for bush craft,no good for lighting a fag though!
handy bit of kit they are! theyre a BIG processed flint like in a lighter,with it is a piece of kacksaw blade to strike it with,when you do a shower of hot sparks come from it and onto yer tinder and there you have it fire!
but theyre ugly things and not the kinda thing you would want to ordinarily cary about! so inspired by frenchys ones set in deer antler i set about making one! one diference though i mounted the striker into the cover in a slit all nice and tidy so it is! heres some pics:

hey thats cool  mate i like it. well done  

cool! I gotta try that one!

where do you get the flint at never seen one that big before . would like to have one to make one of these .

Pretty cool I think..need better pics.

You run the hacksaw blade which is epoxied? in the horn on the right down the flint which is epoxied in the one on the left?

Think I'd drill another thumb sized hole in the bottom of the one on the right and fill it full of dryer lint for handy tinder  

I have the same kind of doohickie built into my knife-sheath. The knife, sheath & firesteel are all my own work...




You should be able to buy the firesteels from just about any outdoor/camping store over there. They really are an excellent piece of emergency kit & contrary to popular belief, you don't need to use carbon steel to strike a spark. Just about anything hard with a sharp edge will produce a bright shower of white hot sparks! I use the spine of my knife & it'll light dry tinder faster than any match!

Rob, what is that beautiful wood in the handle of your knife?

It's Olivewood. Stunning to look at & a pleasure to work with (you get a delicious smell of fresh black olives as you sand!)

Here's a link (in the UK) for the firesteels...  CLICKY

I need a hunk of that (say 1" square x 6" long). Is it only available in the UK?

I would have thought it was available worldwide. If you don't have any luck, gimme a shout & I'll see what I can drum up for you. I have a regular supplier over here, but she sure ain't cheap! A 1-1/2"x1"x5" block for a knife handle usually runs to around $20!

That is an awsome idea I just throw mine on my key chain. We call them hot sparks in scouts.

Good idea & nifty combo ya got there Rob.

quite fashonable in the uk with knife makers! nice blade and sheath rob,are you a britishblades forum member?
as for the fire steel ive got an order for 2 to make today! i get $40.00(£20.00) each for them!

Yes Fish mate, same username on BB !

thanks for the fire steel link!i may be a regular customer!

Thats a great piece of equipment Fish.And to Rob, what do you call that blade?

Erm....I wouldn't really call it anything! I designed it to be a really good allround knife. Big enough for woodchopping, the right shape for food prep/kitchen work, rounded tip for skinning & field dressing & with an ergonimic handle/blade angle to make it comfortable enough to use all day long without getting cramp. So far I haven't found anything it doesn't excell at!

That wood intrigued me so I did a Yahoo search and found one site listed below that sells chunks...looks like it might be cheaper, sans shipping, so maybe not till laid in...

http://www.bethlehemolivewood.net/Spindle.htm

heres a few links too!
http://www.exoticwoodgroup.com/order_olivewood.htm

http://www.knifescales.com/

As a novelty a flint is a nice item to carry. But for a real survival item no way. I was something the products a flame and a few vaseline cotton balls.