Why a metal Matchsafe?

[runningboar]

Roughedges,
I am sure that busses are absolutely wonderful knives, and as I said I would love to have one. I was the one that refered to hype, I can't speak from experience I have never used one, yet I find it very hard to believe that these knives and infi steel have near magical edge holding ability and toughness, I certainly don't want the ulgyness in the other thead to bleed over to this one. I would like to read a non biased comparison of infi head to head with more common steels, say cutting cardboard or hemp, and then how easy to resharpen.

I personally have never seen any knife that will do the things that busse claims their knives will, I am a born sceptic and not willing to spend 300 dollars or more to see for myself if it is true. Also I do not like multipurpose knives, my chefs block in the kitchen as well as the drawers are full of knives that are for different things. I typically don't like big knives made from thick stock although they are very good for chopping I don't chop very much, and in my experince they don't cut and slice near as well as a knife with a thinnner edge and blade, which is what I use a knife for most of the time.

Tonight is the last night of coon season and I am going hunting hopefully I will get a couple, my schade knives have proved very capable at cleaning a coon and getting it ready for the pot. Judging from the pictures I have seen I would hate to try to clean any game or fish with the busse knives I have seen. Perhaps I should start a thread on what people in the W/S forum do with thier knives. Chris

 

[Don Rearic]

Don,
It seems 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.

And a SWAT Call-Out, and Media exposure and hype about Columbine, etc., etc., etc., it's a sick society at the moment where what was once good is now bad, I don't know what else to say about it.

I know one thing, we're not better off than we were back then.

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 so many regrets like that, I don't even want to think about them too much. I hope that some young men and women will read those articles and cherish what their parents give them. It's funny how you really can cherish something and in a moment of thoughtlessness or carelessness, it's gone forever.

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 was a time when I could have given you a list of stuff I didn't like and stuff I hated. I've been turned around a bit. I find value in a lot of stuff now.

There is an article in me somewhere that I want to write about breaking a knife and then using the pieces to make stuff or do something with it.

That's the true survival tool = a brain that works.

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.

There has been a lot of hooplah about Busses for quite some time, I've been away, is it worse now? Hahahaha!!!

I think they're good knives too, I just discard a lot of the associated marketing dandruff associated with knife makers and sellers.

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

Chris, I'm going to take you up on that. And thank you for the kind words. I have a Matchsafe article, of all things, that I have had planned for months now, the K&M Matchsafe, if I can get one, would probably be the centerpiece.

I was also thinking of doing an article with it or within it - I like cool names for articles and plays on words and that sort of thing, maybe I should name it, "Light My Fire." Perhaps Mr. Mojo Risin' will smile down on that one.

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

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.

You can use alcohol in it, 151 Bacardi and PGA, etc.

 

[stevetexas]

Hi Y'all,

A zippo will run on just about anything that will burn from a spark.

During WWII, soldiers would carry a zippo and flints and a coil of wire. When they needed fuel they would dip the guts into the nearest gas tank. It stinks but it works.

Normal lighter fluid is naptha.

White gas will work.

Charcoal lighter fluid will work.

Alchohol (inluding high proof booze like 151 rum or Everclear) will work.

And lots of other flamable fluids.

And when all fuel is gone, you can still use the sparks on lint, etc.

Steve

 

[Rescue Mike]

There is all this hooplah about these busses right now, I would love to try one but not for what they cost.

Runningboar.. I was skeptical as well.. I now own several Busse's.. Not saying they are perfect for everything, just that they are good knives! That said, so are Chris Reeves, and TOPS, and Ontario RATS, and Beckers, and.... Yes, even Moras! They just do different things well, and have different pros and cons.. (except Busses, they have no cons, LOL.. Yes it's a joke.. Well, maybe... )

If you (or ANYONE else) every find yourself up here in the Pacific NW, up by Portland Oregon, let me know and I'll bring the Busse's out and we can play with 'em! :thumbup:

DON.. Loved the article.. Looking for a Douk-douk now!!

As for the matchsafe, I am buying one of the K&M, AND one of the plastic screw top ones. The matches go in the K&M, and the plastic one will be filled with cottonballs and vaseline. I just found my film canister popped open again inside my SAR vest.. Tired of cleaning that crap up, so I'll stuff them into a plastic matchcase!

