Looking good there mate
Right then, I promised to do a write-up so here it is
As a steel its great, easy to hold in a finger pinch type grip (I have a finger steel myself, this one is thicker and therefore easier to hold.... Especially in the 'lovely' weather we've been having recently). Throws sparks like a boss, because the back seems to have a slight radius to it and the ends are well tucked away it doesn't eat the flint (as a steel I once made tended to do due to corners and edges 'biting' and knocking spalls of flint loose)
The minimal sheath is inspired. I love the way that you can use the steel without removing it this makes it even thicker and more grippy (as well as keeping the cutty bit well away from the fleshy bits), The fit is nice as well, theres a definate 'snap' as you ease the blade home.... I feel as if the blade is only going to be freed when I choose to get it out.
Now on to the blade. The thumbnail shape makes scraping really easy and for cutting or slicing you find yourself naturally holding it as if it was a flint flake rather then a knife (between thumb and middle finger with the index resting on the back). Once sharpened it quite happily cut fabric (I was making charcloth), shaved hair off my knuckles and feathered a couple of small bits of wood.
My one criticism is that I think the blade is over tempered as it didn't keep the razor edge as well as I'd expect from a piece of re-purposed file, had it been a bigger blade (something like a Puukko for instance) then the Deep Straw to Yellow temper would be ideal as it would have to combine Hardness with Toughness.For such a small blade,I personally would of either given it a very light temper (Very Pale Yellow) or none at all (All Hard)
ETA, Since found out that E Mac did this one on the hurry-up and that it probably isn't tempered as he wanted it to be.
In short, If you want a handy little bit of firekit and you're not a metal-smasher (like he and I) then you won't go far wrong buying a Feather Forge Salamander
Right then, I promised to do a write-up so here it is
As a steel its great, easy to hold in a finger pinch type grip (I have a finger steel myself, this one is thicker and therefore easier to hold.... Especially in the 'lovely' weather we've been having recently). Throws sparks like a boss, because the back seems to have a slight radius to it and the ends are well tucked away it doesn't eat the flint (as a steel I once made tended to do due to corners and edges 'biting' and knocking spalls of flint loose)
The minimal sheath is inspired. I love the way that you can use the steel without removing it this makes it even thicker and more grippy (as well as keeping the cutty bit well away from the fleshy bits), The fit is nice as well, theres a definate 'snap' as you ease the blade home.... I feel as if the blade is only going to be freed when I choose to get it out.
Now on to the blade. The thumbnail shape makes scraping really easy and for cutting or slicing you find yourself naturally holding it as if it was a flint flake rather then a knife (between thumb and middle finger with the index resting on the back). Once sharpened it quite happily cut fabric (I was making charcloth), shaved hair off my knuckles and feathered a couple of small bits of wood.
My one criticism is that I think the blade is over tempered as it didn't keep the razor edge as well as I'd expect from a piece of re-purposed file, had it been a bigger blade (something like a Puukko for instance) then the Deep Straw to Yellow temper would be ideal as it would have to combine Hardness with Toughness.For such a small blade,I personally would of either given it a very light temper (Very Pale Yellow) or none at all (All Hard)
ETA, Since found out that E Mac did this one on the hurry-up and that it probably isn't tempered as he wanted it to be.
In short, If you want a handy little bit of firekit and you're not a metal-smasher (like he and I) then you won't go far wrong buying a Feather Forge Salamander
