“It was the Fourth of July, and there was no fireplace 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 season Outside Retailer 2024 — the Outside Factor Flickr Feather ECD Survival Chisel.
And if one is about to check a “Survival Chisel,” they darned positive higher construct a hearth.
Outside Factor 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.
In brief: The patent-pending Flickr Feather EDC Survival Chisel knife from Outside Factor is three (perhaps 4?) survival instruments constructed into one. Its chisel-ground VG10 stainless-steel blade is manufacturing facility 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 conserving a pointy edge.
All this (and a 115 dB whistle) is available in a single $50 bundle ($40 on the IndieGoGo marketing campaign). It’s not meant for each state of affairs, and survival specialists would possible favor one thing with an even bigger blade and a extra substantial deal with. Nonetheless, as an “EDC survival knife,” the Flickr Feather is totally featured and performs nicely.
If you happen to’re searching 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.
-
Weight (w/ out sheath)
2.3 oz -
Weight (w/ sheath)
4.2 oz -
Blade size
2.50 in. -
Complete size
6.33 in. -
Blade
VG10 full tang, mounted
-
Extraordinarily sharp, sturdy blade -
Works unbelievable for batoning wooden -
Quite a few survival features, together with fireplace beginning, and emergency signaling -
Very inexpensive
-
Cumbersome, awkward for EDC -
With use, ferro rod loses hex form/operate
Outside Factor Flickr Feather EDC Survival Chisel Knife Evaluation
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 Outside Factor’s reasoning for calling this square-tipped, full-tang, 2.5-inch mounted blade an “EDC Survival” device. It may not be your major alternative if issues ever go sideways, however for an emergency survival blade, the Flickr Feather can be a superb EDC or backup choice.
Blade & Deal with Supplies
The VG-10 stainless-steel blade has a Rockwell hardness of 57-59, in line with the model. That’s the best 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, inexpensive 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 typical 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 keen on one thing with an even bigger grip. Utilizing the Flickr Feather nearly seems like utilizing a straight razor. Somebody with actually massive fingers may wrestle to deal with it dexterously.
However the extra I interacted with the Flickr Feather, the extra accustomed to it I grew to become. I had greater than sufficient management with the smaller deal with measurement.
Within the Area
Since I bought my fingers on it, I haven’t gone tenting with out the Flickr Feather. I’ve used the blade to chop nylon wire 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 perfect for that goal.
The sting angle of the blade additionally made it simple 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 have been in use, this was a fantastic backup. It’s a small blade, so I wasn’t ever the quickest prep prepare dinner within the kitchen, but it surely 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, take a look at a number of the knives in our guides to the Finest Pocket Knives, Finest Survival Knives, or Finest Searching Knives for options.
Survival Options
Ferro Rod
The ferro rod is, for my part, the good characteristic 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 possibly can 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 quite a lot of oomph into each strike, and it casts a bathe of magnesium sparks.
On the Fourth of July, after a number of beers, I experimented with my very own fireworks. I found that I may throw sparks as much as 8 ft with this factor — which, for legal responsibility’s sake, shouldn’t be one thing we advise or promote as a characteristic.
The purpose is that it is a highly effective little firestarter. I’d be grateful to have this knife if I have 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 change into uninteresting 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 make sure that your blade is sharp if you want it to be.
The plate will also be eliminated and swapped with the sheath’s clip in the event you favor to put on the Flickr Feather going through the opposite approach (left-handers, rejoice!). The clip will also be rotated to connect in several instructions primarily based on the person’s choice.
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 demise.
The Flickr Feather whistle is vibrant orange and rattling loud. Its neon shade additionally makes the knife simple to seek 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 will make it even bulkier and more durable to justify the “EDC” label. However I feel it could vastly enhance the vary of purposeful use for the Flickr Feather if it have 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 may, but it surely wouldn’t be the simplest or cleanest job. This isn’t a looking or fishing knife.
Lastly, I foresee the ferro rod turning into laborious to unscrew as its hex form deforms from use. The little hex screw within the pommel received’t match it ceaselessly. Nonetheless, Outside Factor foresaw this and sells replaceable ferro rods for this design.
Ought to You Purchase?
If I may solely take one knife into the wilderness and nothing else, there can be a number of on my record. The traditional Okay-BAR looking 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 goal: survival. With the sheath, it’s multifunctional — a fixed-blade multitool. With out its sheath, it’s nonetheless a fantastic knife for slicing, dicing, shaving, and batoning. If you happen to’re into whittling, it could in all probability be a unbelievable blade for that as nicely. 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 set of sister blades just like the Scout and Contour). If you happen to again Outside Factor’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 exchange 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.