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Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Fire Starter | 
 enlarge | Brand: 4 Star Military Surplus
Category: Sports
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $7.95
You Save: $12.04 (60%)
Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 436
Media: Misc.
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
ASIN: B0002X1IOM
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Manufactured in the U.S.A.! |
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Product Description
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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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 little tough to use December 27, 2008
Patrick J. Gorman (Rhode Island)
In case of emergency I could get it to work. I found it tough to get enough magnesium together and the flint seemed to glaze over with use. At least it's water proof.
 Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Fire Starter December 22, 2008
Robert E. Stewart (New Orleans, LA USA)
This is part of my survival kit. I haven't used it yet but believe it will do just fine when the time comes.
Fun! November 22, 2008
Paul R. Lanhart (Burnsville, MN United States)
Although most folks might look at this as a survival tool, I'm not usually in a situation where we need to use it as such. It's great when camping though to start a fire using this and for teaching my kids how to really build and start a fire in a way that could save them if they ever WERE in a survival situation. Works great and a good price.
one of the best November 20, 2008
Robert Mallory (virgini, america)
excellent, but alot cheaper at walmart only $5.00 at walmart and no shipping and handleing
Basic and foolproof November 8, 2008
M. Thompson (Alaska)
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.)
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