NATO ("Lifeboat") match source?

i believe either brigade quartermaster, or us calvary has them. don't have the catalogs in front of me though.
 
I got off my butt and searched last night. Prices range from $17.99 for a plastic container of 25 to two containers of 25 for $4.99 (the-knife-shop) -- exact same product.

In all cases where the price of the matches is good, the cost of shipping exceeds the cost of the matches. For example, the-knife-shop changes $7.00 S&H for the $4.99 matches.

Other:

888knivesRUS 2/$5.99
bestglide $3.50 each
knifesite 2/$5.00

Local bricks-and-mortar stores have only the cheap (not inexpensive for what you get - just cheap) Coughlin's product -- or worse.

This may be a problem without a really good solution.
 
Wisementrading.com 2/$5.12


They are cheaper in the box vs. the plastic container:

Wisementrading.com 2 boxes/$3.00
the epicenter.com 2 boxes/$2.95
 
I've heard some of the NATO matches have had some QC problems. I have several from years ago, and they still work well. HOWEVER, the thing that bugs me, is that after the chemical burns down to to the wood, it goes out...just a pet peeve. On the other hand, REI has some of the best "survival" matches out there...http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=3664&parent_category_rn=4500638&vcat=REI_SEARCH

Just wax-coated some and put them in the new K&M match container designed for them...and they will continue to burn (on the wood handle) after the chemical burns out.

ROCK6
 
I have "improved" matches for years by wrapping them with paper, then masking tape, and dipping in paraffin. I plan on doing the same to the "NATO-Approved Survival Matches" when they arrive. They'll be fat lil' buggers, but they sould burn hot and for some time. My plain "improved" matches will easily burn from a minute, but without the advantage of the hugh "head" the Nato matches have.
 
I have tried adding plastic, which helps some, but it doesn't match (:D ) the incendiary materials they put on - an 1" long "head."
 
Well, I put in an order to Wisemen. It came to just under $20.00 shipped for two tubes of 25 and six boxes of 25. (Some places charge $7.99 + S&H for one tube of 25.) Mil Spec 9920-99-665-4243.
 
I have made super matches by combining paper ones around a strike anywhere head and some wax, it makes for an impressive flare up. Quite bulky but makes a pretty neat mini-torch and will take some wind.

-Cliff
 
Hmm. If you placed the paper matches like shingles, so the heads were in a row, you'd get the same effect as the NATO matches. I will try it at once.
 
Space them so ideally one section ignites just as the other burns out, they can also be run around as well as down the sides. You can also greatly increase the burn and flare time by using wax which will prevent a mass combustion.

A few years back I did some signaling experiments using those cheap sparklers and doing something similar with matches, if you throw them they are really visible for the full time you can throw them in the air and once lit they are very resistant to being put out.

You could also probably shoot them from a bow for a very high signal. The sparks they throw can't ignite anything, but the core gets *very* hot.

-Cliff
 
Thomas Linton said:
OK, how you know? :)
Click to expand...
I've tried to shoot "flaming" arrows many times, each time using a lesser poundage bow til I got to the kids bow @ about 5lbs. draw weight. Each time the flame blew out from the speed. I finally did make it work with some thought however by making a "cone" of tin(ok,pop can)at the tip so that there was an eddy current behind the cone that gave the flames a chance to survive. The flare-up of matches might work but how would you time it just right and WHY would you chance it not working if it was your only signal.:)
 
Sparklers are not like matches, you can throw them very violently and they won't blow out. You just ignite the strike anywhere head, it ignites the rest of them, the chain reaction will ignite the sparkler and you shoot it.

-Cliff
 
I am NOT hiring that guy for the next siege!


(Try pitch. It's supposed to work for incendiary arrows.)



(These here fire arrows are being shot by experts. DO NOT try this at home.)



(or in Oklahoma)
 
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