally world and dunham's again and see what they got. I'd like to keep it under $10.


hey I just noticed, is that a storage compartment in that strike force?
 
If you go to the boy scout's website, you can get the BSA version for 2.99. There are enough other odds and ends on there that will tempt you that you can get a few things to justify the shipping.
 
Buck268 said:
hey I just noticed, is that a storage compartment in that strike force?
Click to expand...
Yep.
And there should be a block of "wet fire tinder" in there too.
That "wet fire tinder" is great stuff, just shave a little off and light it with the Strike force. It even burns when wet :D


eric
 
Fonly said:
sweedish firesteel, the light my fire ones.
Click to expand...

Ditto... there is a Guy on Ebay that sells them pretty cheap. Can't post a link, but if you do a google search on Swedish fire steels, or Army fore steel, lots of info will come up
 
Buck268 said:
Well those light my fire steels seem rather expensive all in all, I mean your looking at $15 with shipping. I like the strike force, looks real heavy duty but almost too bulky. I'm going to have to check out my local wally world and dunham's again and see what they got. I'd like to keep it under $10.


hey I just noticed, is that a storage compartment in that strike force?
Click to expand...

well, I know that various hunting stores, walmart even carry them sometimes, they will allways have the doan look alike meg and ferro rod combo. there around 5 bucks.
 
I have the Doans, BSA hotspark, Strike Force, Blastmatch, and Swedish Fire Steel army model (and the identical Magfire Pro). When car camping I use the Strike Force or Blastmatch, and when backpacking I use the Swedish fire steel Army model. The army model is better than the scout.
 
I have made a modification to some of my firesteels (Ligthmyfire and Fireflash). I cut off the handle by either just yanking it loose of hacksaw the plastic into pieces (you could just cut it off but the you loose some 6-7 mm firesteel). Then I drill a hole right through it, while pouring water on it. You could drill without water but you have to drill VERY slowly or it will spark in the hole and the drill gets dull. When this is done I put a piece of string on it and you get a firesteel to put in your wallet, on your keychain and if your fingers are cold you just put a finger through the loop and its easier to use.
The function is the same and you can use more of the steel if you use a knife.
To make it even easier, just buy loose fire steel rods. I am experimenting with a way to attach a firesteel to the Fallkniven Zytel sheath.
 
NODH,

If you found a way to attach it to a sheath, let me know or post pics please?

Thanks,
CZ
 
I've done the same modifications to my Swedish firesteel as nodh, though I accomplished these a litle differently. I removed the handle by laying the firesteel on a bar of trioxane, and lighting it up. The handle melts right off. Then I picked up the firesteel with pliers, and wiped the molten plastic off with a rag.

I drilled through it without going slowly. There were lots of sparks. Wear eye protection.

My firesteel and my drill bit were both undamaged by these methods.

By the way, my favorite firesteel is this one:

http://www.epcamps.com/4in_Flint.html
 
I managed to get a firesteel to sit on the zytel sheath :)
It is not a design wonder, but it works.
I took an army model, chopped away the handle, drilled ahole through each end and tied one end with piano wire through the holes on the sheath. The rest was easy, another wire wrap thing at the other end of the firesteel. I finished off with some electricians tape. Worked nice. It is not that easy to use, you have to loosen the sheath from belt every time, but its just for "survival" use so its OK.

I guess it would be even better on a WM1 zytel sheath used for neck carry.

I might try with some kind of glue as well.
 
Hey Guys..

This is how I put a Firesteel on a sheath...

group1.jpg


ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
I am sure eric will chime in, but I believe that blade is the ontario TAK in D2 judging by the color of the handle...great knife by the way. Bark river includes a firesteel loop on the leather sheath they ship with the Aurora as well.
 
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