When I look at the specs of the Ontario TAK-1 it reminds me very much of the Becker Crewman BK10:

Blade Length:
TAK-1 - 4.25"
BK10 - 5.5"

Blade Width:
TAK-1 - 0.1875"
BK10 - 0.188"

Both have carbon steel coated blades. The TAK-1 has a micarta handle, but I guess I'm one of the oddballs that like the shape/feel of the Becker handle.

I have the BK10 and it is a nice knife, but now that I have the wonderfull RSK Mk3 the BK10 stays home. I think if I'm going to carry a thick-bladed chopper I'd go for a much longer blade to make battoning easier, but then again, that whole long & thick bladed knife package will be so heavy I simply won't carry it.

Ken K.

Thanks Craig. So it's a dexterity test. I was thinking it had something to do with sensory ability.

Yeap exactly.. My wife thought the lady was looking for a chipped hang nail.. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'd like to make some comments about the DVD but I don't want to sound like I'm nitpicking. It's like the book "Build the Perfect Survival Kit" by John McCann you keep saying to yourself: but why didn't he ... and I would have ... <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Maybe others could post what they liked or didn't like about the video and what they would have added or taken out. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I was bumming over the the testing of tinder.

Gretchen gives her assistant a lighter and she has different sparkers. She does explain that the lighter is not going to work in a wind or wet.

She then proceeds to try different tinder. She gives half to her assistant and she takes half. The assistant lights most of the tinder with no effort. It is a very calm day, no wind. She requires several attempts to get her tinder lit. Only a few will light. She does not smash, crumple or shred the tinder so it will light with a spark. She does some fluffing. She does get some things lit. It was funny that when she put the fire paste on the bark it looked like bark fuzz caught the spark and lit the fire paste.

Ron Wood has a similar thing in one of his videos. He makes this super tinder bundle. It has three layers: shredded Juniper bark, fluffed cotton ball and magnesium in the center of the cotton. He was demonstrating how magnesium will start a fire. He used a Boy Scout Sparker. The spark hit the edge of the cotton and bark and the flame started there. The magnesium lit later. Good demo of why you don't need magnesium Ron! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I took it from another standpoint. As Mike from lifeview mentioned, this is a beginner video.. I think it proved that, though Gretchen is the resident expert, she was having a difficult time starting a fire with sparks. I think it magnifies the importance of trying out your firestarters and making sure you know how it works and what to expect.. There is no magic pill! I think somewhere in there, she mentioned that the lighter could run out of fluid or something. I think she also mentioned the importance of carrying your own tinder, cause the real stuff can be hard to light with a spark.

As it goes, I think the video has it's place, and it has made my wife more aware. Tools are great, but "It's too late to learn to swim when you start to drown.." <- Something I live by.. Anyone remember who sang that? It was a song a couple of years back..

I agree.

I think she was showing that you can't just grab something and expect it to work. Plus if one thing does not work look for other things that might work. Don't give up on the first tinder even if it seem like it would be the best one like the bird's nest. I was thinking: "one spark and that thing is going to burst into flames" - wrong! The dry grass and pine needles worked then and there.

I have to watch it more than once to catch what is going on.

I had to edit a previous post because I missed some things she was saying. Then again I have 4 boys that love to distract me. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I do have one question.. Does anyone know what kind or where I can buy that clear match case she has? Its a flip top, and appears to be big/long enough for the REI Stormproof matches..

You'll enjoy this. That clear case is for shipping urine samples. Don't worry, it was new.
As you may know, our company produces videos for various health care clients. One was a drug testing company and the client came in with one of the sample containers. I took one look and thought hmm... leakproof, the lid locks and it's long enough for the REI Stormatches-perfect.
I asked and he provided us with a couple of dozen. I'm not sure where they came from initially but I suspect that laboratory supply companies would offer them at low cost.

Was it something like these?

http://www.globescientific.com/cpage47-tubes.html