Flicker Feather Survival EDC Chisel Blade Assessment

“It was the Fourth of July, and there was no hearth ban in San Juan County, Colo. That was excellent news as a result of I used to be about to check a wild new device I’d first seen at Summer time Out of doors Retailer 2024 — the Out of doors Component Flickr Feather ECD Survival Chisel.

And if one is about to check a “Survival Chisel,” they darned positive higher construct a fireplace.

Out of doors Component calls this square-blade chisel an “on a regular basis carry (EDC) survival device.” Its chisel-edged blade has a sheath with a sharpening plate, survival whistle, hex driver, and ferro rod.

It was time to chop some wooden and throw some sparks.

Briefly: The patent-pending Flickr Feather EDC Survival Chisel knife from Out of doors Component is three (possibly 4?) survival instruments constructed into one. Its chisel-ground VG10 chrome steel blade is manufacturing unit sharp, and the 90-degree backbone helps the included ferro rod throw an efficient bathe of sparks for firestarting. The sheath’s diamond sharpening plate can be useful for retaining a pointy edge.

All this (and a 115 dB whistle) is available in a single $50 package deal ($40 on the IndieGoGo marketing campaign). It’s not meant for each situation, and survival consultants would doubtless favor one thing with a much bigger blade and a extra substantial deal with. Nonetheless, as an “EDC survival knife,” the Flickr Feather is totally featured and performs effectively.

For those who’re looking for knives, examine the Flickr Feather to others on GearJunkie’s guides to the Finest Survival Knives, the Finest Pocket Knives, and the Finest Tactical Knives.

Out of doors Component Flickr Feather EDC Survival Chisel Knife Assessment

Earlier than we dive in, what the heck is an EDC survival chisel? That time period gave my editors pause once they first learn it. True survivalists wouldn’t select this Flickr Feather over a Okay-BAR or, say, the Tom Brown Tracker (one of the best general survival knife on our information to the Finest Survival Knives). And for conventional EDC carry functions, the Flickr Feather is cumbersome in comparison with most pocket knives.

Nonetheless, in comparison with different survival knives, the Flickr Feather is pretty compact. Within the context of survival instruments, I see Out of doors Component’s reasoning for calling this square-tipped, full-tang, 2.5-inch mounted blade an “EDC Survival” device. It may not be your main alternative if issues ever go sideways, however for an emergency survival blade, the Flickr Feather could be a wonderful EDC or backup possibility.

Blade & Deal with Supplies

The VG-10 chrome steel blade has a Rockwell hardness of 57-59, in accordance with the model. That’s the perfect hardness for many general-use knives. The Flickr Feather’s VG-10 additionally has 15.5% chromium in its chemical content material (for you supplies nerds on the market). It’s an excellent, reasonably priced knife metal that makes for sturdy edges.

The deal with is ergonomic for being so small. The G10 composite scales used for the knife deal with are extraordinarily sturdy and have a pleasant easy texture to the contact.

Holding this blade doesn’t actually really feel like holding a regular pocket knife or mounted blade. The grip is sort of spindly in comparison with most blade handles. It took some getting used to, and I’m nonetheless a fan of one thing with a much bigger grip. Utilizing the Flickr Feather virtually seems like utilizing a straight razor. Somebody with actually large fingers may wrestle to deal with it dexterously.

However the extra I interacted with the Flickr Feather, the extra accustomed to it I turned. I had greater than sufficient management with the smaller deal with measurement.

Within the Subject

Since I obtained my fingers on it, I haven’t gone tenting with out the Flickr Feather. I’ve used the blade to chop nylon twine and fishing line. It’s opened firewood bundles, batoned and shaved tinder, sliced sausage and cheese, and diced jalapenos.

Batoning (splitting wooden by hammering the backbone and driving the blade’s edge downward) was a pleasure with the Flickr Feather. The blade’s thickness and form made it excellent for that objective.

The sting angle of the blade additionally made it straightforward to make wooden shavings for firestarter.

As a cooking knife, I wouldn’t throw out your camp cooking staple but. However in a pinch, after I was serving to put together dinner and all different camp knives had been in use, this was a high quality backup. It’s a small blade, so I wasn’t ever the quickest prep cook dinner within the kitchen, nevertheless it was serviceable.

