Having fettled a couple of MSR Fireflys recently and with an XGK II as a long-time favourite of mine, however much I see these two designs up close and from whatever angle, I'm hard-pressed to even remotely see any family resemblance In the case of the XGK there can be no doubt of the blood-line between it and the venerable Model 9, the production version itself indistinguishable from Larry Penberthy's patent concept Model 9 patent - courtesy of Snowgoose (Stove Ref Library) But the Firefly!!?? Until someone more knowledgeable on the Firefly and its origins chips in I can only speculate on clues on the Firefly carton "... count on MSR for innovation" [I read into that 'keen to introduce something new'] "Developed by climber/physicist Bill Sumner" [So not a Larry Penberthy design then] Conjecture on my part but could it be that a key factor is that from the outset, Bill Sumner (climber) visualised the Firefly would hang in that suspension sling device to offer greater versatility as a mountaineering stove and this requirement largely determined the 'spider's web' design? Alternatively (or perhaps in addition), might it be that Bill Sumner (physicist) couldn't get those darned images of molecules out of his head when hoping to chill out on his stove project? Molecular geometry John
I agree. Other than the remote fuel tank, they're different beasts - seems like there's the 9/G/XGK branch, and then the Firefly/Whisperlite branch. The "hanging" theory for the design is as good an idea as any, I'd think. It would explain both the "spider web" design as well as the flexible fuel line. Still, it's pretty neat - folks who haven't seen one before react like it's a Whisperlite on steroids (and it kinda is). By the way, does anyone have the dimensions/design specs of the original hanging gear (in particular for securing the fuel bottle)?
Greetings, Presscall, Having been into the stove game back when the Firefly was introduced, I remember well why it came to be born. One of the major criticisms of the X-GK, back then, was that the pot supports were too "loosey-goosey", and people complained about not being able to use a larger pot with the X-GK without tipping their food off the pot supports. They also complained that the X-GK would not simmer well, and some of the things written back them were really unkind, and misinformed, IMHO. Last, climbers wanted a stove that could be suspended from a branch, piton, or any other projecting item, whilst hanging on a wall, or bivouaced on a narrow ledge with no room for setting a stove down for cooking. Bill Sumner designed the MSR Firefly to answer those complaints, and in truth, that venerable old stove did a fantastic job of silencing the folks that found fault with the X-GK. But, like everything else, the FF got it's share of criticism, too, with howls that it was "TOO DARNED LOUD", had a flimsy aluminum windscreen (which most folks never bothered to learn how to use properly!), and that the flame control would burn their fingers. I chalk up all these niggling complaints to be "much ado about nothing", as the FireFly, when used properly, is simply sublime in it's performance and design!! I love this stove, and have never had a single failure in many years of using it. Now, there are other stoves that simmer even better. But, the old FF still hangs in there, besting the X-GK in most boiling tests, and definitely leaving it in the dirt when it comes to being able to simmer, too. That's how I remember it, and I bought a FireFly as soon after it was released for sale, and have never found a single fault. Using truncated pots, like those found in the Trapper 81 Meths stove, really make the FF windscreen come to life, and because their fit that windscreen better than squared-bottomed pots, packing the works is a breeze! Others may have a different opinion of the FF, but that's how it was back when it first came into being, and it was, and still is, a truly special and wonderful stove!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Doc, Thanks. What year was the Firefly introduced? I had thought it was before REI, so before X-GK. Ken
If memory serves, REI acquired MSR in 1981. The Firefly was introduced in 1983 (or maybe late '82). I do know for sure that the recall for the leaky valve issue was mid-'83. John
Greetings, All, John is right, in that REI acquired MSR from Penberthy in 1981, which is the same year the original X-GK was unveiled. The FireFly came along in 1982, and as John so rightly remembers, did have a few valve leaking problems. None of mine have ever exhibited that problem, however, so I dodged that bullet, which is OK with me! You might note that the MSR Model G and Model GK were both discontinued as soon as the X-GK was brought out for sale, with only a little overlap, which I attribute to MSR and their dealers using up all their NOS of the G and GK. As most of you know, those MSR stoves are amongst my most favorite, and for many reasons. They continue to hold a very special place in my heart, and probably always will! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi, Yonadav, They are similar in some ways, but really quite a bit different. The biggest difference is that the FireFly is a single fuel stove, and should only be used with Coleman fuel, whilst the Dragon Fly can be used with various fuels (with various rates of success, however. Otherwise, they both simmer, they both roar, but the FF works best with it's original proprietary windscreen, and the fuel control is on the stove, whilst the DF can be used with any regular MSR foil windscreen, but it's fuel regulating knob is also on the stove. Sometimes easier to use the FF because of the windscreen differences, if used correctly. I believe the FF is lighter and folds up smaller, but would have to really compare them again to nail that down as fact. Hope that helps. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Thanks Doc, I had thought, for no apparent reason, that the FF was older than REI purchase of MSR. Ken in NC
