Why a metal Matchsafe?

L

Longstrider

Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
230
I've seen quite a few posts about these posh brass or aluminium Matchsafes on the forums and I've often wondred just why folks carry them. The very idea of having to unscrew a relatively small container to get at my fire-lighting gear seems an unsafe practice to me.
The one time that it is VITAL that you get a fire going is when you are cold. Not just chilly but, C-O-L-D. I've been hypothermic and I know all too well how disabling it is to be that way, my hands simply did not work anymore.
I had been out shooting in some pretty bad weather, and like a fool I allowed myself to become too cold for good health. I walked through the sleet a couple of miles back to my car and then spent the most frustrating 35 minutes of my life trying to work the key into the door and turn it so that I could get in. (This was before central-locking came into my world ) I then spent another 20-odd minutes fumbling around trying to get the key into the ignition and get it turned. Once the engine was running and the heater was on full-blast it took me a couple of hours before I felt well enough to drive home.
Had I been in a true "survival situation" with no car to use as a refuge from the weather I would have really needed a fire to stave off the cold. I simply would not have been able to get at matches kept in a screw-top container !

I keep my waxed strike anywhere matches in a plastic film cannister these days. If I really need to I can "open" this with my boot. I have even practiced the technique of bunching up tinder and kindling with mittens on and putting the film cannister on the ground with it so that I could "scuff" it with my boot causing the matches to ignite against one-another and light my fire for me in case I should ever find myself in a similar situation again.
 
If you Can Open it with a boot it can come open in a pack like if you fall in water. The screw top containers seal better and are more resistiliant.

Part of being able to survive is having common sense enough to seek shelter Before you get that cold if possible.

Your argument has validity as I have read of the practice of keeping matches sticking out of the box in scandanavian Ice fishing cabins so that peple can light them with their mouths if their hands are too cold to strike a fire.

This same argument could be made against reliance on ferro rods or in favor of things like the blast match.
 
Like EMS said, one should take corrective action before getting to the point you described. Of course, tere are times when you could be instantaneously thrust into those conditions, so having a workable plan is a good idea. There are times where your hands are too cold to do what you tell them to do. Usually, it would be better to warm them up for a couple of minutes by stuffing them in your armpits. Once you have a little bit more motor control over your fingers you'll be better set to light a fire or insert a key in a lock. I carry a small reusable chemical heat packs in each pocket. You "click" a metal button and that causes them to heat up.

I've heard at least one survival "expert" speak against the metal match cases, for the same reason you describe. I have this one, and I don't like it. It isn't very easy to open when I'm warm and dry, much less when cold and shivering. In my opinion it is needlessly complicated. ($2.35)
campingsurvival_1936_125153064



I saw this one at Cabelas, and thought it looked pretty good. Easier to open than the first one. ($20)
i516126sn01.jpg


This one is about a buck and has an o-ring for waterproofness. If your hands were just too far gone you could probably stomp it open. You might destroy your matches, though! ;)

campingsurvival_1936_61243879


You could always just use a 35mm film cannister if you had short matches. (or cut them down)

-- FLIX
 
I dont Like the cabellas one, its really heavy. The aluminum ones others have had on this site Seem more intelligent.

The cheap orange plastic ones are really easy to open.
 
The Cabelas pictured above is a cheap knock-off of the K&M matchcase for the same price. The K&M does not have a threaded cap. Instead its kept tight with a "press-fit stopper that is held securely in place by the lanyard loop which provides a positive lock but allows quick and easy access to the contents".

These are really high quality. If you could grab the cap and pull, you have access to your matches. They come in either brass or aluminum to save weight.

http://kmmatchcase.safeshopper.com/index.htm?566
 
I have both the brass and plastic types, exactly as Flix pictured, the metal one is like trying to open a child proof prescription bottle, the plastic one does not take much effort to open, you could twist the top off with your mouth if need be. They work for me, they are light in weight, bright in color, and the price is right.
 
When was the last time anyone here ordered a K&M Matchsafe?

I read through their webpage and I have to say, I would like to give their MS a spin.
 
Is a good old fashioned Zippo not a good option when going into the woods? Fits easily in your pocket, can have a lanyard taped around it so you can strap it to your pack, and it doesnt appear to take more dexterity to use it than to unscrew a cap and strike a match. I carry mine in a very small ziplock bag. I think the knife would get it out of there. Good idea or bad?
 
zippos are good because they light. and light, and light.... in pretty much any conditions. the problem with them comes in during longer trips when the lighter fluid starts drying up. Carrying one is not a bad idea but I would not want to rely upon it as my primary method of making fire.
 
IMO someone needs to start manufacturing a Zippo style lighter machined from billet aluminum or brass, O ring sealed screw on body and top that will keep the fluid in there for a long time. If you had a lighter like that with a small visine bottle of fluid it would be completely waterproof, and should keep fluid indefintely. Alcohol evaporates very rapidly yet I store my trangia full of fuel and with the screw on o ring lid I never have a problem with evaporation.

