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Business Stationary Mart - Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Fire Starter
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List Price: $19.99
Our Price: $7.95
Your Save: $ 12.04 ( 60% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: 4 Star Military Surplus
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Misc.
Brand: 4 Star Military Surplus
Feature: Manufactured in the U.S.A.!
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: 4 Star Military Surplus
Manufacturer: 4 Star Military Surplus
Material Type: Magnesium
Publisher: 4 Star Military Surplus
Studio: 4 Star Military Surplus
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Features
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Manufactured in the U.S.A.!
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: one of the best
Comment: excellent, but alot cheaper at walmart only $5.00 at walmart and no shipping and handleing
Customer Rating:
Summary: Basic and foolproof
Comment: 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 Rating:
Summary: Gets the Job Done
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very reliable if used properly
Comment: This and a Swedish Firesteel are my primary fire tools and have been for the last several years. As long as you patiently create a nice pile of magnesium shavings and strike the flint properly, it is very reliable and you can ignite just about any type of tinder. If you are in a wet climate, I'd recommend this over the Firesteel. Unless you are constantly dealing with wet tinder, you'll find the Swedish Firesteel quicker/easier to use (hotter sparks, as well as greater volume of sparks on the Swedish). I recommend carrying both, as well as a cheap BIC lighter.
Customer Rating:
Summary: TERRIBLE!! DO NOT GET THIS IT WILL NOT WORK!!
Comment: It is impossible to get a pile of shavings from the magnesium with you knife and even if you do get a pile it will not light with the flint. The flint sparks great but the magnesium does not light I put a match to it and it burned for a mili second it is useless!!!!
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Editorial Reviews:
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Government Issue Aviation Magnesium Fire Starter. Made of solid magnesium with striker. Creates hottest natural fire on the planet. Even lights wet materials. Will start 1000's of fires and only measures 1/4" x 1/4" x 3". Includes key chain.
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