The Flickr Feather wouldn’t be an excellent knife for gutting fish or animals or for tactical functions, because it doesn’t have a pointed blade. If that’s a deal breaker for you, try a number of the knives in our guides to the Finest Pocket Knives, Finest Survival Knives, or Finest Looking Knives for alternate options.

Survival Options

Ferro Rod

The ferro rod is, for my part, the best function of this multifunctional survival device. It’s a hex-shaped rod with screw threads, so that you flip it to stay out or to be tucked flush with the sting of the sheath. You’ll be able to unscrew it with the hex driver on the blade’s pommel.

I’ve used ferro rods earlier than, however I’ve by no means used such an efficient setup. The thick blade of the Flickr Feather permits me to place a whole lot of oomph into each strike, and it casts a bathe of magnesium sparks.

On the Fourth of July, after a couple of beers, I experimented with my very own fireworks. I found that I might throw sparks as much as 8 ft with this factor — which, for legal responsibility’s sake, is just not one thing we advise or promote as a function.

The purpose is that this can be a highly effective little firestarter. I’d be grateful to have this knife if I had been stranded on a desert island (although I’ll in all probability nonetheless use my Bic when I’ve the choice).

Diamond Sharpening Plate

Ought to your Flickr Feather blade’s edge turn out to be boring or chipped from use, you may sharpen it within the discipline with its sheath. Screwed onto the surface of the sheath is a small diamond sharpening plate. It’s no whetstone, however in a pinch, you may be sure that your blade is sharp while you want it to be.

The plate may also be eliminated and swapped with the sheath’s clip for those who favor to put on the Flickr Feather dealing with the opposite method (left-handers, rejoice!). The clip may also be rotated to connect in several instructions primarily based on the person’s desire.

Whistle

I’ve by no means had to make use of a survival whistle, and I hope I by no means have to. However when catastrophe strikes and also you need assistance however can solely scream so loud, having a 115-decibel whistle in your particular person could make the distinction between life and dying.

The Flickr Feather whistle is shiny orange and rattling loud. Its neon coloration additionally makes the knife straightforward to search out within the chaotic disarray of my tent/truck.

Downsides to the Design

Proper up entrance, I’ll go forward and say it: I want this knife had an additional inch of size. (Belief me, Mike, it’s a praise; we simply need extra of your knife.)

I do know, I do know — that might make it even bulkier and tougher to justify the “EDC” label. However I believe it might vastly enhance the vary of purposeful use for the Flickr Feather if it had been made in a bigger measurement.

The blade’s form additionally makes it imperfect for sure actions. As talked about, you may’t use this survival chisel to intestine fish or animals. I imply, you might, nevertheless it wouldn’t be the simplest or cleanest job. This isn’t a searching or fishing knife.

Lastly, I foresee the ferro rod changing into exhausting to unscrew as its hex form deforms from use. The little hex screw within the pommel received’t match it endlessly. Nonetheless, Out of doors Component foresaw this and sells replaceable ferro rods for this design.

Ought to You Purchase?

If I might solely take one knife into the wilderness and nothing else, there could be a couple of on my checklist. The basic Okay-BAR searching knife. My trusty Benchmade Bugout. Something from Montana Knife Firm. However after having used the Flickr Feather for a few months on quite a few tenting journeys, I’d in all probability add it to my prime 5.

It’s a blade with a objective: survival. With the sheath, it’s multifunctional — a fixed-blade multitool. With out its sheath, it’s nonetheless a high quality knife for slicing, dicing, shaving, and batoning. For those who’re into whittling, it might in all probability be a improbable blade for that as effectively. It simply received’t stab, fillet, or intestine stuff very elegantly.

At simply $50, the Flickr Feather can be very budget-friendly. It’s cheaper than all however two of our Finest Survival Knives and has extra options than both of these different price range choices. The patent-pending design remains to be on IndieGogo (with a group of sister blades just like the Scout and Contour). For those who again Out of doors Component’s marketing campaign, you may safe yours for $10 off.

By the tip of our weekend in Silverton, I’d acquired multiple curious inquiry about this quirky, multifunctional, and significantly distinctive mounted blade. It received’t substitute my different EDC or survival knives. However I nonetheless intend to maintain my Flickr Feather with my tenting gear as a backup or emergency blade if I ever want one.