Firesteel super scraper

I found this small gadget and I'm wondering if anyone has tested it and can inform me of its values before I buy it?

www.survivaltopics.com

Seems like overkill. The metal match I have (from Peter Kummerfeldt's site, outdoorsafe.com)comes with a piece of metal that does just fine and produces the same amount of sparks the guy on the video gets. A pocketknife works too. I'd say, save your buck-thirty-nine.

Looks nice. Will probably pick one up. Better than the striker I have for my BSA Hot Spark. Plus, I'd rather use a striker than a knife.

Thanks for the find!

@Mike_H

Yeah, that was my thought as well, about the knife I mean, I think the fire steel damages a good razorsharp edge on a knife.

I would love to here your opinion after testing.

I live in Sweden and we do not have this item here yet, so if I want one I would have to order in of course. But, the shipping adds a bit to the cost, so I am quite hesitant at the moment to order one.

I have found the scraper for $0.89 at FireSteel.com and the chinese manufacturer JXMetals.com ( for those who would like to import this item).

I use the back of my Opinel knife which has fantastic, better than that metal scraper that comes with the firesteels. I have seen no damage to the back of my knife. Because the Opinel locks closed, it is much safer than using a sharp knife edge, which your really don't need anyway

I just use a piece of a Bahco Sandflex Hacksaw blade, it even comes with a hole at both ends to attach the paracord. It can even be used as a dual use item to allow escape from San Quentin.

I've always used the back of a knife. It doesn't make a huge difference but throwing the sparks with the back of a knife blade is a little easier if you square an inch or so of the back with a stone and leave the edge semi-sharp.

I have used the normal cutting edge of a knife but it tends to dull it and can create notches. It isn't a big deal with a cheap, semi-disposable, knife but messing up the fine working edge on your good knife is just wasteful.

I wouldn't use my blade to spark unless the situation was hairier than a sasquatch, it'll mess up a great blade edge fast.

I can't say as I have noticed a problem getting sparks with various strikers. But for a $1.39 how can you go wrong?

Just a quick idea, has anyone with a alox SAK (farmer, soldier ect) tried using the awl on a fire steel? I've read on the sosak forum that they do a pretty good job.