Thanks to Otis, I now have a new PSK idea.

[hwpaintballer]

I just saw his thread on how to use a reflector from a mag lite to start a fire... Well I realized i had an old mag lite that I keep in the truck that only seems to work half the time, so an idea hit me. empty out the 2-3 D' batteries (can't remember if it was 2 or 3) and use the space in the tube for a psk. More room than an altoid tin, screw on flashlight head so it'll be secure, maybe even water proof, I'll update this thread later when I get it put together.


A BIG THANKS OTIS WILLIAMS :thumbup:

 

[gallonoffuel]

If it's a 3D, you could also get an LED drop-in designed for 2Ds, and make a hollow spacer for the 3rd cell. Fill that with your small survival items. Or use a 3AA->D adapter, and make a 2D cell spacer for your stuff. Then you'd have a working light and your PSK. It still might be bigger and heavier than a normal PSK, but definitely worth keeping in the truck. Also keep in mind that maglites are weather resistant, not waterproof. The weak link in the chain is the rubber boot that covers the switch. A piece of bicycle tire inner tube covering that area of the body does well to keep out a lot of water.

I have a brand new spare 3D kicking around, I might have to build something like this. Thanks for the idea! Maglites aren't really good for anything but tearing apart and modding.

 

[Don Rearic]

The old company, Lifeknife, they used to make the hollow handled survival knife that everyone else copied even more cheaply, with the bottle opener topside on the blade and the large, bulbous compass for a tailcap. They also made the Lifeknife Commando, The Trailmaster, the Floatknife, a folding knife with a hollow handle, believe it or not...they had a hiking staff with a compass for a top cap and you had survival kit in the staff...and, not to be outdone, they had the Lifelight or Lifelite. One of the batteries was a dummy and that's where the kit was stored.

I have been looking around for years for the staff, the light, the folding knife and a couple of the others to do an article on. No such luck. There must have been tens of thousands of them made, at least.

 

[PayetteRucker]

Interesting. The convex reflectors from flashlights make spectacular firestarting tools-you stick a cigarette (I ALWAYS carry a pack in my survival kit-for bartering, bribing, firestarting, or even as a travelling flame type deal... ) through the hole and focus the ray of light on the tip. point it towards the sun and in a very short period of time you'll have a cigarette that will burn for 5-6 minutes and give you plenty of time to transfer flame to kindling.