Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Firestarter
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Description of Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Firestarter
This is the genuine G.I. Aviation Fire Starter with a magnesium edge and sparking insert. You can make a spark in just about any weather conditions. Government issue.Sports reviews of Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Firestarter
Customer Review: When you're really buggered, this will work.
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Even mountain biking, where you plan to be in the woods for only a few hours, things happen. You break a leg or taco a wheel and you're stranded miles and miles from the closest food and shelter. Sometimes you just get spun around or bonk and the best thing to do is lay down, call for help if you can and weren't so dumb as to not bring a cell phone, and do your best to keep comfortable until help arrives. And of course, this is all more so the truth when you're hiking, camping, or even taking a little day trip in an national forest area.
If you have a knife, some kind of water container, and this fire starter, you're set to make it through all but an absolute catastrophe--and even then you're better off than you would be without it. Fire is the first and foremost feature of civilization, which is where you ultimately want to be.
Magnesium lights up at roughly 1000 F, so this will start a fire on the first attempt if you've got the shavings in a nice little pile amongst some kindling. If you mess it up, no problem; you've still got a few hundred chances worth more of magnesium to fumble with. This is also a product that's been on the market likely longer than you've been alive, so don't think you got the last one they'll ever make.
With this, you just take your knife (the back works as well as the blade really) scrap off some magnesium in a little pile, put your little wads of bark or other hairy kindling (or pine cones, bits of cloth, or whatever you can scrap up as you can anywhere) along with your regular kindling, strike the flint side of the fire starter with the back of your blade or anything made of steel, and make sure to look away when it starts because the light is bright white like a halogen lamp on full.
If I had to compare it to anything, it's like setting off a flare.
The sparks from the magenesium catching fire don't go flying, so no worries about one shooting up into your face, but also don't be under the impression that you or your friend can hold the magesium and kindling while shooting sparks at it so that you can immediately blow on it. When it lights, it lights instantly, and it's so hot that it will burn right through to the bone if you light it on skin. If you've ever seen sugar on fire, this is far more serious, but it's safe so long as you don't do anything stupid.
Bottom Line: It's so small it can go on your keychain or be thrown in your backpack as one of those things you always have just in case, but forget about until you really need it. Its of negligible weight for you weight weenies out there. And it's so just plain cool that you'll find yourself using it not just for that moment when you're in trouble and panicking about the fact that everything they taught you in Boy Scouts was entirely wrong, but when you're 'out there' and there's absolutely nothing wrong.
If nothing else, it's a neat bit of science (kids go crazy for this stuff) that just might end up saving your caboose some day. It's small, cheap, light, and effective--which is something we can rarely say about anything truly useful these days.
Customer Review: Basic and foolproof
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
These little units are deceptively useful. They are very easy to use and simple. But just like matches, lighters, or anything else (which are much easier to foil), the little magnesium block requires a period of learning. (Many folks forget that they learned about matches and lighters when they weren't under duress!)
The magnesium block will last for many uses, so get out and use it under some favorable conditions before you carry it around as a "just in case, save my butt" type of tool. Once you know how to use it, it is quite simple. I have pulled a knife and magnesium out of my water drenched pants pockets and prepared and started a fired in minutes in spite of windy drippy weather. The heat generated by burning magnesium is considerable and even a brief flame of its intensity will get some rather hopeless tinder started.
The secret to using this tool well is to use it correctly. First you need to assemble the materials and prepare a proper bed for the fire. The rules about using tinder of some sort, kindling, and then larger fuel should be followed. I use a knife blade to shave the magnesium. I use a dragging stroke to peel off fine, thin curls of metal. That is neither dangerous, nor is it especially hard on a decent blade. (Magnesium is relatively soft.) A small pile of curls is adequate. I like to hold the magnesium against a solid surface so both metal and knife blade don't move erratically; that prevents scattering the shavings so much. A flat, hard surface of some sort is also useful for catching and the gathering the shavings into a single pile. When that is ready, I gather some tinder around, and perhaps loosely over the shavings. Thin pieces of kindling ready to be added as the fire flares are all that is needed to begin. A simple firm sweep of the knife blade across the flint edge which is aimed toward the metal shavings is all it takes to have a fire started.
I highly recommend this simple device for people who need a fire-starting tool that can work through years of neglect and conditions more dire than most other tools will survive. It works for me on the shores of the Bering Sea. (And yes, I have also used a bow and shoelace, but I much prefer the ease of using this simple block of magnesium and flint.)
Customer Review: Great tool but you need to know how to use it
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I bought this item about a year ago and it still works great today, though it has worn down a lot and I need a new one. Using it is easy but you need to do it right or you will damage your knife and flint. First, start shaving one of broad sides of the block with the back of your knife. Most people try to saw off large pieces using the blade but this is not necessary. The directions suggest a quarter sized pile but a pile the diameter of a pencil eraser works fine for me. Next just hold your knife over the pile and drag the flint across the back of it aiming for the pile. When a spark reaches the pile it will ignite quickly so your tinder needs to be very close.
I like to use this because it gives you options. You can use just the flint, or for more course tinder you can use the magnesium. I can light a fire with any type of sparking device so if this one doesn't work for somebody it's because they are not taking the time do it right. Also, it is always good to have something like this because matches and lighters are only good if they are dry. This item works even when wet. The only disadvantage is that it wears out faster than most strikers because of the small sized flint.
Customer Review: Great tool for camping and survival situations
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best fire starters you can carry. Another reviewer indicated it wasn't much good unless you have a sharp knife. Not only is a sharp knife not required, it's a very bad idea to use one. Shaving the magnesium then scraping the metal match insert with your knife will certainly work, but it will also dull your knife in short order. It is a much better idea to attach a piece of a hacksaw blade to it for this purpose. It works as well and lets you save your knife for its intended purpose - cutting. Even if you have no or hacksaw blade (or knife), a sharp piece of broken glass will let you shower sparks from the insert. That alone will get your fire started (though if your tinder is damp it's easier when you can also use magnesium scrapings). A cotton ball smeared with petroleum jelly makes excellent tinder to use with this device. A dry cotton ball also works; it just doesn't burn as long. Put several into an old film container then drop in it your pack with the magnesium fire starter. The bottom line is this tool is small, light weight, inexpensive, reliable and easy to use. These attributes make it an excellent tool and an outstanding value.Customer Review: Gets the Job Done
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Although many other reviewers have given great advice on how not to dull your blade knife, I opted for a small cheap pocket knife to use as a scraper. I haven't tried any other utensils yet but I am sure in a bind you could find an alternative.
With a little dryer lint and some fine dry starter I found laying around I was able to start a fire in no time at all. For those that complain the magnesium shavings blow away, that's because you didn't dig a little hole first to protect it from the wind. I found that when the knife edge is placed at the proper angle of 90 degrees, you will have no trouble getting shavings and it doesn't take alot of work either. The shavings are rather easy to get.
The difference between this and a lighter is that Magnesium burns at over 4000 degrees Fahrenheit. On a damp day this will make all the difference in the world.