For those interested in additional fire starting options, the just arrived Spring Campmor catalog finally includes a few new items, including the Swedish Firesteel. I found the same item and its bigger brother on the website moosineer.com. The smaller version, named "Scout", is comparable in size to the Magfire Standard, while the "Army" is sized like the Magfire Pro. Various specifications and descriptions are very similar between the FireSteels and Magfires. Hard to tell from the pictures, but the attached strikers appear to be different. Pricing is comparable.

I am not endorsing one versus the other, but more choices is usually good for the consumer. Clearly people who have purchased Magfires and reported their experiences on this forum have been very pleased with that product. Is anyone aware of any significant differences in functionality, durability, quality, or reliability between the FireSteels and Magfires that would favor one over the other?

I just got a sample of the Firesteel. It works great; I started a fire with just some nice curled wood shavings and the Firesteel. The stricker makes getting a lot of sparks very easy.
I have not used the Magfire but I bet they are very similar in quality.
B

The best buy in ferro rods is a StrikeForce. It has a 2 1/4" x 1/2" ferro rod for about $12.00. Just put the ferro rod in a vice and pull the handle off, it is a light friction fit (no glue). Toss the plastic parts in the trash! Then you will have a larger piece of ferro rod than the xxx Army or xxx Pro.

It is pocket size and works as good as any. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

For one hand use: stick your knife in the ground and scrape the ferro rod against the blade.

How does strikeforce compare to blastmatch?. Due to the sweet deal on the nra survival kits going for about 13 bux. That includes blastmatch and other goodies just curious.


Lee

I would love to see some testing on the different ferro rods. I suspect they are all made of the same material and all work the same.

In my experience the biggest determination in effectiveness is the user and the scrapper. I worked with most of our Pack last weekend with Coghlan's Emergency Tinder and several ferro rods and our Troop a few weeks ago using pitch-wood and several ferro rods. They all make good sparks and they all made fire.

All of the ferro strike rods will get a dark gray tarnish. When you scrape, you have to scrape hard enough to get through this tarnish for good sparks. The Blast Match gives you a lot of leverage for that. I started a flat piece of paper laying in a parking lot on fire just trying it out. On the downside, it is a littly bulky.

Yeah, but when you buy a Magfire from me, you put shoes on my kid's feet. Can't say that for ther Swedish Firesteel, can ya? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Dang, your kids must have closets like Imelda Marcos!

Martin-

For your fallback, acquaint the little critter with Cody Lundin's philosophy: barefoot is good! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Dan