urgent swissflames request

[9ball]

This will be an unusual first post.

I am slated to appear on a survival show.  As part of the shop's requirements I am only allowed to have one item.  I want a Swiss flame.  Preferred is the Campflame with the woodsaw, or secondly a xxlt. 

The trick is it has to work.  Or I get it soon enough to be able to try and mod it to work.   I can pay via credit card, paypal, western union.  I can also do trades for rare AK47 parts and accessories.

I am located in North Carolina and have no issue paying worldwide shipping.   I will most certainly pay up for the right knife.  More if it works.  If someone knows of one for sale near them I will also provide a finders fee.

[tosh]

This will be an unusual first post.

I am slated to appear on a survival show.  As part of the shop's requirements I am only allowed to have one item.  I want a Swiss flame.  Preferred is the Campflame with the woodsaw, or secondly a xxlt. 

The trick is it has to work.  Or I get it soon enough to be able to try and mod it to work.   I can pay via credit card, paypal, western union.  I can also do trades for rare AK47 parts and accessories.

I am located in North Carolina and have no issue paying worldwide shipping.   I will most certainly pay up for the right knife.  More if it works.  If someone knows of one for sale near them I will also provide a finders fee.

Welcome to the forum 9ball

That certainly has to rank as one of most unusual first posts.
As you are perfectly aware any 1 of the 3 Vic' butane's are incredibly difficult to obtain. And, as I understand it, more so in the USA.
I wish you well in your search 

[9ball]

Thank you Tosh,

I am very aware that those knives work 25% of the time and are made from unobtanium.  However, a wise man once told me that with sheer determination and an arseload of money, you can move mountians.

I saw one for sale at the airport in Dublin, on the way home from Iraq in 2007.  I passed on it though.  Still kick myself in the ass for that.

[Reinier]

I have several, including a couple of CampFlames. Let me check if any of them actually works.

[9ball]

I have several, including a couple of CampFlames. Let me check if any of them actually works.

I eagerly await your response.   Working is always better  than non.   Otherwise i have to try to strip the guts and shoehorn the internals from a cigar lighter in there.

[bmot]

I have several, including a couple of CampFlames. Let me check if any of them actually works.

I eagerly await your response.   Working is always better  than non.   Otherwise i have to try to strip the guts and shoehorn the internals from a cigar lighter in there.

I'm quite sure a few collectors around here shivered at that sentence... 

[lowtech]

Having read about the functionality of the Swissflames, I´d rather not bet my life on one.
Hasn´t there been an Alox with a firesteel?! Wouldn´t that be the safer bet?

[9ball]

I don't collect things .  I buy tools to be used as such.  I care for them well, but I do use them.  For example my 6 inch engraved nickel colt python.  She is a beauty, but I do shoot it occasionally.

No safe queens for me. 

[9ball]

Having read about the functionality of the Swissflames, I´d rather not bet my life on one.
Hasn´t there been an Alox with a firesteel?! Wouldn´t that be the safer bet?

safer yes, but not allowed.  I have 1 item.  Fire steel and a knife would make 2.  They said a Swiss army knife is okay though.

[lowtech]

It´s one item:

http://www.sakwiki.com/show_image.php?id=1546

Read here under variations:

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Victorinox+Farmer

You´d have to find a Flintstone, though.

[9ball]

It´s one item:

http://www.sakwiki.com/show_image.php?id=1546

Read here under variations:

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Victorinox+Farmer

You´d have to find a Flintstone, though.

great post!  I will keep that in mind in case I can't find a campflame or xxlt

[enki_ck]

Welcome to the forum, 9ball.

Would that show by any chance require you to be "without clothes" and "frightened"?

Good luck with your search and on your adventure.

Looking forward to seeing that episode.

