Not exactly. The ones we have are used to ship the sample to a lab for testing. I found one here and it has US PAt. 4783056 stamped on the bottom. Also 234A is on the bottom. I'll see if I can find our client and ask him about them.

Cool, dual purpose!! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Based on that, I did a search, and the closest thing I could find was :
http://www.poly-cons.com/productNum4.htm

But it's not exactly the same.. I think the one in the video looks more "solid" in the fact that the clasp and or hinge looked more rugged..

The vials are made by Capitol Vial in Auburn AL. Here is the web page:

http://www.capitolvial.com/dats/supplies.aspx?id=30

I'm thinking of offering several of their products on our website. They have a number of inexpensive, food-grade, leakproof containers that would work great for a variety of purposes.

Thanks for reminding me about the vials. My personal one was confiscated by TSA on a trip to Olympic NP. Apparently TSA did not approve of REI stormproof matches. Nor were they impressed by the container.

Yeap, thats the one! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But golly!! 700 per case!! That's alittle more than the 5 I was thinking of buying.. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Mike, please let us know if you plan to stock these.. I may be tempted to order other things as well.. (been eyeballing that BK10).. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm filling out the forms now. But it usually take s a while to be set up as a reseller. I'll let everyone know as soon as we're set up with inventory.
In the meantime keep looking, we add items regularly. The next item is miniature 550 cord-which is really 100 cord. 100 lb tensile strength, built like 550 cord-(outer braid, inner strands, mil-spec) but much smaller. Perfect for survival kits, etc. The real name is Mil-C-5040 Cord Type 1.

For what it's worth, none of the fire starting or anything else in the video was staged or forced when we were shooting. That section of the video was shot in middle TN in May in very humid conditions. The bird's nest which usually works pretty well as tinder, had absorbed all that humidity and just wouldn't work. Ditto with some of the other natural materials.
We could have smoothed out the process while shooting and editing but we wanted to provide a realistic look at firestarting.

The emphasis( I hope) is: think about what can happen, prepare for it with some basic gear and knowledge and then practice using that gear to improve your skills.

Why do you like the BK10 better than the TAK-1?

I didn't say I like it better.. I think the price point of the BK10 is attractive. Is the TAK-1 30% better? I don't know, I never thought of the TAK-1.. There are so many knives out there, its hard to decide.. I currently have several knives, and have the cold steel SRK in my bob. I think the 2 things that attract me to the BK10 is the price and the storage area in the handle.

I usually do not participate in knife discussions because we sell them. This time, however, I'll throw in my 2 cents.

We used both the Tak and the BK10 during taping. Both did well on and off camera. In fact we chose those two to use because they are so tough.

It's hard to beat the price of the Becker. I can't think of any other knife that is as strong for the money. We beat it through wood, dug with it and generally gave it a real work out and it did fine. It is a large, wide-bladed knife that's a bit heavy for some.

The Tak received the same punishment and also did well. Note that Gretchen used the TAK with a Strikeforce firestarter and it still held an edge. It is less cumbersome to use for more detailed work and weighs a little less. It does cost more, though.


I believe the SRK would have done just as well had we used it.


I have a BK10 and a SOG Seal Pup Elite. When I hike, I usually carry a fair amount of camera gear plus some survival stuff. My pack can get heavy pretty fast. So, I'll normally carry the Seal Pup because it's lighter but can still do pretty much anything that's needed for survival.

Does anyone have thoughts on the shelter section of the video?

I am a fan of the Coghlan?s Survival Bag and was not happy that Gretchen cut up the bag to make an A-frame shelter. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I think a tube tent would have been better than an open bottom. When someone has a tarp, and no tent, I often see them turn it into a tube tent with one end closed. That is the case in our Boy Scout Troop and on our GCC Survival Class.

I like to put one stake the center of the closed end of the Survival bag and two in the open end. Then I tie the top, of the open end, to a tree or crossed sticks and then to the ground. I also bought some mosquito netting to attach to the open end. I think some clips might work well. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Does anyone here use an A-frame and open bottom for their shelter?

Thanks!