Mentioning the Cracker Jack plastic whistle (Brunton button compass thread) brought something else to mind- does anyone remember a cheap novelty item called a “permanent match”, or sometimes “metal match”? I had one that I took on a couple of backpacking trips in the 70’s- it was simplicity itself, a tiny hollow plastic square, maybe 1” by 1.5”, attached to a keychain (easily removed), filled with wadding of some sort. There was a tiny strip of artificial flint glued to one edge, and a hollow-tube striker with a wick in it that screwed into the top. You took the striker out, poured a little lighter fluid into the hole, and replaced the striker so that the fluid would wet the wick. Anytime after that, you could unscrew the striker, scrape the end against the flint strip, and have a flame.<br><br>As I say, I took one of these on a couple of backpacking trips, just as a convenience- it weighed next to nothing, and it was easier to light a gas stove (through a Svea windscreen) with the match-like striker than with a bulky lighter. <br><br>Seems like it would have some advantages for an ultralight survival kit, though- it used common lighter fuel (would probably work with anything- jet fuel, kerosene, gasoline), but it sealed up pretty tight (o-ring? I don’t remember) so the fuel would not evaporate over time as it does in a Zippo style lighter, it was waterproof. It weighed almost nothing, was very flat and small (probably less bulky than a book of paper matches), it got you a flame, not just a spark, and the striker could be used for sparks even if the fuel was gone. The “flint” strip was very, very thin- but they claimed thousands of lights, and it probably really was good for hundreds. It can’t have carried much fuel, but it didn’t evaporate, and I didn’t have to refuel during a couple of week-long trips, using it every day.<br><br>Just a thought.<br><br><br>