:o Sorry about my thread hijacking just kind of thinking out loud. Chris
 
My thoughts sort of go in the opposite direction. I would like to use the Zippo as my primary method of lighting a fire and depend on matches or flint etc: as a backup. Seems like the zippo would light more fires in, oh say a weeks time, than the handfull of matches that can be carried in the small waterproof container. You only get one shot per match. I know that they dry up but they will fire off many times before they run out of fuel if they are full when you head out. Longer trips of course would require a backup. They might also not dry out so easily in the plastic baggie I referred to. Just a thought. Not intending to hijack the container thread, just thinking in print.

BTW: I have a few of the plastic version of the match containers from Cheaperndirt. Cheap and effective with rubber seal around the lid. I would hate to have to stomp them into the ground to open em. They seem pretty tough.
 
Don Rearic said:
When was the last time anyone here ordered a K&M Matchsafe?

I read through their webpage and I have to say, I would like to give their MS a spin.
Click to expand...

I know their on-line ordering system is down. Call them up and see what they have for inventory.
 
troutfisher13111 said:
I know their on-line ordering system is down. Call them up and see what they have for inventory.
Click to expand...

Do you have their number? I might be going blind, I don't know, but I didn't see a number.

runningboar said:
IMO someone needs to start manufacturing a Zippo style lighter machined from billet aluminum or brass, O ring sealed screw on body and top that will keep the fluid in there for a long time. If you had a lighter like that with a small visine bottle of fluid it would be completely waterproof, and should keep fluid indefintely. Alcohol evaporates very rapidly yet I store my trangia full of fuel and with the screw on o ring lid I never have a problem with evaporation.
Click to expand...

Well, you don't need to use a Visine or similar bottle, which would probably prove to be a bad idea in the long run...sometimes lighter fluid and other fuels deteriorate plastics...

There is a better idea, however.

I published this article on my website back in October, "Low Tech Knives in a High Tech World." There is something in there you might find of interest!

Here you go: http://www.donrearic.com/lotechhitech.html

If you like that article, you will probably find this three part series entertaining as well, starting off on this page and just follow the links at the end of each one. Here you go: http://www.donrearic.com/kstuff1.html

You will also get a feeling that I find real value in old things as well as new things and have a love for all of the old knives most people just think are garbage now.

Have fun.
 
I have a relative that needs to monitor their blood sugar. The containers their test strips come in are flip lid (easy to open) and water proof. I got some of their empty containers, and store my waterproofed (I make my own- so it's cheap) matches in them. Compact to carry too.
 
Re Zippos. I used to collect them but i stopped carrying them in my pocket because the fuel used to leech out and irritate my skin. Also regardless of use they generally need to be refilled every week or two.
However recently i decided to experiment a little. As i have four or 5 zippos on hand i mixed and matched different shells and guts. Basically i frankensteined a super tight fitting zippo.Basically its a brass shell Zippo body with the guts from one of the regular chrome zippos. I've been carrying it in a zippo leather sheath on my belt for a couple of months. I don't know if its just the tight fit (or maybe sheath carry affects it positively somehow) but I 've been getting 3-4 weeks out of a single fill before it gets dried out.
 
Don,
Itseems me and you came from very similar backgrounds, I think it is funny that when I was in school and someone needed a really sharp pocket knife, teacher or student, they came looking for me. I carried a schrade with carbon steel, I had no problem with rust because I took care of it, stockman and the main blade would pop the hairs off your arm. My son is a Jr in high school now and if he was caught with the same knife in his pocket it would be instant expulsion. I left that knife on on a rock fishing in the creek behind my grandpas house and when I went back to look for it the next day it was gone, I replaced it with a case copperhead that I still have.

I have tried all the whiz bang steels in the new knives, carried a spyderco and a benchmade afck, I have decided that I like the old steels better and carry a queen in 1095 or my necker now. Sure they don't hold an edge as long but plenty good enough and I can pull out my double sided ceramic sharpener and get them back to shaving sharp quick.

There is all this hooplah about these busses right now, I would love to try one but not for what they cost. I don't know if I would like it though, it seems to me anything that chops concrete with no damage would be a pure bitch to sharpen.

Thank you for those links, I did enjoy the articles and if you would like to try what I call real fatwood, off that same stump in my picture drop me an email. Chris
 
tholiver said:
...I don't know if its just the tight fit (or maybe sheath carry affects it positively somehow) but I've been getting 3-4 weeks out of a single fill before it gets dried out.
Click to expand...

Maybe a little of both. I think mostly the tight fit, in any case it's an interesting thought.

I wonder if a light smear of silicone sealeant around the top of the inner part would help as well? Sure, it would peel off after being pulled apart a couple times, but it might be worth it.

P.S, Don, I just read that article you posted. I had to chuckle... my Dad showed me to keep extra flints under the pad, I didn't know it was a hardcore trick, I just thought they were meant to go there :D

I've heard you can use other fuels like gasoline in a Zippo, what about alcohol such as you might have with your stove? I don't have a Zippo handy or else I'd try it.
 
I used to carry one of the coughlan (at least I think they made it) plastic match cases that was part compass, part match case. Its durability left much to be desired though... the compass popped out and the striker area soon vanished.

runningboar: I like your idea for a sealed zippo. If someone started manufacturing one as you described it I would start to carry one again in addition to the 2 or 3 other tools I have for making fire. :)

Regarding the sharpening of Busses, I do not wish to hijack this thread, so please see the thread I started here in the w&s subforum today. I think you would be pleasantly surprised and I am happy to answer any questions that I can.
 
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