This is a green river blank I did for a friend. Brazillian Purple Heart with a lined lanyard hole. Sheath is Alice clipped on both sides. A pouch for the sharpen stone and fire steel fits on the one that isn't on her belt.

My version of a fire steel. This one is 1/4 by 2.5 inches. 30-06 case holds enough waste gun powder for at least 10 fire starts. Grade 5 bolt is lathe cut to a square edge so it could be used as a scraper.

BIC lighter jacket. Longer paracord lanyard allows it hang inside your shirt. Warm and the flint stays dry by hanging up side down. The long sewn seam has been treated with jeweler's rouge so it can be used to strop a knife.

 

Here is my go-to setup:

Although for backpacking I usually bring this little guy:

The technique shown in the video for striking the firesteel definitely works, but what I've found to be even more successful (especially with cold hands) is holding the striker in place and pulling the firesteel away from the tinder. This way you don't risk sending the tinder flying, and you also get more even wear on the firesteel. I think the advertised number of fires a firesteel is good for is just marketing though--your mileage may vary. I have always managed to break mine in half when they start getting really thin, and I have gotten nowhere near the advertised number of fires.

I definitely agree that using a firesteel takes practice--nobody should ever rely on one without becoming proficient with them first. They are harder to use than most people realize. Ironically, I found using an actual piece of flint/chert and a steel striker to be pretty easy after learning to use a firesteel--I think the hardest part is perfecting your tinder bundle. Get that down, and it paves the way for just about any fire-starting method.

 

Not to be a jerk, but the firesteel you have is the worst I've ever used. It's very small in reality, which translates into few sparks compared to bigger steels or the Light My Fire models of similar diameter but better length. The aluminum case is unnecessary and the striker that comes with it is no where near as good as a knife, or again, the Light My Fire models. Bottom line for me is that you can get more sparks and more fires from steels that take up about the same space.

But you are dead on about striking the steel against the striker instead of the other way around. It's much easier to control, you get better sparks, and as you said, you don't risk scattering the tinder.

One thing I always say, practice using natural tinder!!! It's easier to light a fire with petro-cotton and a steel than it is to light one with a match and natural tinder.

 

I have a setup much like yours drobs. Mora bushcraft black and sweedish firesteel scout. Love mine. Wife hates it cuz I smell like smoke all the time from the fires I start. Ill post a pic later if I can remember. FYI and you probably know this, but cottonballs make great tinder especially when they are covered with vaseline. I always try to keep some in an altoids tin incase I can't find anything to make tinder from.

Edit-

I actually have a picture of my setup with my G17 in my profile on here. For some reason I cant get the pictures to upload today. Just keeps saying it failed to upload. Ill keep trying though.

 

PJ Cotton balls are great. I keep mine in a plastic Vitamin jar. Turns out we don't need em here in Cedar country.

 

I read somewhere that these fire steels will start some 12,000 fires.

Some will, it just depends on which one you get. Mines a swedish scout and its only rated for 3,000. Wanted to get one to start practicing with instead of cheap harbor freight mag blocks. Turns out I really like how small it is. Fits in my pocket nicely and I take it everywhere I go. Striker works great and plenty of rope to manuver it with.

 

Protip: Don't put your ferro rod up wet because it will oxidize and be covered in green **** which, after removing, creates giant pits in the ferro rod that makes it hard to light.

You'll notice the BIC lighter peeking out from the sheath, lol... :thumb:

 

What kind of knife is that twyggy? Looks like it says Ka-bar but it's hard to tell on my phone.

 

That, my good man, is the Becker BK 17! It's one of three styles of "tweener" knives put out by Becker/Kabar. They come in a clip point version (shown), a drop point version (BK16), and some kind of ninja sword version.

In my opinion, it's as close as you can get to a "one knife" solution with regard to affordability, durability, and functionality.

I do wish it was about 20-25% larger all around, though. I like at least a 5" blade, and I think that thing has like a 4.5 inch blade. The handle is also a little small in my hands, but these are wistful imperfections that I can easily overlook, because the knife is awesome!

 

I looked at going with a Becker/ ka-bar and ended up going with a mora. I originally didn't like what I'd heard that mora had a thinner blade than most. I wanted a thicker blade or at least average thickness. Then I stumbled across their bushcraft model. I really like it. Nice thick blade, handle is pretty big which is nice for my gimungo hands an it's pretty well slip resistant. I'm really impressed with its edge retention. I've done some light obtaining, feather sticks, and general use and its still sharp as when it cam out of the box. I wish the sheath was a different design though. Mostly the attachment point because it swivels and I'd rather their not be any moving parts that could compromise it. Unless something unimaginable happens and I really lose faith in it I'm really happy with it. Plus I got it and a Swedish firesteel for less than 50 bucks on Amazon with free shipping.

 

How much did that becker run you if you don't mind my asking? Might buy one to go with my mora. Who knows. Might just have two favorites. Lol

 

Silky saw & Esee 4 with bic and ferro rod blank.

I don't carry one without the other. The Silky gets great sparks off the ferro rod.

 

I'd like to find a bulk box of ferrocerium somewhere. I've read these all come from China.

Am I reading this right - 235lbs for $90.35 shipped?

http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/6-35mm-63-5mm-flint-rod-starter-ferrocerium/125913215.html

 

Finally got this thing to work! This is my more with firesteel and altoids can. Btw, how are yall posting pictures in your post itself instead of thumbnail attatchments?

 

Good lookin knife.

I'm using www.flickr.com to host my pictures.

 

Knives with my home-made fire steel “tinder tube” handles (Martin SERE & BT, Skookum, Habilis Bush Tool) . I drilled and attached the Misch fire steels to a water-tight pill fob (via JB Weld) that houses a couple cotton balls with Vaseline.








My new “trail” blade is a slightly modified Mora 511 (carbon steel blade where I Dremel’d off the finger guard…ala 510) and the sheath was cut open a little to house a fire steel combo. It fits perfectly under the belt pouch on my ULA pack:





ROCK6

 

Knives with my home-made fire steel “tinder tube” handles (Martin SERE & BT, Skookum, Habilis Bush Tool) . I drilled and attached the Misch fire steels to a water-tight pill fob (via JB Weld) that houses a couple cotton balls with Vaseline.




ROCK6

Rock6, the guys and I have been meaning to have a talk with you for some time now.... We think you might have a problem.... :

 

Good looking sheaths there Rock! I like the one that drops down on the far right.

I have leather and tools just need to sit down and start making a sheath for my Mora.

 

Okay I'm preparing to be heckled...

I actually really like this knife and the sheath can be worn sideways on a belt or hanging which is cool.

The firesteel sucks though, you can probably see the ridges in it, it's almost impossible to strike a spark off of the ridges

I like the Swedish Firesteel 'Army' - hasn't let me down yet and nice solid feel to it. Should get many, many years out of it

 

No heckles from me. Everything is personal preference in the end. Gerber makes good products from what I've been told. I had a folder from them that was 7 shades of freakin terrible. But I hear their knife models like yours are good. I looked at gettin the knife like yours but didn't like the giant BG logo everywhere and felt I was payin more for the name. Nice features though what with it having the holes to lash it to a stick for a spear. If your happy with it and it'll hold up to what you can put it through I say good for you my man.

 

You might try sanding that firesteel down with some sand paper.
Or if you have a Swiss Army Knife or GI Pocket Knife, the Awl works really well for scraping a fire steel.

 

my simple EDC.


no complaints so far on the combination.

I've got a couple other steels that I when back home I can take pics of, I made some acrylic handles for the other two.