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flint and steel

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Kegan:

--- Quote from: Minuteman on May 23, 2008, 09:24:19 am ---I was told the same thing about the carbon steel knife, Kegan. I've never been able to get a spark from one. But steel hardness varies so I guess it could work , just doesn't on any of my carbon steel knives.

--- End quote ---

My father has a very old high carbon knife. We tried it and it sparked pretty well- but we only did it once, as it was his good trapper knife, and we didn't want to hurt it. Harder to use than a file or C striker though, as only a little stuck up from the wooden handle. Convenient though.

hawkbow:
I have carried a hand forged steel and flint in my war bag for years. picked it up at a rondezvous when I was a kid. the steel throws a shower of sparks, I keep my tinder and char cloth in a small steel box which i use to make more char cloth when it runs out. anyhow I lost it last year at the head of the north fork of the Shoshone river, three feet of snow and fifteen miles from the trailhead.kind of a bad deal to loose something I have carried for so many years. sorry about the long sob story but your post reminded me of it. I wonder if anyone will ever come across it up there, probably not, but if they do will they think they have found a real artifact ;D I have though the same thing about lost arrows, what do people think when they find a stone tipped arrow in the woods, miles from civilization ;) Hawk

huntertrapper:
hawk thats true ive lost two glass tipped arrows now people findem and think theyve found some indian artifact? ;)

Otoe Bow:
Funny thing.  I was cleaning out my shop last night and came across my fire starting kit. I haven't seen or used it in years.   :'(   It is almost just like the one that Hawk describes inside its own little metal box.  I did notice that the flint in it appeared to be a nice piece of Kay County that will make a pretty good point.  I replaced it with a piece of chert that Cowboy sent me (kind of a grayish white with dark streaks) and it throws a great shower of sparks, better so than the KC.  I don't know if that is Edwards or not, but if it's hard like that stuff that Paul gave me, it should work great.   ;D  The steel in the kit is made from an annealed file that's been forged into a "U" shape that you hold in your hand with the striker surface against your knuckles.

Your 

65x55 swedis:
you can use any steel really but i prefer a high carbon striker knife. it looks funny but is cool i will try to get some pics of it.

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