Video of SERE/RAT/ESEE firekits

Dizwolf

Dizwolf

Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
2,513
Lets see if this works. First kit is the oldest version which I just picked up in a trade. (thanks tony!) second is the RAT kit with tips printed on it and a misch metal replaceable rod. the third is the new ESEE kit with ferro rod epoxied in. Even that is replaceable though...think someone used a bic to melt the epoxy out.
Video's kinda sloppy, but I'm still playing around with it.

After using the SAK on the ESEE kit and being disappointed, I switched to an Izula and got much better results.

http://gallery.me.com/dbmccann#100383

4832181980_6ace329876_b.jpg

(BTW Jeff, you're right. that's 1000 ISO on a 7D and a 50mm 1.4 I'm impressed.)
 
Interesting comparison. It looks like the original throws the best sparks.

Do you find much difference between the three in starting actual fires?
 
MVB said:
Interesting comparison. It looks like the original throws the best sparks.

Do you find much difference between the three in starting actual fires?
Click to expand...

I do prefer the misch rods, they're more aggressive. But they all start fires just the same.
 
I thought that card board was gonna flame up!!!!!
Nice vid, thanks for sharing.
 
Im abit confused here....I thought ESEE only made one type, with the misch metal rod. But you say that the 3rd one has a regular ferro rod?

I just got mine a couple of days ago, its the one with the survival tips printed on. But its nothing like the second one in the vid. That one throws some globs that fizzle on the cardboard. Is it possible that theres a regular ferro rod in mine? :confused: Ive never tried a misch rod before, so i wouldnt know what to look after.

4832296558_d1cd9672d0_z.jpg
 
The new ESEE kit does not have a misch rod, it's just a standard ferro rod. Their supplier for the misch metal rods couldn't keep up or something?
 
kmm said:
Im abit confused here....I thought ESEE only made one type, with the misch metal rod. But you say that the 3rd one has a regular ferro rod?

I just got mine a couple of days ago, its the one with the survival tips printed on. But its nothing like the second one in the vid. That one throws some globs that fizzle on the cardboard. Is it possible that theres a regular ferro rod in mine? :confused:
Click to expand...

Hard to tell exactly from the photo...but since the anodizing is so dark, I'm assuming it's a newer ESEE kit. There are four styles I can account for.

1. old, squared off top kit. Had a RAT crest logo SERE on it, no compass, and a dull green/grayish anno. Rod is screwed in, misch metal

2. squared off top, RAT crest logo, with ESEE on it. Compass, and a glossy, green anno.Rod is screwed in, misch metal

3. Round top, RAT crest logo, ESEE on it, Compass, and a glossy green, that varies from light to darkish, but all very green. Rod is screwed in, misch metal

4. Round top, ESEE round logo. Compass. Anno varies from med green, to grayish, to almost black. Rod is epoxied in. Ferro rod.

4, 4, 3,3,3,2
4601677131_bff2eeded7_b.jpg


4,3,1
4832181980_6ace329876.jpg
 
Dizwolf said:
Hard to tell exactly from the photo...but since the anodizing is so dark, I'm assuming it's a newer ESEE kit. There are four styles I can account for.

1. old, squared off top kit. Had a RAT crest logo SERE on it, no compass, and a dull green/grayish anno. Rod is screwed in, misch metal

2. squared off top, RAT crest logo, with ESEE on it. Compass, and a glossy, green anno.Rod is screwed in, misch metal

3. Round top, RAT crest logo, ESEE on it, Compass, and a glossy green, that varies from light to darkish, but all very green. Rod is screwed in, misch metal

4. Round top, ESEE round logo. Compass. Anno varies from med green, to grayish, to almost black. Rod is epoxied in. Ferro rod.

4, 4, 3,3,3,2
4601677131_bff2eeded7_b.jpg
Click to expand...

DAMMIT!!!!!!! Its the number 4 that i have... No wonder i wasnt impressed by its performance :grumpy: and there i was yesterday, struggling to understand what all the "globs of molten metal" talk was about. No wonder it seemed a clone of my Primus ferro rod :mad:
 
kmm said:
DAMMIT!!!!!!! Its the number 4 that i have... No wonder i wasnt impressed by its performance :grumpy: and there i was yesterday, struggling to understand what all the "globs of molten metal" talk was about. No wonder it seemed a clone of my Primus ferro rod :mad:
Click to expand...

Well. two things. One it's all in technique. In the second half of the video, I got much better results from the ferro.

Two.... People have warmed up the kit until the epoxy let go, and replaced the rod with misch metal. Cool thing here is you can use longer ones, and you Don't have to drill the new rod out.... www.firesteel.com and www.goinggear.com they're still not as violent as the old RAT kits... Wish that source never dried up....those rods are pure MADNESS.

Personally I don;t mind the ferro.... but i'll probably swap one out for a long rod just to beat tony at his game...
 
Dizwolf said:
Well. two things. One it's all in technique. In the second half of the video, I got much better results from the ferro.
Click to expand...

Ive got no problem throwing hot sparks that'll light a fire in the first attempt. The reason i got the ESEE fire kit, is that i wanted to try the misch metal everybody was talking about.


Dizwolf said:
Two.... People have warmed up the kit until the epoxy let go, and replaced the rod with misch metal. Cool thing here is you can use longer ones, and you Don't have to drill the new rod out.... www.firesteel.com and www.goinggear.com
Click to expand...

Id do that, but most US shops charge something like 35 bucks for shipping to Europe. And then i have to add 40% in taxes, fees, etc. It adds up to the point where its not such a good idea anymore...


Dizwolf said:
they're still not as violent as the old RAT kits... Wish that source never dried up....those rods are pure MADNESS.
Click to expand...

THATS why i wanted one!! To experience the madness! I have no need for another ferro rod, i have plenty of those lying around.

Anyways, thanks for this VERY informative post Dizwolf. It was nice with a description of past and present firekits :thumbup: Good video too.

Im gonna go to bed now :grumpy:
 
Any idea what size the ferro rod is in the firekits (new ones). I'm considering picking a few up and swapping the rods for misch metal ones...
 
I've gotta say, I'm crazy about fire and fire rods. The new ESEE kits are my favorite thing on the market. Small, effective, and great storage. I highly recommend them
 
Cool post Brother but to beat me at my Game.... LOL ...keep trying !

If you look inside the capsule and don't see a screw head ...you have a standard ferro rod. if you see a screw head you have a misch metal rod....no matter the color of the ESEE fire kit
 
Something else that is HUGE in my book.
If your wet, cold and shivvering and you need a fire, fine motor skills are out the window. The large grip of the EESE firesteels is easier to hold. VERY important in an emergency situation. I have lots of firesteels, goinggear, LMF, and magnesium blocks. I use the goinggear and LMFs regularly for just camping situations. I save the magic misch metal for the emergency kits.
 
PropThePolecat said:
Im abit confused here....I thought ESEE only made one type, with the misch metal rod. But you say that the 3rd one has a regular ferro rod?

I just got mine a couple of days ago, its the one with the survival tips printed on. But its nothing like the second one in the vid. That one throws some globs that fizzle on the cardboard. Is it possible that theres a regular ferro rod in mine? :confused: Ive never tried a misch rod before, so i wouldnt know what to look after.

4832296558_d1cd9672d0_z.jpg
Click to expand...

if you use the file blade you get a tad better results :thumbup:
 
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