 

[Raymond1000]

Originally Posted by Don Rearic
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.

I bought some K&M match safes last December by mailing them a check. The order arrived promptly.

 

[Vaako]

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.

If you had a lighter like that with a small visine bottle of fluid it would be completely waterproof, and should keep fluid indefintely.

It seems Zippo has answered everyone's needs. Enter the Zippo Fuel Canister, complete with Zippo flint holder and wrench. If it works, it would be a neat fuel container to keep with your Zippo and your match case, yes?

 

[the possum]

The very idea of having to unscrew a relatively small container to get at my fire-lighting gear seems an unsafe practice to me.
...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.

Had I been in a true "survival situation"... I simply would not have been able to get at matches kept in a screw-top container !

I'm glad to hear you've at least practiced methods for lighting the fire with your boot and such, but at the same time I find the above puzzling. In general, if you're hands are too cold to unscrew a lid, then they're probably too cold to use matches effectively as well. If it took you nearly an hour just to get your car unlocked and started because your hands were useless, how long would it have really taken you to get a fire going with matches? I mentioned this a short while back in a thread where folks were talking about that Jack London story where the guy froze to death- he had plenty of matches but his hands were too cold to use them, and every minute he didn't get the fire going he just got worse. I like the way a Zippo can be lit (and stay lit) very easily with only gross motor functions. It would be nice if someone combined this idea with the reliability of various other types.

By the way, if I may be presumptuous, it's really nice to see Don Rearic here again.

 

[tholiver]

By the way, if I may be presumptuous, it's really nice to see Don Rearic here again.

Ditto.
I just spent a couple of days reading articles on his website. Excellent and informative, a real treasure trove of useful knowledge!
http://www.donrearic.com/

 

[Blue Sky]

A previous thread on the K&M matchcase:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420799

Phone number is at the end of the first post.

 

[Don Rearic]

If you (or ANYONE else) every find yourself up here in the Pacific NW, up by Portland Oregon, let me know and I'll bring the Busse's out and we can play with 'em! :thumbup:

I think the Busse thing is a non-issue, it's when personalities get involved that people start to freak and wig out over things, I used to as well. I also think the same personalities that we find so offensive at times also promote the type of rabid fan-base-loyalty which causes flame wars.

DON.. Loved the article.. Looking for a Douk-douk now!!

They're excellent little pockets knives if you understand they're not prybars - my god will they take an edge and they're flat as a pancake. Glad you liked the article.

As for the matchsafe, I am buying one of the K&M, AND one of the plastic screw top ones. The matches go in the K&M, and the plastic one will be filled with cottonballs and vaseline. I just found my film canister popped open again inside my SAR vest.. Tired of cleaning that crap up, so I'll stuff them into a plastic matchcase!

I've been using NATO "British Lifeboat Matches" for years. They are sometimes a bitch to light but burn very well. They are stubborn and prefer their own striker that is glued to the top of the plastic bottle they are packed in.

REI brand matches are longer, I see that K&M have extra length matchsafes for them and that's what I want to get. REI matches are just a tad bit better than the NATO matches but the real great part about buying REI matches are:

1. Available at REI, you don't have to wait for a Brigade Quartermasters order or pay the extra charge for shipping matches.

2. Burn a bit better than NATOs.

3. Each pack has two boxes of matches in it, each box has a plastic sealed carrier with two strikers in it. PLUS, there is a striker on two sides of each box.

4. The strikers will not only light REI matches with one or two swipes, they light the incredibly stubborn NATO matches without having to POP & DRAG them on the striker, you just light them like a regular match.

I bought some K&M match safes last December by mailing them a check. The order arrived promptly.

Thanks for reporting that. The company might be ready for Sainthood, but you just don't know on this thing.

It seems Zippo has answered everyone's needs. Enter the Zippo Fuel Canister, complete with Zippo flint holder and wrench. If it works, it would be a neat fuel container to keep with your Zippo and your match case, yes?

That is the same unit I put in the "Low Tech Knives in a High Tech World" article that I linked to.

