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Your cart is empty.The Tag-Z Doan Fire Starter is an exact replica of the Doan Government Military Issued Fire Starter, adopted by the US Armed Forces for use in their survival kits. This is one life-saving tool no outdoorsman should be without. Its size makes it convenient for pocket or tackle box. You can count on it to work, wet or dry, even with damp kindling. HOW IT WORKS By scraping the "shaving edges" with the blade, you will accumulate a pile of magnesium shavings. Simply scrape the "sparking insert" to ignite the shavings to temperatures of 5400°F, hot enough to light even the most stubborn campfire! STEP 1 Support edge of tool on ground. Scrape narrow side of tool marked "SHAVING EDGE" with knife blade held perpendicular to tool. Amass small pile of magnesium about the size of a quarter next to tinder. (paper. leaves, small twigs, bark, etc.) STEP 2 Support edge of tool on ground within 1" of magnesium shavings at approximately 45° angle. Scrape entire length of side marked "SPARKING INSERT" rapidly with knife held perpendicular to SPARKING INSERT. This action will cause generate sparks, causing the magnesium shavings to ignite, providing a white hot flame. If you don't want to dull your knife, a small hacksaw blade works great!
Retired Teacher
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2025
This is the ONLY magnesium/ferro rod I'll buy again, unless someone else starts constructing them with materials of this quality. I tried this side by side with a Coghlan's brand name bar and a no name type. The quality of the magnesium and the flakes I was able to scrape off of this bar were so much larger and superior in starting ability that it was almost like using two different products. The sparks are large and hot coming off of the ferro rod. This is the bar to trust in your jump kit.
Nor
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024
Este vendedor promete una Réplica DOAN de un encendedor de magnesio de la USAF. Pues bien, podéis ver las fotos de comparación del que vende por 15 € más gastos de envío a España total 25 € contra el que venden en AliExpress por solo 3€ y gastos gratis. Francamente me parece una burla que hasta los chinos hayan copiado exactamente los gravados por ambas caras haciendo un falso DOAN, mientras que este que venden en Amazon color plata ni siquiera tiene los gravados originales en ambas caras. Ni original ni nada, pensé que por fin conseguía una copia bastante fiel pero este vendedor juega con las fotos y no te ofrece nada realmente que sea copia de un original. Así que estoy bastante decepcionado, y además, tengo que advertir que los comentarios de otros compradores son sospechosos, no son de fiar ni verdaderos, mira mis fotos y mira sus fotos y verás quién te dice la verdad.
James S.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2024
The soft magnesium is easy to scrape into a large pile fairly quickly and when struck creates large bright white flames that ignite most things I tested it on. However does create some stringy black stuff that floats around for a bit afterwards (Probably not great to breathe in) but great for fire!
ID
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
You’ll need to make a lot of the magnesium shavings. Like a handful! And you’ll need a way to capture them in a small space. The striker came off and I had to jb-weld it back on. Hopefully I have better options than this in an emergency situation.
RemoteBuyer09
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2024
Delivered earlier than expected.ProsNot made in that far far away land.ConsExpensiveCame in two parts, striking rod loose in pack.If you depended on this you’d be unfortunate…not what you’d expect for the price.Could not recommend until they either use better glue or more of it…..cost save mistake?
matthew skipper
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2023
Still functions properly and I’m hoping I can reattach with a glue gun but just had to leave a review since I paid full price for a damaged item.
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2023
Creates vigorous sparks every time. I have had cheap Chinese versions also, and they barely, if ever, create sparks. As a striker I would not use a knife (it will certainly work, but you will dull the blade quickly). I use a thin 3" steel saw blade, and attach that to the chain of the Doan. (Obviously, you need to unattach the blade in order to use it. You don't even need to drill a retainer hole into the saw blade if you use one of the two ends where it fastens into the saw).
Nathan J Daigrepont
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2023
This isn't the cheap chinese copy that won't spark. This is same fire starter that's used in the military survival kits. I keep one in my pack at all times when I'm out and about in the woods. I've used these Doan starters for years and they work every time. Don't get caught without one. Get one of the real ones for yourself, and all your buddies. These don't fail!
Jeff Smith
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2021
Great product. I don't know if it's the original magnesium bar but I do know it's been around for decades and is the only one that I've seen used in U.S. military issue survival kits. Top quality magnesium shavings that burn much hotter and WAY longer than cheap chinese knockoffs. Doan's bars are two to three times as expensive as the knockoffs--about $12-$15 each--but WELL worth the extra expense. Some people gripe about the expense but look at it this way: is your life worth spending $15 on if you are in a survival situation and desperately need fire? I think mine is.
Jerry Don Quixote
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2021
I was hoping it wasn't going to be the same as the Chinesemade fire starters I scraped some of the magnesium and it really did light well and after you scrape the coating off of the Ferro rod it works the only thing it doesn't have the NSN number but I guess even the Chinese can put an NSN number on something and doesn't make it real but I do believe it's the real thing... But I wouldsuggest trying it out make sure it really is a good one before you just assume it isn't put it in your camping bag or hunting equipment.
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