[ducttapetech]

Welcome to MT.O!
If anything, at least you can make a fire bow with a sak.
What show are you going to be on?

that's us mobile

[enki_ck]

Welcome to MT.O!
If anything, at least you can make a fire bow with a sak.
What show are you going to be on?

that's us mobile

I'm guessing this one --> http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=46322.0

[Mr. Whippy]

Personally, I'd go with the firesteel.  The butane lighter will run out of fuel.  Practice a bit with the firesteel and it will be more reliable than a Swissflame (or Campflame or XXLT...)

There's also this one from Tool Logic.  I've used this set up and it works very well.

http://www.toollogic.com/knives/slpro-silver-fire.html#

[enki_ck]

Good call,

Or the Mora FireKnife with the firesteel integrated into the handle.



http://www.lightmyfire.com/products/products/swedish-fireknife.aspx

[ducttapetech]

Didn't think of that Mora. Very nice looking knife.

that's us mobile

[9ball]

Welcome to MT.O!
If anything, at least you can make a fire bow with a sak.
What show are you going to be on?

that's us mobile

I'm guessing this one --> http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=46322.0

Yes, this is the show. 

I will ask about the knives with steel in the hilt.

I don't think Iit will fly though, I think they allowed the SAK cause they don't know about the ones I am looking for.  I did 5 active in the Marine Corps and if that taught me anything....it is to stack the deck at every chance.

If I was competing for a cash prize I would not take the SAK. 

[bren10man]

This will be an unusual first post.

I am slated to appear on a survival show.  As part of the shop's requirements I am only allowed to have one item.  I want a Swiss flame.  Preferred is the Campflame with the woodsaw, or secondly a xxlt. 

The trick is it has to work.  Or I get it soon enough to be able to try and mod it to work.   I can pay via credit card, paypal, western union.  I can also do trades for rare AK47 parts and accessories.

I am located in North Carolina and have no issue paying worldwide shipping.   I will most certainly pay up for the right knife.  More if it works.  If someone knows of one for sale near them I will also provide a finders fee.

OOOhh.......

I live in South Carolina.

I just sold one on E-Bay this past month for $260.  It went to Canada.  I bought it while stationed in South Korea..and paid MUCH LESS for it.  I know why the previous owner got rid of it: it did NOT work.  I tried everything.  Never worked. 

They were sold from 2002-2006 time frame, but NEVER in the USA due to US Customs not liking the fact it didn't have a safety mechanism where say it was in your pocket and something caused the lighter switch to go off. 

You would be better off with a Zippo. 

[9ball]

Still haven't heard back from the production company.  That mora is a fine looking knife.

[Lynn LeFey]

If it comes down to only being allowed to have ONE object, as in no separate ferro rod and tool, the 'Firesteel SAK' mentioned earlier might be an excellent option. All you'd need was a hard rock to strike it against.

The knife on which it's based, the Farmer, is also a GREAT outdoor knife, with good saw and solid awl.

I am normally the first person to say 'go for a lighter'. But in this case, since they seem... 'picky' to say the least, you might want to go for the most bulletproof design.

In any case, best of luck with the adventure.

I'll be in my comfy chair while you're 'disrobed and distressed'.

[9ball]

If it comes down to only being allowed to have ONE object, as in no separate ferro rod and tool, the 'Firesteel SAK' mentioned earlier might be an excellent option. All you'd need was a hard rock to strike it against.

The knife on which it's based, the Farmer, is also a GREAT outdoor knife, with good saw and solid awl.

I am normally the first person to say 'go for a lighter'. But in this case, since they seem... 'picky' to say the least, you might want to go for the most bulletproof design.

In any case, best of luck with the adventure.

I'll be in my comfy chair while you're 'disrobed and distressed'.

The issue I find with the farmer, would be needing a stone.  I don't know if any of you have ever looked for flint in nature before, but it is not easy to find. 

If I can get one fire going, that is all I need. All I need is to get it to light once.

[Lynn LeFey]

It doesn't have to be flint. I'm actually trying to find a comprehensive list of stone that will work, but I believe it just has to be harder than the steel you're striking against. Flint, quartz, etc.

http://survivaltopics.com/flint-and-steel-what-causes-the-sparks/

I've done a good bit of primitive fire starting techniques, so I appreciate how hard it can be, and i don't know what kind of rock might be available where you'll be dropped.

