“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 instrument I’d first seen at Summer time Outside Retailer 2024 — the Outside Component Flickr Feather ECD Survival Chisel.
And if one is about to check a “Survival Chisel,” they darned certain higher construct a fireplace.
Outside Component calls this square-blade chisel an “on a regular basis carry (EDC) survival instrument.” 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 Outside Component is three (perhaps 4?) survival instruments constructed into one. Its chisel-ground VG10 stainless-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 preserving 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 want one thing with an even bigger blade and a extra substantial deal with. Nevertheless, as an “EDC survival knife,” the Flickr Feather is totally featured and performs properly.
If you happen to’re searching for knives, evaluate the Flickr Feather to others on GearJunkie’s guides to the Finest Survival Knives, the Finest Pocket Knives, and the Finest Tactical Knives.
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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, fastened
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Extraordinarily sharp, sturdy blade -
Works unbelievable for batoning wooden -
Quite a few survival capabilities, together with fireplace beginning, and emergency signaling -
Very inexpensive
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Cumbersome, awkward for EDC -
With use, ferro rod loses hex form/perform
Outside Component 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 after they first learn it. True survivalists wouldn’t select this Flickr Feather over a Ok-BAR or, say, the Tom Brown Tracker (the very best total 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.
Nevertheless, in comparison with different survival knives, the Flickr Feather is pretty compact. Within the context of survival instruments, I see Outside Component’s reasoning for calling this square-tipped, full-tang, 2.5-inch fastened blade an “EDC Survival” instrument. It won’t be your major alternative if issues ever go sideways, however for an emergency survival blade, the Flickr Feather could be a superb EDC or backup possibility.
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 fastened blade. The grip is nearly 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 looks like utilizing a straight razor. Somebody with actually large arms would possibly 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 dimension.
Within the Area
Since I acquired my arms 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 preferrred 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, once I was serving to put together dinner and all different camp knives have been in use, this was a high-quality backup. It’s a small blade, so I wasn’t ever the quickest prep prepare dinner within the kitchen, however 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 among 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, in my view, the good function of this multifunctional survival instrument. 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 lots 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 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 grow to be 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 be certain that your blade is sharp if you want it to be.
The plate can be eliminated and swapped with the sheath’s clip if you happen to want to put on the Flickr Feather going through the opposite approach (left-handers, rejoice!). The clip can be rotated to connect in numerous instructions primarily based on the consumer’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 individual could make the distinction between life and loss of life.
The Flickr Feather whistle is vibrant orange and rattling loud. Its neon coloration 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 will vastly enhance the vary of purposeful use for the Flickr Feather if it have been made in a bigger dimension.
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, however it 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 endlessly. Nevertheless, Outside 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 listing. The basic Ok-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 high 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 high-quality knife for slicing, dicing, shaving, and batoning. If you happen to’re into whittling, it will in all probability be a unbelievable blade for that as properly. 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 finances 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 Component’s marketing campaign, you may safe yours for $10 off.
By the top of our weekend in Silverton, I’d acquired multiple curious inquiry about this quirky, multifunctional, and significantly distinctive fastened 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.
