Swedish Firesteel - Army Model, Black Handle

i bought a swedish fire steel army model and doesn't seem to work. i tried mayadust, paper, soft paper and nothing so far. besides, the metal thing attached is not gonna do it as string is too short. i used a knife. it does sparks a lot though.

This little item could very well be a life saver. If learned how to use it correctly it will provide you with the useful art of making fire. A must have for all persons who camp, hunt, backpack and like to explore the great outdoors. Always works even when wet and small enough to fit in a pant pocket. Strongly recommend this to anyone who is enjoying any outdoor activity.

I was inspired to purchase this item after watching Man vs. Wild on TV and after using it in one of my camping events, I must say it truly is a valuable find. It does work even when it's wet! I would highly recommend this product to anyone who is into the outdoors. You can even use this when you are having a BBQ session with family and friends. A definite MUST HAVE. It's an excellent gift idea as well.

The Swedish FireSteel Army Model is a substantial hunk of flint. At approx 3/8" diameter and 2-1/2" length it should last for many years of repeated use. I tested this flint against 2 others I have: a combo flint/magnesium, and a survival mini-flint inlaid in a whistle. Quite honestly, all three worked about the same in a garage test using a cotton ball as my fire starter, but the mini-flint shows immediate signs of abrasion. The fire starter material (tinder) is the key element. If you have a good fire starter tinder, it doesn't take much of a spark to ignite it.
I was not impressed with the included striker; I got better spark using a knife blade.
FYI: the FireSteel Army Model Flint has a black surface coating that has to scraped off before the flint is functional.
In summary, I would definitely recommend the Swedish FireSteel Army Model, but it may be overkill depending upon your needs.

Portable, easy to use, durable - what more can you ask for? After receiving the item in the mail, I became eager to find out whether or not it worked. So right there in the middle of the parking lot I broke out some pre-made tinder (cotton balls soaked in vaseline), placed one cotton ball on the ground, and gave the FireSteel a few good strikes and it lit that ball right up.

And, that being the first time I've ever lit a fire without a match or lighter, I felt like the first caveman to discover fire. The item produced large, beautifully bright and burning sparks that will most definitely ignite some good tinder. The key word there is GOOD tinder: birch bark, dryer lint, cotton balls drenched in vaseline, or other fine tinder will work. Don't throw sparks at some random log or leaf and expect a roaring, burning inferno, this thing doesn't produce miracles.

But it's close enough :) A KEY survival item. It's now a staple in my personal survival kit. I'll probably be purchasing the Scout model as well. And maybe the rest of the models........ It's THAT good.