How many times did your parents tell you not to play with fire when you were a kid? How many of you actually heeded their advice? As an outdoor writer who field tests gear, I sometimes get to play with fire and write about it. Some time ago, I field tested the MORAKNIV Kansbol and Garberg knives, which are both great additions to my hunting gear. When MORAKNIV came out with a Survival Kit that could be utilized with both knives, I agreed to field test it and write up my findings.
Survival Kit Details
The MORAKNIV Survival Kit comes with a Ferro rod, diamond sharpener, and a lanyard. The entire kit weighs merely 2.5 oz and you don’t even know it is there without looking at it. It simply slips onto your sheath and remains secure by design.
Verifying Fitment
Before throwing down sparks, I looked over the Survival Kit to see how it installed on each knife. I own a Garberg and Kansbol, so I verified fitment on both. They have the same outer poly sheath dimensions, so it secured to each without issue. Once on, it fits snug. I dropped it multiple times to try to make it slip off, but it remained on the sheath. If you need to remove it, you can wiggle it a bit and it will come off, but it survived the drop test multiple times. The kit comes with a lanyard for you to attach to the Ferro rod. I went a step further and also tied it off to the sheath, securing the Ferro rod to the sheath. Losing the Ferro rod would be less than satisfactory in a survival situation.
Creative Testing Ideas
Ideas for testing the Survival Kit brought on some imaginative ideas. I wanted to test it in a few ways to see how well it would spark in warm, dry conditions; warm, wet conditions; and cold, wet conditions. For the latter, I had to wait until November/December to test here in California, but it was worth the wait.
Field Test in Warm, Dry Conditions
All “field tests” were performed in my backyard due to extreme fire danger in the mountains. My first test was on some Georgia cotton in cool weather, knowing cotton burns well due to the oils and fiber. I also used lint from my sock. One strike from the spine of the Garberg to Ferro rod produced plenty of sparks. The fire started quickly and easily. I give it a 10/10.
Field Test in Warm, Wet Conditions
The second test was getting the entire Survival Kit and Garberg soaking wet, then trying to start a fire. Temperatures were in the high 50s to low 60s. This time cotton balls were used as tinder for the first round and then toilet paper to make it slightly more challenging. I left the kit in a glass of water for five hours before taking it out and attempting to spark it. I did not dry it off the first time and it took seven strikes before it sparked incredibly. A 9/10 for me as I had to figure out the best way to strike when wet. I ran this test a second time and this time quickly dried the Ferro rod and knife on my pant leg. I was able to produce sparks more rapidly (five strikes) than previous. 10/10 for these results.
Field Test in Cold, Wet Conditions
When many of us hunt, we do so in cold conditions. Some of us hunt in cold, wet, adverse conditions. Months later, I submerged the entire knife and kit in water, left it for five hours in the cold air (mid-forties as it doesn’t get much colder on a regular basis). After three hours, I sat outside with no gloves on while I watched some YouTube hunting videos to pass the time. I wanted to simulate falling into a cold body of water, have my knife submerged and then trying to start a fire. While it was not a perfect test, it worked. Once my hands were numb enough and I knew the kit was cold, I opted to try to start a fire. This time I used strips of copier paper for tinder to make the test more challenging. I crumpled the paper, pulled out the Ferro rod (which took a minute due to my numb hands and a wet sheath) and proceeded to attempt a spark. It took nearly ten strikes for sparks, followed by fire, but given the situation, I was impressed. Being able to start a fire quickly, in cold conditions is paramount. Again, I give it a 10/10 for starting a fire without exerting too much energy.
Before everyone starts sending me hate mail, I understand these were not true survival situations. I did not have trees around in which to peel bark or dried grass to use as my base. I mostly used the tinder I carry with me; toilet paper, sock lint, and dry cotton balls (some are coated in petroleum jelly). Those all worked fine and I recommend trying them yourself before heading out to the woods.
Final Thoughts
The MORAKNIV Survival Kit is a must have for any hunter, hiker, or outdoor enthusiast. It weighs next to nothing and is a great new product. MSRP is $29.99, which is excellent considering if your knife is on your belt, you won’t have to go looking for a fire starter. I wasn’t so sure about the price at first, but after field testing with excellent results, it is well worth the investment. I highly recommend the MORAKNIV Survival Kit and look forward to being able to utilize it when the need arises.
Be First to Comment