I was about to say consider a SAK with a magnifying glass,but I've personally never been able to get a fire started with one of those dinky lenses. Maybe others have?

[wonderwolf]

Do yourself a favor and order a few Mora's from ragweed forge to have those set aside just in case everything else falls through. Other option would be to maybe drill the handle on a knife with a 1/8" hole and put one of these in there? http://goinggear.com/survival/fire/firesteel-ferro-rod-blanks/mouse-firesteel-misch-metal-ferro-rod-blank-1-8-x-2.html  I'm not sure how strict their rules are but 1/8x2" mirsch metal stick will start a LOT of fires. Could even cut it in half? maybe hide it under the top screwdriver on a explorer? might have to shave it down a bit but it should fit.

If those all fall through, I would work on your firebow/drill  technique some .... you have a lady to impress (assuming you're not the lady) so there is always that.
p.s. I have no connection with Ragweed forge.

[Crow]

This has been on for a while now.
http://www.huuto.net/kohteet/victorinox-swissflame_campflame-todella-harvinainen-uusi/298633983
This is finnish auction site.

[Reinier]

I have several, including a couple of CampFlames. Let me check if any of them actually works.

I eagerly await your response.   Working is always better  than non.

Hi. I found two CampFlames, one of which works... a little. Very unreliable. I filled it up completely (twice) and the lighter worked for about ten seconds.
None of my SwissFlames work at all.

BTW good luck finding an XXLT for a good price. I sold mine on eBay for $710,00

I'd say go with a Firesteel Farmer

[9ball]

Well 10 seconds is enough to start a fire.  Either way I don't think I will be able to find a campflame. 

Hopefully I hear back tomorrow about the Mora.

[Reinier]

Well 10 seconds is enough to start a fire.

Yes, but if it only works once... I wouldn't trust those SwissFlames 

[9ball]

This has been on for a while now.
http://www.huuto.net/kohteet/victorinox-swissflame_campflame-todella-harvinainen-uusi/298633983
This is finnish auction site.

I don't understand the language, so i am not sure If it is a working model.  250 shipped us about what I was expecting to pay though.

Thanks for finding that. 

[nate j]

So the basic problem is not necessarily obtaining a Swissflame or Campflame, but how to get a knife plus some sort of fire starter to count as a single item for purposes of the show.  I think your best chance of pulling that off might be to take a SAK of your choice (I vote Pioneer Harvester, but there are certainly other viable options), and modify it so that it has an added firesteel layer, i.e. a piece of firesteel that is pinned into and folds into the knife.  It would be difficult at that point for anyone to reasonably argue that it wasn't a single item (although I'm sure the producers make up their own rules anyway).  When it is time to use it, you simply open the firesteel tool (which could be scored ahead of time to boost the odds of a clean break at the desired location) and snap it off at the handle, leaving you with a smallish but usable piece of firesteel and a fatter-than-original but still perfectly serviceable SAK (which of course you can also now use as a scraper for your firesteel).

I've only seen the show a few times, but something that has surprised me a bit is that no one has elected to bring a LifeStraw or other similar portable water filter as his/her one item.  Sure, it is a single-purpose item, but multiple teams struggled with dehydration from not drinking and or illness from drinking contaminated water.  Going to the rule of threes, one assumes oxygen isn't going to be a problem, and (provided one is able to get out of the sun somehow) shelter is more of a nice-to-have than a must-have in tropical climate (where one assumes you will be dropped and further assumes no real risk of hypothermia), which leaves drinkable water as the next most critical item.  Locations don't appear to have a shortage of fresh water; the problem is how to kill or otherwise remove pathogens from the water to make it drinkable.

Apologies for the long post.  Whatever you decide to take, best of luck and be safe.  We'll be rooting for you.