Hi there aardwolfe,

Yes you are right the Bic Lighter is one of the best and has not earned its rightful place in the survival hall of fame.
However Blastmatches, Swedish firesteels and Sparklites are excellent choices under certain conditions and nothing is perfect.

Your cheap "lockback" knife is something that will where out fast under hard use and will half to be replaced soon. And may fail you when you need it most.
It is better than nothing but again you can do better.

Look at what I said to Norad45, that is the type of stuff and a lot of other guys have done the same.

mcse:

I know you mean well, but I think that what you think I said is not what I think I said. At least, I think that's what I mean. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I would never recommend relying on flimsy equipment to save money. That being said, I don't give a damn if my survival equipment is going to wear out after long, hard use - if I can use it to get a fire going, I'm going to keep that fire going come hell or high water until I'm rescued.

I have a number of fire-starting implements - I own a Blastmatch, a couple of Sparklites, several varieties of Mag-flint, a bunch of Bic lighters, a mini-torch that uses a disposable lighter as a fuel cell, a couple of boxes of strike-anywhere matches, an International orange match-safe, 5 Ronson lighter flints Krazy-glued to a key on my keychain and held in place with clear shrink tubing... About the only one I don't have is a Swedish firesteel, and that's because I've used one and wasn't impressed.

But I still stand by what I said - the quality of the tools is secondary to the skill of the carpenter.

That's funny,


Okay I yield to the man with:

"I have a number of fire-starting implements - I own a Blastmatch, a couple of Sparklites, several varieties of Mag-flint, a bunch of Bic lighters, a mini-torch that uses a disposable lighter as a fuel cell, a couple of boxes of strike-anywhere matches, an International orange match-safe, 5 Ronson lighter flints Krazy-glued to a key on my keychain and held in place with clear shrink tubing... About the only one I don't have is a Swedish firesteel, and that's because I've used one and wasn't impressed. "

I think that wood is going to be burning like hell in no time!!
I like your last two thoughts of wisdom both are good!!

What was it about the Swedish firesteel that you didn't like? I have been thinking of buying one (or the BSA, Kersaw, or Gerber equivelants) and I wouldn't mind hearing details.

BTW: I hope you dont carry all that at once. You get near a spark and you may like up a 5 mile radius. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> J/K