What is up with using blade edge on a firesteel?

E

effer

Joined
Feb 13, 2009
Messages
797
I see so many videos with people striking fire rod using the edge of the knife. I cringe every time I see it. Sure, in most cases, the edge can take it... but still it is very likely that knife will get duller at that spot and then the whole blade will have to be sharpened again.
Why not to use the back of the blade or just a simple striker? The time consuming sharpening process can be avoided for much longer.
 
I have the one from ESEE, the edge of knives makes lots more sparks. I know where you are coming from though. I try to preserve my edge whenever I can. I've used a Dremel to make a round notch in my Ontario Machete, just for the fire striking. Keeps my edges sharper.
 
That is a very common topic. Don't use your edge unless you have to. (I don't see why you would ever need to.) Just make a flat on the spine of your knife with a stone/file/grinder/sandpaper to create sharp corners. That should do fine.

effer.... we both cringe, buddy.


Rick
 
Some knife spines don't work without modding and some won't work well except near the tip because of differential heat treats. It's one of the reasons I like certain types of serrations on production tactical knives with spines that have the edges broken or rounded. One serration becomes a dedicated fire steel striker and the spine retains its strength. If a knife comes with a squared spine I use it, if it doesn't I use a spot on the edge near the handle and make a dedicated striking spot. The sharper the edge used the better the sparks. I think the sharp edge of a piece of flint or chert works really well but it's brittle and fragile


Rick Marchand said:
That is a very common topic. Don't use your edge unless you have to. (I don't see why you would ever need to.) Just make a flat on the spine of your knife with a stone/file/grinder/sandpaper to create sharp corners. That should do fine.

effer.... we both cringe, buddy.


Rick
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, now I know how to make you cringe :D

That Bushlore spine throws great sparks so I'll never do it...but nice to know how :)
 
Very rare that I'll even use the spine, just carry a small bit of hacksaw and save ya knife !
 
I like using the spine. Blade only for a one handed strike, should the need arise. Its good to practice, but I don't make a habit of it.

All my knives save 1, has been stripped and squared on the spine. My FBF came sharp, my ESEE 4, BK2, Condor, and others have been modded to make it happen for me. I carry my firesteel on the sheath, and I don't like having paracord with a striker dangling, for fear it will pull out during the hike. Silly, I know.

Plus, I like having a "all in one" package with my knife and firesteel, right on my hip, right where I need it. I've had pockets rip, and dump contents, and honestly, I carry a striker (LMF Army Striker) in my wallet, and in kits. I still use the spine of my knife. Seems bushier that way:D

Moose
 
moosez45 said:
I like using the spine. Blade only for a one handed strike, should the need arise. Its good to practice, but I don't make a habit of it.

All my knives save 1, has been stripped and squared on the spine. My FBF came sharp, my ESEE 4, BK2, Condor, and others have been modded to make it happen for me. I carry my firesteel on the sheath, and I don't like having paracord with a striker dangling, for fear it will pull out during the hike. Silly, I know.

Plus, I like having a "all in one" package with my knife and firesteel, right on my hip, right where I need it. I've had pockets rip, and dump contents, and honestly, I carry a striker (LMF Army Striker) in my wallet, and in kits. I still use the spine of my knife. Seems bushier that way:D

Moose
Click to expand...

Good point buddy, I do use the spine for one handed fire starting !

[youtube]0bf5ukPIDJ8[/youtube]
 
I just take a torch and fire hardend my edges that way I can use the uses to strike the rod. Works great
 
I squared off the spine of my becker necker last night-now it works pretty well. I couldnt get the LMF striker or a hacksaw blade to work with misch metal and even the spine doesnt work that well.
 
The Best striker I have used is a garden tool sharpener. Carbide edge and comfy handle. and you can sharpen with it.
 
I usually use a striker of some sort, but this is one reason I like extended pommel knives.
 
lilknifekid said:
I squared off the spine of my becker necker last night-now it works pretty well. I couldnt get the LMF striker or a hacksaw blade to work with misch metal and even the spine doesnt work that well.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had to use an Exacto blade to spark a misch metal rod. The spine of my blade wasn't aggressive enough. Even my sharpened hacksaw blade striker didn't work, although it works fine on a ferro rod.

BB
 
I use the striker that came with the steel unless I am using my #2 Mora. I just don't want to cause anymore wear to my knife than I have to.
 
Don't know that I'd worry about using a tiny portion of edge against the choil, but I use the supplied strikers, or the spine of the saw on my Hiker.
Everybody has a SAK, right?:)
 
If I need to use the edge I will but it isn't my preferred option. Generally I keep one of those going gear strikers on the shock cord use as the firesteel lanyard/loop lock. I find a small, two finger striker more convenient to use then a knife spine, but the spine is okay when that is what you have.

Like Mist, I removed the spine coating off of all my ESEE knives, even the ones that still have the coating on the main part of the blade. Place your knife in a vice (use cardboard on the blade to protect it from the vice). Wrap some 120 grit wet/dry sandpaper on a piece of straight wood and simply take off the coating. It maybe necessary to take a small bit of coating below the spine itself, about 1/32", to get it to spark. Do this first, then square up the spine itself. I then take it to 400 and 800 grit to polish it off. I find it much more attractive to just remove the coating from the whole spine rather than a section. But I eventually remove all the coating of my knives anyhow.
 
I don't use a knife edge, but I'm curious. Do the fire steels produce enough heat to mess with the temper in any way?
 
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