Bear Grylls, "flint" my ass
 

Bear Grylls takes a canteen, knife and "flint" with him on his trips. Plus a few other things he sometimes forgets to mention.

Anyway, I've watched him make fires. And I've seen the shower of sparks from his flint that instantly light his tinder.

I know flint, and true flint barely makes a few sparks, none of which will cause a fire to start instantly.

I think this is what Bear is actually using:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...restarter.html

Which has magnesium in it.

I'm going to try and make a fire with a bowdrill, though I can pretty much guarantee that I will fail.

9-volt battery and steel wool. Put the steel wool in amongst your tinder - apply battery. Instant fire.

You should be able to start several fires on a single 9-volt battery (you might want to experiment to determine how many times you can start a fire on a single battery before it runs out of charge).

I've done that before. But it's inelegant in that you don't really want to carry a bunch of steel wool and a 9volt battery.

This mag/flint thing seems to be much more elegant. 3000 uses, and lighter.

I have used this before and it works great.

http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?pid=372221

Why not just take some matches and lighter fluid?

fire from coke can and chocolate bar:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/surv...bar/index.html

Make fire from ice:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/surv...ice/index.html

Fire from water:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/surv...ter/index.html

From two stones:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/surv...bww/index.html

Difference between flint and steel, and ferrocerium and steel. Bear uses the latter.
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/surv...fications.html

if you want to buy a canteen cup like Bear Grylls uses to boil water, armygear.net.

I received my plastic green army canteen, along with canteen cup and canteen case or whatever it is called. Fits on a belt.

Do I think Bear Grylls is all show-business with a setup that is short on common sense and integrity? Pretty much.

But I sure like the idea of my having this canteen setup. Something to boil nasty Trinity River water in, when the going gets rough. :)