In the world of bushcraft and survival, few skills are as fundamental—or as satisfying—as starting a fire with a ferrocerium rod and a reliable knife. Whether you're lighting a campfire in the wilderness or preparing for an emergency, mastering this technique is a must for any outdoor enthusiast.
At Casström, we believe the right tools empower the right skills. That’s why many of our bushcraft knives are designed specifically with firesteel use in mind, creating dependable fire-starting combinations that perform reliably in all weather conditions. This step-by-step guide shows you how to start a fire with a ferro rod and knife.
What Is a Ferro Rod?
A ferro rod—short for ferrocerium—is a tool for making a fire in any weather. It is a synthetic alloy of primarily cerium and iron that produces a shower of sparks when scraped with a hard surface, such as the spine of a knife or a dedicated metal striker. Also known as a firesteel. Unlike matches or lighters, ferro rods work in the rain, snow, and wind, making them a staple in any survival or bushcraft fire kit.
Casström’s ferro rods are crafted from high-quality original Auermetall in Austria, known for its consistent spark production, longevity, and resistance to corrosion. When used correctly, they can ignite natural fire lighting material with ease and reliability.
How to Use a Ferro Rod with a Knife
Using a ferro rod effectively requires both technique and the right equipment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure success in the field.
1. Choose the Right Knife
Not all knives are suited to firesteel use. A good bushcraft knife should have a 90-degree spine—sharp and squared—to generate sparks efficiently. Many of Casström’s popular models, such as the Casström No.10 Swedish Forest Knife, are specifically designed with this feature in mind, making them ideal companions for fire-starting.
2. Gather Your Tinder - The lighting material
Before striking a spark, prepare your fire lighting material, or so called tinder. Dry, fibrous materials such as birch bark, fatwood shavings, or even feather sticks work best. Bark may need to be scraped to loosen material that will easily catch fire. Take your time to prepare the material well. You can also carry a small pouch of natural tinder with your kit to ensure readiness in damp conditions.
If you want to carry something to easily catch a spark, a ball of cotton wool smeared with petroleum jelly (commonly known as Vaseline) is a highly effective and reliable tinder. The cotton catches the initial spark easily, and the petroleum jelly acts as a slow-burning fuel, giving you a sustained flame long enough to ignite kindling. It’s lightweight, waterproof (when stored properly), and inexpensive, making it a favourite among bushcrafters and survivalists.
3. Position and Grip - best practice
The basic way to use the fire steel is to hold your ferro rod close to your tinder pile, angled slightly downward. With your knife spine, apply firm pressure and scrape down the rod rapidly. A good alternative technique is to pull the rod back while keeping the knife stationary to increase spark control and prevent knocking over your tinder.
A more advanced technique and best practice if you use the firesteel frequently, is to use the sharp intersections between the scandi grind bevel and the spine – since this blade section will be naturally resharpened every time the knife is resharpened. Both thumbs are held against the front section of the blade to ensure control. This technique requires practice, dexterity and co-ordination to be effective and safe so practice the right technique carefully.
4. Add Some Ferro Rod Scrapings
Before scraping down hard on the rod to create sparks, slowly scraping the fire steel rod to add some shavings of steel from the rod that will catch the fire and increase your chance of successfully starting the fire.
5. Strike with Purpose
You want to create short, controlled bursts of intense heat. The sparks from a high-quality ferro rod like Casström’s Auermetall can reach temperatures over 3,000°C, which is hot enough to ignite even marginal tinder with practice.
5 Tips for Successfully Starting a Fire with a Ferro Rod
- Practice in various weather conditions. Ferro rods are extremely reliable but still require technique and experience.
- Tinder quality and quantity is often the main reason for failure.
- Maintain your knife spine. If it becomes rounded or dulled, it may no longer throw sparks effectively.
- Use dry hands or gloves with good grip in cold environments.
- Keep your fire steel in a dry sheath or pouch, such as the leather or Kydex options we offer with many of our knife/firesteel combos.
Why Casström Knives and Firesteels Stand Out
At Casström, we don’t just sell knives—we engineer tools for real outdoor use. Our knife and firesteel combos are designed and built to give you a balanced, rugged, and efficient fire-starting experience. Our range of bushcraft knives with matching Auermetall ferro rod are favourites among bushcraft instructors and weekend adventurers alike, offering both aesthetic appeal and field-proven performance.
Final Thoughts
Learning to start a fire with a ferro rod and a knife is one of the most empowering bushcraft skills you can develop. With a bit of practice, the right technique, and quality gear, you’ll be lighting fires confidently in any condition.