Striking a spark with your knife

S

sodak

Joined
Mar 26, 2004
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Always interested in the stainless v.s. high carbon debate, I tried 2 "tried and true" survival knives on a ferrocium rod to see how well they sparked. I tested the #1 Mora (Eriksson high carbon) v.s. the #545 (Stainless). Surprise! They were the same, and both were horrible! I only got a spark maybe 2 out of 10 tries, and a very weak/few ones at that. Compared to my Dozier Personal Utility (10 for 10, and huge showers of sparks).

How is your survival knife?
 
Are you using the edge or spine? Using the edge I always get good sparks 100% of the time with almost any blade as long as it is sharp. The spine it varies based on how square it is. Go try making sparks with real flint, that is the real test. :D
 
Good question! I was using the spine. I did try the edge on the #1 Mora 3 times, and got nothing, except a dull edge. I have heard that good sparks are a function of hardness rather than carbon concentration. Gotta see where I can find a flint...
 
Yea, I've found with ferrocium the harder the steel the better the sparks. However, with real flint a non/less hardened square spine works best. So, I think a good outdoor knife would be of a high carbon steel that is tempered to have a hard edge with a soft spine. Which is the way a lot of blades are made by hand as i'm told, whereas most mass produced blades have the same temper all the way through.

By the way, what kind of ferro-rod are you using and how old is it? I've found some ferro-rods work better then others too.
 
I used a file to sharpen the rounded edges on the spine of my SwAK. It works great getting a good shower of sparks. I get good sparks using my SAK.
 
Tied to my ferro rod, is a 2" piece of dull, dead hacksaw blade.. Best thing I've found.
 
HK2001 said:
Tied to my ferro rod, is a 2" piece of dull, dead hacksaw blade.. Best thing I've found.
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I took a plastic cover report binder and cut the piece that slips over the edge of the paper to hold it in the cover to size. I use a carbon jigsaw blade. A couple of wraps of duct tape around the binder gives it a friction fit and allows the blade to slide out. It protects my gear from the edge of the blade and gives me a little extra duct tape if needed.
Jim
 
The spine of my Fallkniven F1 throws sparks like fireworks from a firesteel.
 
Thanks for all the replies and ideas! I will try squaring up the spine and see how that works!
 
Was just playing around with some cotton balls, petrolyem jelly, ferrocium rod and my BK 9. The spine of my BK 9 would throw a shower of sparks, some hot enough to leave small burn marks on my work bench and lite the cotton balls with ease. :thumbup:
 
Another thing to consider is the size of the ferrocium rod. Personally, I find it MUCH easier to get plenty of sparks from a 3" long 1/2" thick rod than from the 3/4"x2/16" one on a mini magnesium/ferro rod keychain set.

I also find I tend to skin my knuckles on the ground a lot less :rolleyes:
 
s002cjs said:
Another thing to consider is the size of the ferrocium rod. Personally, I find it MUCH easier to get plenty of sparks from a 3" long 1/2" thick rod than from the 3/4"x2/16" one on a mini magnesium/ferro rod keychain set.

I also find I tend to skin my knuckles on the ground a lot less :rolleyes:
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I agree, the larger surface area being struck will produce more sparks and will make it easier to make fire under less than ideal conditions. Still, I carry a BSA Hotspark with my SAK and havn't had a bit of trouble lighting a fire with them in all sorts of weather conditions.
 
Interesting observations. I've squared off the back edges of my Moras, to no avail. I tried striking them on sharp rocks, nothing. I've heard of Cody Lundin doing this, I'd like to know how. I'm pretty disappointed in the Moras, they must be fairly soft steel.

I have no problem getting huge showers of sparks with my Fehrman Peacemaker, just use the sharp corner in the finger choil. After 1 or 2 hard rubs, I have a spot rubbed through the coating right on the edge and it's the 4th of July. I haven't tried a SAK yet, but will soon. I'm also going to try sharp rocks. So far, the fine file on my leathermans produce the best spark of all.

I've heard that getting sparks with ferrocium depends on hardness, not carbon. These tests would seem to confirm that.
 
Where are some good sources to purchase a ferrocium rod? Most searches that I have done just give usage information not sources to purchase.
 
i used a mag block today to light the "down" in a milkweed pod. a shower of sparks and instant flame. i usd my edc which is a VG10 spyderco. i also used a sak and a mora. no real difference in any of the knives used.
 
cucharadedragon said:
Where are some good sources to purchase a ferrocium rod? Most searches that I have done just give usage information not sources to purchase.
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If you have a local boy scouts retail outlet, they sell the BSA Hotspark for around 2.50 each.

The Swedish firesteel is a good one to have and the site has some nice knives too. :D

Buckshots camp has a good variety of survival and trapping gear, including ferro rods.
 
The best thing I've ever used on a Ferro rod is the can opener on my Wenger SAK. It shot crazy sparks!!!
 
longbow50 said:
If you have a local boy scouts retail outlet, they sell the BSA Hotspark for around 2.50 each.

The Swedish firesteel is a good one to have and the site has some nice knives too. :D

Buckshots camp has a good variety of survival and trapping gear, including ferro rods.
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Thanks! This is what I was looking for.
 
HK2001 said:
Tied to my ferro rod, is a 2" piece of dull, dead hacksaw blade.. Best thing I've found.
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Ditto. The hacksaw blade beats the crap out of the ferro rod, of course, but it shoots off sparks like nobody's business.
 
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