Looking for Fire Steels...

[RoaringBull]

I know lots of us have seen the really nice fire starting kits that have the steel attached to the bottom of the bag...

Well I've got a hankering to make me up some of those.

But I don't know where to get the steels.

I'm pretty sure that I can handle the leathering part of the kit, but I kinda need those to make the whole thing work.

Ya'll know where I can get ahold of such a critter?

[LRB]

  You will have to find a smith to make them for you if you can't do it yourself. I don't know of any readily available. The ones I make are sawed out of 1095 steel, and filed to fit my pouch patterns. If you can saw them out and get them ready, I can tell you how to heat treat them easily enough.

 

[RoaringBull]

Much obliged! I believe that I found a smith to make me a couple.

[JCKelly]

If you do not feel like buying annealed 1095 steel from any of a number of sources, just get yourself an old file. Nicholson (the American made ones) are, or were, of 1095 steel. Gotta temper them a bit softer than "file hard", though.

[Elnathan]

Gotta temper them a bit softer than "file hard", though.

I have a bit of broken file with the teeth ground off from the edge but otherwise unaltered, and it sparks very well. It is as good as my Mike Ameling steel, I think.