Customer Reviews
it makes fire... wow. 
2008-08-07
it's small, compact, and can make fire. granted, you could just as easily pack a disposable lighter with you, and get "instant fire" (but where's the fun in that?)
the first day camping, it was hot and dry. i used a pile of crumbled dry leaves and twigs as kindling. after making some sparks by rubbing the metal thing against the black rod, the fire started up almost immediately. i couldn't believe how quickly it started. it was actually pretty scary to think how easily dry leaves catch on fire when you add some sparks. the metal flat thing actually has "top" written on it. i highly suggest listening to it, because if you hold the metal thing upside down, it doesn't work all that well.
the second day, it rained, and my mighty fire had died. i had to rebuild the firepit using wet wood, and damp leaves. the leaves were simply too wet to get started up with the sparks. I then grabbed a few squares of dry toilet paper to assist. it was dry, but i guess the air was humid, and even when some of the sparks landed directly on the paper, it just didn't seem to want to catch at first. it took a while, but after moving the paper around, and making a little bowl out of it, the sparks eventually lit the paper, and i had fire.
if you're going to rely on this thing, it works great. i highly suggest packing along some cotton balls in a zip lock bag, or maybe some dry toilet paper in case it rains. otherwise find some dry grass/leaves and you're good to go.
Works Well 2008-07-24
I'm an active Dad in the Boy Scouts. Wilderness Survival Camp Out Weekend was more difficult for the Scouts because no Team was able to make fire. If the Teams would have had "Light My fire" available they would have had fire. This flint and Steel works GREAT! I strongly recommend that every camper and survivalist carry one with them!!! I've even put one in my emergency Fanny Pack that stays in my car, all the time. Buy one, it is well worth it.
Sparks like a charm 
2008-06-19
Finally got to try out my firesteel recently and I must say that it definitely works as advertised. Keeps on sparking once you manage to get the protective layer off. My only gripe is that I find the Scout Model a bit too small for my hands. Should have paid a bit more for the larger Army Model...
Great, takes practice 2008-06-11
The Firesteel Scout is a great way to start a fire. I taught my Boy Scout troop and my 8yr old daughter how to start a fire with it. My daughter took 2 hours to start her first fire (she was very determined). After a lot of practice, she can now get it in a few minutes.
The secret to great sparks is a steady stroke and a lot of pressure. The stroke is more of a wrist movement than an arm movement. This allows you to keep the firesteel steadily pointed at your tinder and direct the sparks. The adults and older Boy Scouts were able to light a fire in a few strokes. The younger ones had trouble with getting pressure on the striker (like my daughter).
The best tinder I have found is cotton balls soaked in vasoline petroleum jelly (the original, unsented kind). I smash/work the vasoline into the cotton balls and store them in a water-tight 35mm film canister (you can stuff many balls into the canister). When you want to start a fire, take some cotton out and "fluff" it up a lot by pulling it apart a bunch. The little cotton fibers are what catch the sparks and light on fire. The more tiny fibers there are, the easier it is to set it ablaze. The cotton ball then continues to burn the petroleum jelly and cotton like a mini fireball. I routinely start a fire with one or two strokes.
Depending on how wet your kindling and twigs are, you can use more or less of the cotton from the film canister. A large cotton ball will burn for quite a long time and allow damp or wet leaves, twigs and sticks to catch fire.
Another useful tinder is an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Squeeze some onto leaves, dry grass, or small twigs and spark away. The alcohol flames are invisible during daylight, so be careful. Don't have it on your hands when you spark the Firesteel or you risk catching your hands on fire!
When backpacking, I carry the Scout Firesteel, matches and a BIC lighter. I haven't used the matches in a LONG time, and the lighter is used when I am lazy.
I plan on purchasing the Army model for general camping/scouting use since it is larger and longer lasting (the kids/scouts are always wanting to use it). The smaller version that fits on a keychain should also work, but having the longer piece of firesteel in the Scout (or Army) model allows for a nice big shower of sparks. Looking at the wear pattern on my well-used firesteel, the keychain model may be too short to produce the same quality and quantity of sparks.
great tool for outdoors 2008-06-06
I'm going to be trekking a lot this summer and bought one for me and one for a friend who also travels a lot. Of course I had to try it out immediately and stood on my back stoop making giant sparks. I didn't have any kindling available (probably a good thing) but I can see how easy it is to get a lot of good sparks going. It was raining when I tried it and the stick got very wet but still produced nice sparks. You have to scrape the black paint off a bit and then run the metal piece attached in the correct direction and you get sparks! This will be very handy for trekking and camping - tip: for kindling you can use just about any dry material of course but when it's damp or has been raining recently, you can dig some dried sap off trees and use that to help the process. A quarter-sized amount of dried sap works great with some kindling to get a good, hot flame going.
Great Sparker 
2008-05-03
I purchased this product because when a bic gets wet, it's just a usless 99 cent piece of plastic. The Swedish Firesteel produces a very good spark but don't count on it to light anything except really flammable materials. I tried it on newspaper and oak sawdust without success. If you are counting on this for survival, you had better have something that is easily ignited along with you. You will find very little in the wild that it will light.
The striker that comes with is works very well. I would not suggest using a knife of any value as it is extremely hard on the blade.
Otherwise, this little gadget produces a great spark for starting a fire in adverse conditions, as long as you have suiteable kindling.
swedish fire steel 2008-05-02
A great fire starter and works even when wet, I have used many products over the years to start fire on my back country trips and short of using matches this steel is the best thing ever.
It's a sure-fire 2008-04-24
This thing is cool as all get-out. I hope I don't burn down my apartment while playing with it. Nice quality.
A nice tool 2008-04-10
This "flint" is more expensive than the magnesium bars but it is a little more convinient for making sparks because it has a small handle and an attached striker (you have to find your own tender). I did not have a problem using the attached striker as another reviewer did. I also skipped the step of taking the paint off. I just scraped firmly and the ammount of sparks was crazy. My only complaint is the price but if it lasts as long as claimed it is a bargain compared to matches or lighters.
I have both the full size model and the scout model. The full size model is a little easier to use because it is easier to grip but the scout model is not hard and is a little smaller for packing.
A nice tool 2008-04-10
This "flint" is more expensive than the magnesium bars but it is a little more convinient for making sparks because it has a small handle and an attached striker (you have to find your own tender). I did not have a problem using the attached striker as another reviewer did. I also skipped the step of taking the paint off. I just scraped firmly and the ammount of sparks was crazy. My only complaint is the price but if it lasts as long as claimed it is a bargain compared to matches or lighters.
I have both the full size model and the scout model. The full size model is a little easier to use because it is easier to grip but the scout model is not hard and is a little smaller for packing.
