This item caught my eye in Doug's report from the SHOT Show....

http://www.equipped.org/pp/pic956.htm#example

Are there other suppliers of similiar products available in regular stores? Seems like a great idea, surely they must exist, right?

Thanks!

I have found similar items in the key-chain section of my local hardware store and discount stores for around a buck. Some come with nylon twine inside and some with steel cable I buy the steel. I ripped the hook, pin, clip off the back of one and fit it into my Altoids tin. The one I found has about 2 yards of cable and is about the same size as a photon light. The spring is decently strong. I figure it will be a decent self setting snare at least, if not useful as a trigger spring for larger snares built with my snare wire. Similar use in fishing to the YoYo fishing reel. The only thing missing is the triggering device and that can be improvised fairly easily in the field with small twigs and the Xacto balde in the kit.

Good items to have around. I have even used one as a clothes line in the back of my jeep cherokee. Stretches taught between the back-seat hand grips and holds nicely.

I don't suppose you've ever seen one of these with lines scratched or painted into the cable, so that it could also be used as a rudimentary tape measure?

That would be kinda cool!

Haven't seen this particular product there yet, but if you want a good heavy duty retractor like this, check out a dive shop near you. Most quality shops will have several different types.

Chris.

I haven't seen such but I suppose that with a tape measure, a couple of vise-grips, and some nail polish or other such marking material I could mod the one I have for that purpose. - Good idea.

http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme%20gear/hammer_head_gear_keepers.htm

I don't think that rotating model is available yet.

Matt