Flint and Steel
Flint and steel is the traditional matchless fire starter. You may use a flint rock picked up on the trail and cause a spark by striking it with a steel knife. This method will last as long as you have a supply of flint stones and until you get tired of nicking your knife.
FireSteel Magnesium Rod Fire Starter
FireSteel uses a magnesium alloy rod that you scrape with a provided metal blade. This type of fire starter throws a super hot spark onto your tender, but each time you scrape it, a tiny bit comes off. FireSteel says their products will last from 1,500 strikes for a Mini FireSteel to 12,000 strikes for a full-size unit.
Blastmatch
Blastmatch by Ultimate Survival Technologies is a flint-based fire starter with a tungsten carbide striker in a pump-like device that you may use one-handed. Because you may rotate the flint bar for even wear, the manufacturer states the device can throw about 1,000 sparks.
Magnesium Block Firestarter
Magnesium block fire starters consist of a block of pure magnesium, which you scrape with a knife to create a small pile of metal shavings. You then light the shavings by striking a provided Ferro cerium rod. This device will provide hundreds of fires before wearing out.
Article Written By Denise Bertacchi
Denise Bertacchi is a freelance writer with a degree in journalism from Southeast Missouri State University. She is a St. Louis suburbanite who has written for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Boys' Life, Wisconsin Trails, and Missouri Life.
