RAT Fire steel vs Goinggear steel...

Masteroffajitas

Masteroffajitas

BANNED
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
2,412
I've heard good things about the going gear steel, and I've seen videos of it's spark shower and easability (<?) to strike. The RAT steel I guess does not emit sparks but 'molten balls of metal'...what is that? What do you think I should get? I like how the RAT has a little cap for tinder storage and I think RAT has great quality.

What do you think I should get?

And also, where can I find strikers, the ones that are curly and look like snakes and other things?
 
They are both great. If I had to choose one for an "everyday" type firesteel, I would pick the goinggear.com one. It beats the pants off even the LMF ones.

The RAT is more of a last ditch type firesteel IMO, but thats what it was designed for. Its a great steel, but it does take a sharper edge to strike, and wears down faster then the LMF and goinggear ones....

I have both, and am working on an article for woodsmonkey on the going gear one, along with some other gear from them...
 
Going gear makes a model with a small capsule as the handle, could be used for a small amount of tinder. I just ordered a rod from going gear. It's all good.
 
I just ordered a couple of the 3/8" x 4" blanks from him to try out. I'm perfectly happy with the LMF steels I have but this seems like a different formulation. He's out of the ones with the capsule.
 
And also, where can I find strikers, the ones that are curly and look like snakes and other things?
Click to expand...

i think you are referring to a striker used when making a spark from traditional flint and steel, which is different from the striker you want to use with a firesteel.

the thing you want for a firesteel is a piece of metal with a sharp 90 degree scraping edge, like the square spine of a knife or a hacksaw with the teeth ground off (or even left on!). this video shows a couple of different strikers.
 
I have a couple of the capsule goinggear ones and they are much more effective than regular fire steels. I think the RAT version has the same type as goinggear (more magnesium), but is just a tad shorter. I like having the capsule on the end to store a couple of Vaseline/cottonballs, but between the RAT and goinggear, I like how the cap is connected on the RAT version a little better. I you lose the part that is screwed off, at least you still have a decent handle on the firesteel. Both one will serve you well and the design is quite nice.

ROCK6
 
j williams said:
They are both great. If I had to choose one for an "everyday" type firesteel, I would pick the goinggear.com one. It beats the pants off even the LMF ones.

The RAT is more of a last ditch type firesteel IMO, but thats what it was designed for. Its a great steel, but it does take a sharper edge to strike, and wears down faster then the LMF and goinggear ones....

I have both, and am working on an article for woodsmonkey on the going gear one, along with some other gear from them...
Click to expand...

Hey Jake, Is there a difference between the 1 I gave you and the Going Gear steel?
 
Yeah, the one you gave me performs more like the RAT steel. The one I have from goinggear has a lacewood handle and performs like a LMF, but better, throws better sparks that seem to hang around longer. I dont know, it is like "mishmetal", but differant. I really like it!! That said, the one you sent me is great!! I have used it quite a few times. What site did it come from?
 
Last edited:
j williams said:
Yeah, the one you gave me performs more like the RAT steel. The one I have from goinggear has a lacewood handle and performs like a LMF, but better, throws better sparks that seem to hang around longer. I dont know, it is like mishmetal, but differant. I really like it!! That said, the one you sent me is great!! I have used it quite a few times. What site did it come from?
Click to expand...

Damn it, I was hoping you were gonna say it was the same. Order inbound to Going Gear:mad:

I got those from usaknifemakerdotcom
 
I dont know if the ones on the capsule are differant from the ones with wood handles. I only have the wood one. FYI...
 
j williams said:
I dont know if the ones on the capsule are differant from the ones with wood handles. I only have the wood one. FYI...
Click to expand...

I hope there all the same, I just ordered 2 of the 4" blanks, I want to make my own handles.
 
I wonder how many orders they got just from the video being posted here? They got me to place an order. It was a great advertisement for them.
 
cmdionne said:
I wonder how many orders they got just from the video being posted here? They got me to place an order. It was a great advertisement for them.
Click to expand...

Quite a few. :)

To answer some other questions:

All of my firesteels are from the same source, so you will get the same alloy in the wood handled ones, the Firecap, or the upcoming goodies I have inbound in the coming months.

I just updated the stock on the Firecap. I make them as they are ordered, so they are technically never in stock.

To answer the RAT questions, I believe they use the same alloy as the ones I sell, it's just that their firesteel diameter is 1/4" instead of the 3/8" ones that you are all referring to from me. I'm sure my 1/4" rods perform the same as their 1/4" rods. Smaller also means lighter, so keep that in mind.

For the OP's original question about curly strikers, you usually have to go to a maker that forges them. Has anyone seen anyone on here that makes and sells them? I can't think of a site off the top of my head that sells them from stock, but maybe someone else can point you in the right direction. They are usually referred to as flint strikers from what I have seen.
 
storl said:
Quite a few. :)

To answer some other questions:

All of my firesteels are from the same source, so you will get the same alloy in the wood handled ones, the Firecap, or the upcoming goodies I have inbound in the coming months.

I just updated the stock on the Firecap. I make them as they are ordered, so they are technically never in stock.
Click to expand...

Great! :thumbup: Just placed an order for one at the start of half time :D
 
storl said:
Quite a few. :)

To answer some other questions:

All of my firesteels are from the same source, so you will get the same alloy in the wood handled ones, the Firecap, or the upcoming goodies I have inbound in the coming months.

I just updated the stock on the Firecap. I make them as they are ordered, so they are technically never in stock.

To answer the RAT questions, I believe they use the same alloy as the ones I sell, it's just that their firesteel diameter is 1/4" instead of the 3/8" ones that you are all referring to from me. I'm sure my 1/4" rods perform the same as their 1/4" rods. Smaller also means lighter, so keep that in mind.

For the OP's original question about curly strikers, you usually have to go to a maker that forges them. Has anyone seen anyone on here that makes and sells them? I can't think of a site off the top of my head that sells them from stock, but maybe someone else can point you in the right direction. They are usually referred to as flint strikers from what I have seen.
Click to expand...

Is the Firecap length 4" including the capsule?
 
storl said:
Quite a few. :)

To answer some other questions:

All of my firesteels are from the same source, so you will get the same alloy in the wood handled ones, the Firecap, or the upcoming goodies I have inbound in the coming months.

I just updated the stock on the Firecap. I make them as they are ordered, so they are technically never in stock.

To answer the RAT questions, I believe they use the same alloy as the ones I sell, it's just that their firesteel diameter is 1/4" instead of the 3/8" ones that you are all referring to from me. I'm sure my 1/4" rods perform the same as their 1/4" rods. Smaller also means lighter, so keep that in mind.

For the OP's original question about curly strikers, you usually have to go to a maker that forges them. Has anyone seen anyone on here that makes and sells them? I can't think of a site off the top of my head that sells them from stock, but maybe someone else can point you in the right direction. They are usually referred to as flint strikers from what I have seen.
Click to expand...


I just searched and a survival school site sells them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top