Why a metal Matchsafe?

the possum said:
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.
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Hey possum,
I don't know if this is what you're referring to or not, but a Zippo can be opened by running the lighter against your pant leg. It can also be lit in the same way by running the sparker wheel against your pant leg, so, if you can hold a Zippo, you can light a Zippo. If you can't hold a Zippo, you're probably screwed, anyway.

As far as fuel evaporation goes, if I'm heading out to the bush, I fill my lighter. If I'm going for a longer stay, I take a small can of lighter fluid with me - no big deal. The benefits of a Zippo:

- not affected by cold temperatures,
- can be lit and set down while continuing to burn in case you need to
use both hands to manipulate something in the flame,
-the aforementioned ease in lighting,
-the versatility of multi fuel use.

I also saw on this forum, the use of ranger bands (bands of bicycle tire tube rubber) to fit over the joint between the upper and lower parts of the zippo case to reduce the fuel loss to evaporation.

I should mention that I don't usually carry a Zippo in warmer weather because Bics et al, are more than capable, and yes, I know, in cold weather you can warm up your Bic next to your body but I'll stick with my Zippo.

Doc
 
Since I quit smoking, I have really missed my John Wayne Custom Zippo. A good friend of mine, Alex, gifted me with a Zippo that is All-American Red, White and Blue on one side and has something custom scribed on the other, something John Wayne used to have engraved on Zippos he would give out to friends.

The payment for the K&M Matchcase is going out tomorrow. Thanks for the help everyone!
 
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.
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I ordered two a while back, A black aluminum, and a brass. Top shelf all the way. I have a bunch of the orange plasic ones too, but they never get used anymore, the K&M ones are much better. The knurls will light a Redbird match on the first strike. And they are easier to open than a film canister, and less likely to open in your pocket or pack.
 
Just saw this thread. Another thumbs up on the K&M's. They are great. The zippo fuel canister works great too, been using one for several years now. I love zippos also, but often have problems with them at altitude in the cold. Don't know why.

The REI matches are a blowtorch, but what I don't like about them, is that when the coating is done burning, they are *out*. The wood of the match doesn't catch fire. You have about 10 or 15 seconds max. Of course, that's plenty of time to light a candle or cigar for secondary fire starting. The cigar might not taste too good, though...
 
EmsRescueGuy said:
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.
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I now have two mag bars, one on key chain (along with a Fox 40 whistle) and one sealed and taped to my BK-1 sheath. 2 Swedish fire steels, one as a user and one is going to be removed from that plastic tab, sealed, then inserted into one of these orange plastic match safes, along with fatwood and vas. cotton balls. I have a larger container with fatwood and c. balls all set up for my pack. The little orange match safe will be my pocket carry rig. I'm sort of copying the set up from the Norwegian? fellows pics that I saw here previously. My small fire kit is complete, my bigger survival pack is still under development, but I am adding to it all the time. The trick is keeping it basic because I'm not into humping a load of junk around.
 
I just purchase one of this lighter similar to the zippo and it suppose to hold the fuel longer.

http://countycomm.com/fuellighters.htm

Also their fire steel is on sale for $6

http://countycomm.com/FIRELIGHTSPECIAL.htm

100ft Paracord 550 for $6

http://countycomm.com/550cord.htm

fuellighterlarge1.jpg


fuellighterlarge2.jpg


fuellighterlarge3.jpg
 
The K&M Matchsafe, or Matchcase as they prefer to call it, is a really excellent piece of gear. Must-have gear. I just received mine today and it is, as reported, awesome. When you consider the thing is $21.00 even for the longer one for REI matches - WHAT A DEAL!
 
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR WRONG BUTTON!!!! Let's try it again...

I had the same issue with zippos leaking out in my pants so I quit carrying one.

For the camera film case I would think that you could use a rubber band around the lid to the bottom to hold the lid from coming apart in a pack. Also you could keep a match in the center of the canister by packing dryer lint around it and putting a quarter sized piece of striker material on the inside of the lid. When needed you'd just pop the top, strike the match and let it burn the lint, canister and all..

You could also do it another way.

You could use the pop top pill bottles or the film canisters and knock the tops off of the strike anywhere matches. Slip a pack of them into a pencil sized tube of paper and encase that slightly larger than pill sized package into some magnesium wire/dryer lint or other substance. Maybe with a bit of the JP stuff on it. Then put all of that inside the canister and when needed just gather your kindling and wood, and you could either smash the canister on its side with a hatchet/hammer/log/rock or stomp it good and hard and the white tips would spark off lighting the rest of it... just gather your burnables around and there ya go....

Just some ideas I came up with in my head... sorry if this road has been trod already.

DM
 
:yawn: hi I use to carrry:
gasoline ligther no ZIPPO is ones made in Austria.
K&M aluminium machcase as back up filled with ferrorod+some matches.
 
K & M match cases are a real nice piece of gear. Too many of my plastic ones had poor o-rings, the compasses broke or the plastic cracked. I recently ordered some from K & M and the compass is solid, the machining is high quality, and they are real decent to deal with.
 
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