teaching people to use cutting edge on flint

Eh. I never use the blade, only ever the spine of a knife, and even then I prefer the striker that came with my LMF rod, but I know people use their knife edges to strike firesteels. Usually seems to be the bit very closest to the handle so it won't really affect the useable cutting edge. Not that big a deal.
 
I use the striker or spine of a blade. No need to search for a "sharp" spine, can get the job easily done with file and sandpaper.

I prefer to keep my edge nice and sharp, so I never use it with my firesteel. When I see people using the edge it hurts.
Another reason I don't prefer the edge is that I saw once a guy using the edge; he was striking a couple of times to get a fire, but because of his sloppy motion he managed to get a bad cut in his hand. So using the spine would be safer as well.
 
I personally wouldn't do it, especially not in the blade area closest to the handle, as this usually is the area I use/need most. It just don't makes sense if you can use the spine/ a striker.
 
On the Bushcraft knives I make, I put a half circle notch at the end of the cutting edge near the handle just for this stuff. I can then sharpen all the way to the edge, strip wire (it is a 90 degree grind across the blade edge), and strike my flint on it (usually 3/16" diameter rod) and not damage anything. I also get more sparks from the half round notch. But never on the edge...you get more sparks from the 90 degree edges.
 
To be hoonest, he isn't striking flint. But no, with either flint or ferrocerium, I've always used the spine if I had to use my knife as a striker. an exception is a knife with an unsharpened choil which would not be damaged by using it as a striker.

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Well never say never.Once when out playing around getting a fire up at night,i inadvertantly used my blade edge as the striker front,was hitting some flint.When I realized it was too late.Sure made a mess of that blade had to use a file to straighten it up.Lesson learned
Maybe that fella uses that part of the blade near the handle and has it profiled square for striker use.
 
I used the edge on my SRKW M6 to strike a pretty hard ferro rod. Took a small bit of the edge off. Not enough it wouldn't sharpen out but enough to make it very dull. Last time I did that. Also, I never saw so many molten balls of fire fly everywhere.:D
 
I would suggest (especially since I watched the series and have some understanding of how survival-smart these people were) that he was showing them the way to make fire when top priority is fire.

To expand a bit on this...if he showed them to use the spine of the knife, that is what they would have tried. Perhaps the knife they found would not have a sharp spine? Perhaps they would cut themselves with the edge facing up? Better to have a dull knife and fire in Alaska, than a sharp knife and no fire (and possibly an injury that resulted from much ignorance and frustration from numerous failed attempts to make sparks with a rounded spine).

My point is, WE know that there are better ways that will preserve your edge, these people were generally using folding knives and they appeared quite dull anyway (I am almost certain that they spines of the knives they had would not have worked well). Further, any time they had a Swiss steel, they also had the striker that came with it.

Let us not forget this was filmed for the general public who will likely never use these techniques. If they do use them, it will probably be to serve their curiosities (so best to teach the way that works for its intended purpose - fire).

FWIW, there are quite a few that teach using the edge. My ESEE fire started puts it in writing;)

Fire Kit Instructions & Fire Building Tips:
Fire building is a step-by-step process with preparation being the key to success. Sources for reliable tinder that will catch readily from a small spark are bird and mouse nests, various tree barks, dead grasses, pocket lint, dry leaves or pre-packaged tinder. Once you have a good tinder bundle, gather progressively larger wood and have this ready before starting your fire.

Hold the fire starter over the top of your tinder bundle, then place the knife edge at the top of the flint rod and quickly move the fire starter backwards allowing the knife edge to scrape down the flint rod while holding the knife still. Keep striking until your sparks hit the tinder and ignite it. Using this method, you will avoid hitting and scattering your tinder bundle and also keep the sparks directed into the tinder. Once you have a flame, add more tinder and begin placing smaller, dry sticks over the top. Progressively build the fire bigger.

On rainy days it may be necessary to build a makeshift fire shelter from large leaves such as palm or fern fronds, dead branches, or by using the underside of a large log to protect your startup fire. When gathering firewood, always search out standing dead wood since it sheds more water than dead wood lying on the ground. The middle portions of standing dead trees will be dry. You can also break apart fallen dead wood for the drier center portion.

In a worst-case scenario, you can also use various items from a first-aid kit to help start a fire. Some insect repellents, ointments, alcohol prep pads, hand sanitizers and other first aid items are highly flammable.
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