Firesteel Ferrocerium Ferro Rod Blank 1/2" x 5"

Here is a video by me showing their use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS8TJAXC9zQ

These firesteels are mostly mischmetal (German for "mixed metal"), an alloy of rare earth metals that does more than just create sparks. What comes off these firesteels when you scrape them are more like molten globs of metal, burning much longer than a spark from a flint. They burn so long that you can stand up, scrape the firesteel, and watch the globs bounce on the ground.  The firesteels also have iron and magnesium in the alloy and also go by the names ferro rod, metal match, ferrocerium, and many others.

Firesteels are the perfect tool for a lightweight, reliable fire starter. Water is no problem for firesteels. Get yours wet and just wipe it off before using. They can be scraped with almost any sharp edge to produce sparks, but the squared off spine (back) of a knife blade or the back of a hacksaw blade (not the teeth) both work particularly well. To use, just stick the firesteel down into the tinder and scrape along the firesteel with a quick motion and decent amount of pressure. The shavings will ignite and fly off of the firesteel into the tinder, and if you are using the right tinder, it will flame up or create an ember quickly and easily.