Match safes

Rotte

Rotte

Joined
Aug 30, 2008
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I did a search, but didn't see a thread on this subject.

I have the impression everyone here at W&SS seems to be a master of creating fire with a firesteel or flint & steel. Y'all seem to be descended directly from Prometheus. In stark contrast, the folks I camp with look at me like I'm nuts while I try to start a fire with sparks. Q: "Why not use a lighter?" A: "Cuz that's too easy. Just give me few more minutes to get this fire going and we'll dry your clothes out."

However, I never travel into the great outdoors without a few different means of making fire: usually a Bic Lighter, a ferrocerium rod of some kind, and matches. And by matches, I mean dry matches. As a result I've noticed that I've picked up a few match safes over time--usually because I can't find the last one I bought. See the attached image for some of my conventional match safes. I've also used a few other watertight containers as improvised match safes. Of course I've stuck matches in ziploc baggies too.

But as well as being waterproof, a good match safe seems just about bomb-proof and that's why they are my match containers of choice. It's starting to look like a collection, but I know I'm not the only one who has a few. There is even a museum: Internaltional Match Safe Association

Do you use a match safe? If so, show 'em. If not, why not?
 

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I have two of the Silva match safes with compasses in the caps. I also generaly carry a firesteel and tinder kit, plus flint and steel. I regularly practice primitive methods as well.

I believe one should always have several options available for starting a fire.
 
i use a cheapo one i found at the army surplus store:
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Yeah, I use match safes. Cheap ones, I think I got from REI, but they work. I carry Coghlan's water/windproof matches in them and the striker off the box TAPED TOGETHER SO THE STRIKING SURFACE IS COVERED.

I like to work with a ferro rod, but I'm not good enough to go out without matches and a Bic or three.
 
very cool..:thumbup: i need to break down and get one of those K and M matchcases.. i have wanted one for years...:o
 
Mike,

Yeah, you do. It's one of those things that after its gone, you will kick yourself for not getting one. Mine is the extra length model for REI matches.
 
Uhhh - I just recycle plastic pill containers - with original silica gel capsule - I figure if the tablets don't get soggy in the bathroom cabinet then matches should be OK too. Haven't let me down yet but now have firesteels+magnesium block as well cause I'm a belts and braces type - murphy's law has a habit of coming true at the most inopportune times

Must say the proper ones look kinda cool though
 
Only problem with pill bottles is that they won't take a submerging like a matchsafe with a good o-ring seal will.
 
I have a few of the inexpensive orange colored plastic match safes, I think you all know the one I mean, just a simple o ring sealed spin off cap. I had a metal one that was way too difficult to get open, even under idea conditions. I couldn't imagine trying to get it open with frozen hands.
 
Yeah, I have an old Everdry and a Marbles that are metal and similar in construction but not exactly the same and I wouldn't want to be dealing with them with very cold hands.

I think when it comes to the screw off matchsafe from Silva, you could do that. You could definitely do it with the K&M which is a pull and twist (not threaded) and has double O-rings as well.
 
Here are some that I turned myself. I have installed a firesteel in mine to add another level of protection. It has a BCB NATO approved compass in the top and it hard annodized to be a surface that is stronger than steel.

Although I still need to sell one of these (to pay for materials) they are a rip off of the K&M Matchcase. I own a K&M too - and it is awesome - plus Keith is a super nice guy.

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TF
 
I'd just like to say the K & M and Cabela's suck:thumbdn:

They look really cool but the plug type lid is just not that secure.

I have had both models (the K & M is worst) have the lids come off and spilll matches all over my pack. Also the strings get tangled on everything they are in the pocket with:grumpy:

If you have them in a pack that is packed full of gear and go on a trip where you rummage thru your pack and get various things you need then eventually you will (or at least I have) end up with matches all over the pocket.;)
 
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I drip candle wax on my matchheads then put them in a small plastic pill bottle.
 
I made one out of an old AA Mini Maglight. I cut it down to the length I wanted, machined a teflon plug to slightly oversize of the I.D. of the tube, then used JB Weld and pressed into place. Works like a charm.

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hollowdweller said:
I'd just like to say the K & M and Silva suck:thumbdn:

They look really cool but the plug type lid is just not that secure.
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Dude, not my experience at all. I've had the smaller K&M for years, maybe decades, and never had the plug come off. One trick with these is to twist the cap so the lanyard tightens and holds the cap on. The Silva cap screws on so I don't see that coming apart even in a hurricane. I carry my small K&M with me daily in my briefcase or daypack--faithful as a bull terrier. Sorry you've had such bad luck. What do you use now?

I'm completely diggin' the homemade match safes. Too cool.
 
I have a couple of the cheapos like in BarberFobic1992s post, but plan on one of the K & Ms in long brass for REI matches. It's been on my Christmas list for awhile, so maybe Santa will bring it. I've read several reviews in the past from people who use them, and they are all very positive.
 
I use Rotte's technique and never had a problem either. I've been using K&M for years, and love them, both sizes!
 
Rotte said:
Dude, not my experience at all. I've had the smaller K&M for years, maybe decades, and never had the plug come off. One trick with these is to twist the cap so the lanyard tightens and holds the cap on. The Silva cap screws on so I don't see that coming apart even in a hurricane. I carry my small K&M with me daily in my briefcase or daypack--faithful as a bull terrier. Sorry you've had such bad luck. What do you use now?

I'm completely diggin' the homemade match safes. Too cool.
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The Silva one I have goes on the same way as the K and M. Maybe it's not a Silva? I got it from Cabelas I was thinking it was a Silva.

Yeah I have done all the stuff they say to do and they still come open. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I just use matches as a backup.
So on a journey I'm not opening, closing, and retightinging the match case over and over. It's just in there. So stuff rubs up against it. It gets jostled, the string gets tangled in other gear being packed tightly in the pack pocket.


I still use it since it's mainly a backup and I want to have as many sources as possible. But I want to switch to something with a screw top.


Just makes sense to me that a bottle with a screw lid is much less likely to leak than a bottle with a cork in it.
 
hollowdweller said:
I still use it since it's mainly a backup and I want to have as many sources as possible. But I want to switch to something with a screw top.
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In the mean time how about a little electrical tape. That stuff goes a long way to securing and waterproofing.
 
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