By the way, if I may be presumptuous, it's really nice to see Don Rearic here again.

Long time and it's good seeing you again.

Ditto.
I just spent a couple of days reading articles on his website. Excellent and informative, a real treasure trove of useful knowledge!
http://www.donrearic.com/

There were no updates for about three years. I decided last summer to either update it and have some type of regular updates on it or to get rid of it. I chose to update it.

Thanks for the compliments - all.

A previous thread on the K&M matchcase:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420799

Phone number is at the end of the first post.

Gotcha and thanks!

(For future reference 208-826-3447 )

 

[Rescue Mike]

Called and talked to Keith Lunders at K&M today..
Standard size is $19
Large size is $21

$4.05 got mine shipped priority USPS..

He only has the Aluminum, clear color in the large size. I got two of those since I have some REI Storm Matches.

Keith seems like a great guy, looking forward to giving his product a test!

Man, old school craftmanship, and old school customer service. There are a few good guys left in this world!

 

[troutfisher13111]

As for the matchsafe, I am buying one of the K&M, AND one of the plastic screw top ones. The matches go in the K&M, and the plastic one will be filled with cottonballs and vaseline. I just found my film canister popped open again inside my SAR vest.. Tired of cleaning that crap up, so I'll stuff them into a plastic matchcase!

That is the exact set up I am using right now, matches in the K&M, and cotton balls and pj in the cheap plastic match safe. This is my bare minimal kit, the one I carry when I am in small, well known woods.

 

[ajcz]

gey runningboar could i get some of that fatwood that you offered?

 

[bikermikearchery]

I like Zippos but you do have to work with there inherent design flaws. Taking a zippo on canoe or Kayak trips it only takes one splash to dilute your fuel mixture to where it wont light. the solution is plastic bags. Not perfect but thats the fix for every thing in the boating world, put it in plastic. alcohol works very well in a zippo. A stainless steel flask with a high proof vodka will fuel your zippo, your alcohol stove, and your sierra cup.

 

[Don Rearic]

You could really pimp it out and get one of the Otter Box or Pelican Cases that are TSA approved for Zippos.

 

[Blue Sky]

He only has the Aluminum, clear color in the large size.

Did he give you any idea when he would be restocked with the others?

 

[darthstrevel]

I've been using NATO "British Lifeboat Matches" for years. They are sometimes a bitch to light but burn very well. They are stubborn and prefer their own striker that is glued to the top of the plastic bottle they are packed in.

REI brand matches are longer, I see that K&M have extra length matchsafes for them and that's what I want to get. REI matches are just a tad bit better than the NATO matches but the real great part about buying REI matches are:

1. Available at REI, you don't have to wait for a Brigade Quartermasters order or pay the extra charge for shipping matches.

2. Burn a bit better than NATOs.

3. Each pack has two boxes of matches in it, each box has a plastic sealed carrier with two strikers in it. PLUS, there is a striker on two sides of each box.

4. The strikers will not only light REI matches with one or two swipes, they light the incredibly stubborn NATO matches without having to POP & DRAG them on the striker, you just light them like a regular match.

)

thanks don rearic, good info/review on the REI matches. I had not found any reviews favorible or otherwise about them previously:thumbup: There is an REI right by house, I'll have to pick some of them up soon.

 

[Rescue Mike]

Did he give you any idea when he would be restocked with the others?

Nope, he did say that they would be re-stocking them though..

Great guy.. Give him a shout and he'll let you know!

 

[Don Rearic]

thanks don rearic, good info/review on the REI matches. I had not found any reviews favorible or otherwise about them previously:thumbup: There is an REI right by house, I'll have to pick some of them up soon.

Not only that, they are about four bucks for a pack of two boxes, dirt cheap for what you get, less expensive than the NATO matches and light easier. You can use the REI strikers with NATO matches in smaller matchsafes, etc.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Keith at K&M is a true gent.

35mm film used to come in screw top aluminum containers. Guess which packrat saved a couple?

The NATO/"lifeboat" matches are sure fussy about lighting. I jam them into the striker at about a 45 degree angle when I HAVE to light one. I wonder how good that aspect of their use is when they are supposed to be for really dire situations. Oh for the days of Ohio Bluetips.