Okay, so I am convinced... my firesteel required support items; like Mg, cotton balls & petroleum goop, fatwood, etc. My BOB will still have it, but perhaps a Bic or two would be better for day hiking. Better still, perhaps I could replace the firesteel in my pocket sheath with a flashlight... great aid at night - or to peer intos holes, caves, etc. The Peak LED Solutions 'Matterhorn' can fit into my KSF pocket sheath - with some stretching. Of course, that costs a bit more than I have for now... too many Barkies, I suppose, since Christmas. It is still on my 'short' list.
I picked up a 2xAAA .5W LED Flashlight at Target for $9.99 + s/t, actually a River Rock (Also known as Nuwai.) TM-311X. The PRC-made light is brighter - and lasts much longer - than the US-made Matterhorn. It's Al bodied - in black - like my black leather sheath and black Micarta Bark River 'Huntsman'. It's max OD is .637" - well above the .503" OD of the Matterhorn - which is greater than the sheath's .375" firesteel design. I tapered several pieces of wooden dowel, with the Huntsman, of course, and wetted them and worked the increasing sizes succesively into the pocket over a few days time, halting at a nominal .618" (5/8" dowel) - and letting the sheath dry overnite with the largest dowel installed. The R R light is tight - I probably should find a slightly larger dowel. It does work - to stretch the leather. I fear I have reached the limits of it's elastic modulus... the sheath's pocket has the same worried look my belt has after a Mex dinner. I would caution against doing what I've done.
Maybe a smaller flashlight, like a Micro-Mag 2xAAA - with an LED conversion, would have been easier. No doubt, that Matterhorn light has several definite pluses - US-made, it fits more easily, and neat looking. I'll get another sheath, in brown, and a Matterhorn, maybe in brass, with my economic adjustment/enhancement check... yeah, that should look better than my 'woods ninja' set-up now... Of course, that cheapo light really works quite well.
This fits the front pockets of my cargo-style pants perfectly - a bit close in jeans, however. Still, a useful pair - and out of sight - for day hikes.
Stainz
I picked up a 2xAAA .5W LED Flashlight at Target for $9.99 + s/t, actually a River Rock (Also known as Nuwai.) TM-311X. The PRC-made light is brighter - and lasts much longer - than the US-made Matterhorn. It's Al bodied - in black - like my black leather sheath and black Micarta Bark River 'Huntsman'. It's max OD is .637" - well above the .503" OD of the Matterhorn - which is greater than the sheath's .375" firesteel design. I tapered several pieces of wooden dowel, with the Huntsman, of course, and wetted them and worked the increasing sizes succesively into the pocket over a few days time, halting at a nominal .618" (5/8" dowel) - and letting the sheath dry overnite with the largest dowel installed. The R R light is tight - I probably should find a slightly larger dowel. It does work - to stretch the leather. I fear I have reached the limits of it's elastic modulus... the sheath's pocket has the same worried look my belt has after a Mex dinner. I would caution against doing what I've done.
Maybe a smaller flashlight, like a Micro-Mag 2xAAA - with an LED conversion, would have been easier. No doubt, that Matterhorn light has several definite pluses - US-made, it fits more easily, and neat looking. I'll get another sheath, in brown, and a Matterhorn, maybe in brass, with my economic adjustment/enhancement check... yeah, that should look better than my 'woods ninja' set-up now... Of course, that cheapo light really works quite well.
This fits the front pockets of my cargo-style pants perfectly - a bit close in jeans, however. Still, a useful pair - and out of sight - for day hikes.
Stainz
I should be starting another round of these soon...once I get back into the shop. 