- Joined
- Oct 6, 1998
- Messages
- 957
Hi everyone,
Some time ago there was somebody going to write an comparisson between different firesteels.
I have come into contact with the "inventor" Mr. Norton ( Four Seasons Survival, 1857 Park Forest Avenue, State College, Pennsylvania 16803) of the "Fire Starter Aviation Survival Spark-Lite" currently in use by the military ( NSN-1680-01-233-0061 CAGE: 1HP49 PN:SL3).
I have been extensively testing the Spark-Lite and it has been handed out to all Scouts in our Scoutingclub.
My Scouts all have the plastic Blaze Orange Spark-Lite latest issue so without the possibility to replace the flint inside the Spark-Lite.
I got a brass Spark-Lite from Mr. Norton that has replacable flints he calls it "Ever-Lite".
I also got one of the first Spark-Lites that he developped and this one needs two hands to operate it.
I modified the brass one so it can be attached to my keychain.
I now carry it pernmanently on my keychain.
My personal experience with the Spark-Lite is 200% positive, it never fails to light the supplied cotton wet tinder tabs with the first or second rub on the spark wheel.
Even when I soak the tinder tabs in water the whole night.
One just has to fluff the side that you want to set fire to so that there are small fluffy fibers to catch the sparks.
I also tested it with beech bark layers and when you peel the thin inner layers from a beech bark and also see to it that there is enough exposed fine beech bark you get it burning with a couple of rubs on the spark-wheel.
Most important, my Scouts (city kids) varying in age from 11 to 15 years also get a fire going with the Spark-Lite and almost as quick as the master himself (me
perhaps even faster but I will never admit to that
).
I never saw the Spark-Lites in Holland in outdoor shops so I was very happy by the great help we got from it's inventor Mr. Norton.
You can't go wrong to toss a couple of these Spark-Lites in your kit(s) I feel like every person going out in the woods etc. should at least have the capability AND knowhow to make a fire and keep it burning.
The Spark-Lite for about $6-7 (in the USA) is perfect to carry along, it doesn't weigh a ton, it's selfcontained to get at least! 8 fires going (8 tinder tabs are included in the box) and even kids can handle it perfectly.
I also have the Gerber Strike-Force and some Firesteels but my Scouts tend to have problems coordinating the scraping of the "striker" and applying enough force to be able to get sparks reliable and without scraping away the tinder.
Besides that one closed SAK on one of the kids knuckles was enough to convince me to use the Spark-Lite instead.
If you're interested in seeing the Spark-Lites I have (from Old to modern and modified) go see them at:
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=130364&a=1351641">
<img src="http://www.photopoint.com/images/pplogo2.gif" width=125 height=66 border=0></a>
Go have a look and get yourself this cheap life insurance policy.
Service wise Four Seasons Survival is also unbeatable.
It has become a game for me to light the fireplace using my brass Spark-Lite and some home prepared tinder, my kids like it and my wife even more because she likes a warm fire and I can practice.
Best regards, from a wet but not cold (thanks to a fire going with my Spark-Lite
) Holland,
Bagheera
------------------
[This message has been edited by Bagheera (edited 03-24-2000).]
Some time ago there was somebody going to write an comparisson between different firesteels.
I have come into contact with the "inventor" Mr. Norton ( Four Seasons Survival, 1857 Park Forest Avenue, State College, Pennsylvania 16803) of the "Fire Starter Aviation Survival Spark-Lite" currently in use by the military ( NSN-1680-01-233-0061 CAGE: 1HP49 PN:SL3).
I have been extensively testing the Spark-Lite and it has been handed out to all Scouts in our Scoutingclub.
My Scouts all have the plastic Blaze Orange Spark-Lite latest issue so without the possibility to replace the flint inside the Spark-Lite.
I got a brass Spark-Lite from Mr. Norton that has replacable flints he calls it "Ever-Lite".
I also got one of the first Spark-Lites that he developped and this one needs two hands to operate it.
I modified the brass one so it can be attached to my keychain.
I now carry it pernmanently on my keychain.
My personal experience with the Spark-Lite is 200% positive, it never fails to light the supplied cotton wet tinder tabs with the first or second rub on the spark wheel.
Even when I soak the tinder tabs in water the whole night.
One just has to fluff the side that you want to set fire to so that there are small fluffy fibers to catch the sparks.
I also tested it with beech bark layers and when you peel the thin inner layers from a beech bark and also see to it that there is enough exposed fine beech bark you get it burning with a couple of rubs on the spark-wheel.
Most important, my Scouts (city kids) varying in age from 11 to 15 years also get a fire going with the Spark-Lite and almost as quick as the master himself (me
I never saw the Spark-Lites in Holland in outdoor shops so I was very happy by the great help we got from it's inventor Mr. Norton.
You can't go wrong to toss a couple of these Spark-Lites in your kit(s) I feel like every person going out in the woods etc. should at least have the capability AND knowhow to make a fire and keep it burning.
The Spark-Lite for about $6-7 (in the USA) is perfect to carry along, it doesn't weigh a ton, it's selfcontained to get at least! 8 fires going (8 tinder tabs are included in the box) and even kids can handle it perfectly.
I also have the Gerber Strike-Force and some Firesteels but my Scouts tend to have problems coordinating the scraping of the "striker" and applying enough force to be able to get sparks reliable and without scraping away the tinder.
Besides that one closed SAK on one of the kids knuckles was enough to convince me to use the Spark-Lite instead.
If you're interested in seeing the Spark-Lites I have (from Old to modern and modified) go see them at:
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=130364&a=1351641">
<img src="http://www.photopoint.com/images/pplogo2.gif" width=125 height=66 border=0></a>
Go have a look and get yourself this cheap life insurance policy.
Service wise Four Seasons Survival is also unbeatable.
It has become a game for me to light the fireplace using my brass Spark-Lite and some home prepared tinder, my kids like it and my wife even more because she likes a warm fire and I can practice.
Best regards, from a wet but not cold (thanks to a fire going with my Spark-Lite
Bagheera
------------------
[This message has been edited by Bagheera (edited 03-24-2000).]
