Here are a couple of pics of my new keychain:




The M4 Seber tool:




Goes with me everywhere I go.

20 feet of 550 cord
M4 Seber tool Seber tool
Mag/flint block
Photon Micro Freedom aeromedix.com

Hey Jim,
Welcome to the forum. Pretty good choices for your keychain, in my opinion.

I'm interested in how you weaved the paracord. I'm very naive (but interested) on how to weave those things.

Jim,
Very nice. Depending on your lifestyle and locale, you may want to consider adding a (small) compass and whistle as these go well on any keychain.

I assume that since you have a fire-starter, that these two additional components may be useful to you.

Lastly, welcome on board.

Edited Addition:
[PS - After looking at your bio information, I thank you for your service to this great country and see that my input is pretty lame for anyone of your experience level, but it maybe useful to others building keychain kits.]

Hey Stretch, check out a book on knot tying and/or fancy work at most libraries and you will find some very useful uses for line/rope. WARNING!!!! Looking at such books have been known to cause addiction to doing fancy work around the home and on the boat. It is truly a great way to pass some slow moving time on your hands and it has great practical value.

Nice micro kit. Only two thoughts:

First thing I can think of is swap the Coglhans mag block for a Doan's one (they are much less likely to loose your flint rod, Cog uses some less than great glue to hold thiers) or carry a spare ferro rod of some type. And at Bragg, I can imagine you could beg, borrow, or barter for a Doan's (NSN 4240-01-160-5618), talk to the guys who do pilot survival gear, it's standard for most of their kits. Worst case scenario, there are only about half a hundred places within twenty miles of you that will stock them for sale.

Only other thing I might do is put a bit of bi-metal hacksaw blade on there to work as a striker to save your knife blade. If you want to get really fancy, CountyComm.com has a little, folding saw built on the frame of a prep razor, which might not work as good on metal but will work better on wood, and you strike sparks with the spine.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate it. I do have a compass/whistle/thermometer/magnifying glass that I can add, but I keep that on my belt.

For more references on weaving 550 cord, try these out:
Keychain: http://armyadvice.org/blogs/armysteve/articles/9736.aspx

Braclet: http://www.bns-code.org/?view=pages&id=4

Belt: http://www.slatts.fsworld.co.uk/slatts-knot.htm#marker1

I'm working on a better version of this belt right now. Should be pretty good.

Wildman's warnings are very true.

Thanks for the tip. I take every hint at addiction as a challenge <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the links Jim. I haven;t had a chance to check them out yet but I'll be doing so as soon as I click "continue"

Jim,
The first 2 links didn't work.

Sorry the links didnt work. I cant go back and edit now so I'll just post them here.

M4 Seber tool can be found at: http://www.sebertech.co.uk/acatalog/Sebertool.html

And the flashlight at: http://www.aeromedix.com/?_siteid=aerome...p;sku=freedomdr

That flashlight really is the bomb. Never had a flashlight that came with an instruction book b4.

Isn't that fire-starter a bit large for a keychain?

I would add a small carabiner hook and, uhm...keys? <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

The mag block is about as bulky as a Swiss Army Knife, not at all bad.

As for keys... Jim, did you check what he does for a living? Tanks don't have ignition keys- they figure if you made it past the guys with the guns who protect the laeger (parking lot), you know where the starter button is, it's probably ok. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bottom line is that whatever you have is great. It may not be great for me or the next guy but it is great for you, you made it, you carry it, and you know how to use it. It is always good to hear what other people are carrying or making, but you can't really say you should carry this or you need to carry that. That's what makes it personal. I have scaled down what I carry to a SAK, flashlight, Burts Bees, and nail clippers. More of a convenience than survival. But it works for me. I think you key chain is great Jim. Keep up the good work.

All I'm saying is that there are smaller fire-starters that could be put on a keychain.

I'm NOT saying that one fire-starter is better than the other one. As you pointed out,
that is the choice of the person actually used it. This post was made because he wanted to show what he carries and to get replies,
opinions and suggestions about it to possibly, improve the equipment.

I gave my opinion and a suggestion, so what is the problem?

Ironraven,

Jim (good name btw <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />) said:



He doesn't say that it's just for when he's driving in a tank, he EDC's it, so I would assume he needs a way to
attach it to his belt (I suggested using a carabiner) and some actual key's on his keychain. That is all I'm trying to say.

Sorry if this post looks a bit hostile. It is not ment like that in any way! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, how big IS a tank's key ??? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Dang, we're really getting into it now aren't we?

The key to a tank goes to the top hatch. Just a regular American lock key. No biggie. anyone with a cresent wrench and a pry bar can get right through it. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> After that its easy.

I dont really carry any keys. Sold my car and ride a bike now. Exercise and mobility at the same time. Not putting any money into the hands of terrorists or money grubbing oil companies either.

You might try a Boy Scots Hot Spark. It is as small as a key and will work just as well as the magblock. I have easily ignited wood shavings with one and my Mini Griptilian; in 440C because the S30V didn't work.
I am sure the file on your mini pliers will work as a sparker.

To All: I grew up in western Washington. It rains just about everywhere Ive ever been. I like the mag block because I've lit wet tinder with one where I dont think anything else will light. I like the idea that I dont have to carry any other kind of tinder for just in case. I just grab some grass and some pine needles and I got a nice fire going. Dont matter what the conditions.

Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I too thought the mag block was a little large. To solve this, I cut mine in half length-wise with a hack saw. I figure (for EDC) only having half the block still provides sufficient fire starting capability and fits much nicer on my Key ring <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I too cut my mag block in half so it is small on my key chain and then my
wife has the other half on hers.

This is what I carry in my pocket for fire, the firesteel scout, has worked well for me, the blue container is from REI designed to carry pills, I found you can stuff cotton balls in there and it works perfectly to keep them dry and ready for that first flame every time <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


-Jason