Three Doans and a FRAASS Metal Match...

Don Rearic

Don Rearic

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
8,917
The two Doan Mag Firestarters below, the old one is about 24 years old and the other one I just opened out of the sealed plastic this weekend to teach the wife and son with...

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Another picture of them both. Notice the long ground down mag block on the old one.

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Another view.

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Perhaps someone could shed some light on the bottom Doan in the next picture. Sealed in plastic, never exposed to anything so it's not oxidation, it's black! I have never encountered a black magnesium block before...

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Here, here is "The Estela Rig." ( :D )

This has an old FRAASS (Survival Systems) Metal Match, one of the second or third generation of them probably. We tried that one out this weekend, never before used and had a glob of soft plastic all over the rod for long-term storage. It's harder than Chinese Arithmetic (however the hell you spell it, it's all math to me...)

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Even with oxidation issues which are easily dealt with using a coating of clear fingernail polish, these things truly are excellent survival tools. It might seem kind of silly, but I have had that old one for so long, it has started so many fires and been to so many places with me, I don't use it anymore. I more or less keep it as a reminder of the places I have been with it and as a testament to the longevity of these tools.
 
Pretty cool to see tools lasting that long. I have no idea what would make the one turn black though.

How do you like using the Metal Match?
 
That particular Metal Match which is no longer in production is somewhere between 20 and 30 years old and came out of a surplus USAF Airman's SKIT. It throws a good spark but you have to put about twice the pressure on it compared to the Doan's. I have used other Metal Matchs, the ones sold under that name in the 1980s that were easier to use, not as hard.

That black Doan's block is a mystery, it's brand new, never been removed from the package and they don't generally turn black when they oxidize. They look like my old one when they start to oxidize.

Also, I have had about a half dozen "rod" type ferro firestarters that have turned to dust in the survival capsules of Aitor and Brewer knives, ones that I have purchased second hand that have been in storage for years. The old Doan that I have is sort of a testament to what you can expect just from neglecting the thing over the years, keeping it in packs, etc., and forgetting about it for months on end and months into years.
 
Yeah, surviving without thought or care for that long is impressive for both of them. It reminds me of the plants around the house that I like... they need to have a strong will to live.
 
IIRC my wife was working as an undergraduate on magnesium oxide, and it oxidizes into a white color. I'd bet the block has a contamination of something. Aluminum perhaps? Does is burn cooler or slower?
 
The only thing I could find was magnesium reacting with dry ice, which can form pure carbon on or in the magnesium. I'm sure there are other reasons as well.
 
Don,

Can't say I've seen magnesium turn black like that. I've seen it get dark but not that dark and certainly not when it is sealed.

The metal match you have is out of production but a newer one is purchased on countycomm.com and this is the only place I've seen it available. The Light My Fire Swedish Fire Steels have eclipsed the one you have in popularity although both are excellent tools.
 
k_estela said:
Don,

Can't say I've seen magnesium turn black like that. I've seen it get dark but not that dark and certainly not when it is sealed.
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Who knows? The way government contractors are, it could be just about anything or some type of experimental coating to prevent oxidation on them...

The metal match you have is out of production but a newer one is purchased on countycomm.com and this is the only place I've seen it available. The Light My Fire Swedish Fire Steels have eclipsed the one you have in popularity although both are excellent tools.
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I had one of them Swedish biggies a few years ago, about three or four and lost it. Black handled one, need high-vis. :D

The Light My Fire line of stuff is great, I have heard nothing but good on the ferros and their sporks are a favorite of mine actually. :)
 
I have a couple of the Light My Fire firesteels, the Scout Model, (red handle) a little smaller than the Army Model (black Handle), and they throw some serious sparks.

I also have just gutted the large ferro rod out of a blast match, and am wanting to make a handle for it. I just do better with the firesteels than the Blastmatch.
 
DJ,

I've seen far too many Blastmatches break to ever carry one. The idea is sound but the durability of the striker isn't. The rod is a great beefy piece of ferrocium and you're doing the right thing making a handle for it. Strike Forces on the other hand are more durable and part of my winter kit.

Did you gut it because it broke or was it just not working for you?
 
I did it because though not broken, the Blastmatch felt flimsy, the cap felt like it was in the way while trying to use it, and the way it's designed to be used (Pushing towards the tinder with thumb pressure on the rod) was difficult for me to master, and seemed detrimental to firestarting.

I use a firesteel mostly by holding the striker still and drawing the rod back. When my hands are cold and shakey, there is less chance of me slipping or just being careless and hitting my tinder, scattering it.

With the Blastmatch, I was having to try to keep it steady, and push towards my tinder, aim, and avoid at the same time. The firesteel/striker method is just simpler and easier for me.
 
Don,

I've been meaning to get in touch with you, is there an e-mail address that's best?

~CanDo
 
I kind of figured as much, that's why I directed him the way I did.

I don't sell anything off of it either so everything should be kopasetic or something like that. :)
 
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