Originally developed for the Swedish Department of Defense Swedish FireSteel is a flash of genius. Its 3000°C spark makes fire building easy in any weather at any altitude. Used by a number of armies around the world Swedish FireSteel's dependability has already made it a favorite of survival experts hunters fishermen and campers. It has also found its way into cabins and backyards as a fool-proof way to light stoves and gas-barbecues.

• Durable - Army model lasts 12000 strikes


• Produces a 3000°C (5500°F) spark


• Works when wet


• Bright spark - can be used as emergency signal


• Available with Black or Oak handles. For backyard use look for the Barbeque model.

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Originally developed for the Swedish Department of Defense Swedish FireSteel is a flash of genius. Its 3000°C spark makes fire building easy in any weather at any altitude. Used by a number of armies around the world Swedish FireSteel's dependability has already made it a favorite of survival experts hunters fishermen and campers. It has also found its way into cabins and backyards as a fool-proof way to light stoves and gas-barbecues.

• Durable - Scout model lasts 3000 strikes


• Produces a 3000°C (5500°F) spark


• Works when wet


• Bright spark - can be used as emergency signal


• Available in several distinctive colors

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Good item with proper tinder - but the mag is easier

Lanyard is plenty long and it makes lots of sparks (after a couple of scrapes to remove the paint). If lanyard was not long enough one could exercise ingenuity and put on a longer cord.



It would easily light propane but if you try to ignite a piece of sheet paper you will have trouble. Sheet paper is not fine enough and is not proper tinder (though you could shred and rumple it to make good tinder). You need a finer tinder bundle. Paper towel was also unsuccessful. I had easy success with toilet paper and dryer lint. It sparks more if you slow down and increase pressure a little. If the woods are wet and you can find no dry tinder you are in trouble which is why most people carry tinder or fire starter or pick it up on the trail when they can.



I think it is easier to use the magnesium fire starter with a basic metal jigsaw blade as the magnesium shavings will ignite paper towel easily and can also ignite paper if you make a dime sized pile of shavings (when igniting paper don't set the end of the magnesium fire starter on the paper as when you scrape the flint the vibrations will jiggle the shavings all around). Even better than a jigsaw blade may be a short hacksaw blade because it has a good hole you can put the cord through.



In summary: if you carry or can find/make good tinder the Swedish firesteel is tough simple and a good product. For normal people who want a firestarter that is somewhat easier to use carry the magnesium. That is what I will carry in addition to good tinder (cotton balls with vaseline mushed in) and a very good lighter (more lights/space than matches).



P.S. Just watched Bear G. in Man vs. Wild (Discovery channel) use this after a major rainstorm starting a fire on the first strike BECAUSE he had previously harvested and protected some very good tinder. He did not use a magnesium firestarter. It does produce a 5500°F spark but it needs a purchase (tinder). Also I want to repeat that the lanyard I got was plenty long but hey it's just a piece of cord that you can cut. Live bold. Also the first time I tried to make sparks I made plenty. I do not see how someone could not (unless they had the metal striker upside down - read the directions!).



P.P.S. Watched Bear G. in Ecuador (?) NOT be able to start a fire with grass using this because everything was wet and darkness came in not enabling him to search for better (dry) tinder. With typical Bear pluck he stuffed his shirt with the grass for insulation and kept his chin up. I bet the mag would have started a fire.



P.P.P.S. Watched 'Survivorman' take a mag starter out into the desert and easily start a fire but he used the edge of his knife to make shavings and strike the flint. I don't reccomend dulling a knife like this use the back or anything else. Also he CARVED off magnesium and I have found just SCRAPING works well. Finally on the magnesium starter the flint is a small rod on the side and you don't whack it like in Jeremiah Johnson but you just scrape it. I think I read one reviewer that broke his flint and I bet he was whacking it just like in the movies.



This is a long review because this is a survival tool and you should have confidence in it's capabilities.More detail ...

Survival

I purchased this product for a survival kit that I have for teaching Scouts and for my personal use. IT WORKS. What more can you say about a product. Used it for a class I taught for the "Wilderness Survival" merit badge and the young men had a great time using the flint and steel to start a fire. Used the Mayadust just to show them how flammable it is but used shaved "fire sticks" to show them how to do this if you have to and do not have Mayadust or other commerical products available.More detail ...

BarBQ Lighter

I have used this product several times now and it works great. Instead of looking for matches I just strike this once and the propane grill is going. I can store it outside where my grill is and I don't worry about it getting moist like matches would.More detail ...

Better than an AMEX card. . . Don't leave home without it.

It will work better than you can imagine. I carry a few alcohol wipes(good for a million things) with me and this lights them on the first try. I keep one in each car on the boat and in my briefcase. I may never need it but if I ever do I don't have to worry about it working. Magnesium sticks maybe cheap but they are hard to use. When it's windy the shavings blow away before you can light them. I needed one of those once and spent the night freezing. Do yourself a favor and buy one or more of these and never worry about being without a fire.

Update: If you are using this thing every day buy the bigger one but also examine your life style; should you really be starting fires like this on a daily basis?More detail ...