Favorite Matches!

[RF52]

Go ahead Poncho

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[SteveC]

Nice fire pics Poncho and great pics of the dogs 


gif is a nice touch as well   

[Poncho65]

Thanks Steve We had fun out there last night and the gif turned out better than I had hoped

[Aloha]

Thanks for posting that Poncho.  Its interesting the UCO match in your "testing" seems to be consistent with others.  Those sweetfire "matches" look interesting for a lot of uses.  The burn time alone is a nice feature.  Awesome dog too 

[Poncho65]

Thanks Aloha the UCO are better matches no question the flame that they produce is stronger and being such would start a fire better I am still going to get the Zippo match safe because it has a fireproof cover for its striker and better reviews than the UCO match safe

I guess I should specify which of the sweetfire matches I used I don't have the Stormproof ones, the ones I have light like regular matches and look like these



I bought a pack of 20 and I am very pleased with these and glad I bought these but I do wish they were Stormproof UCO also sells sweetfire tinder that is made from the same material (sugarcane fibers, hence the name) but none of the Stormproof ones come in packs of 20

[Aloha]

The Zippo match safe is nice.  Those sweetfire you have look great.  Storm proof would be a nice added feature but so long as yours work thats what matters. 

[thatotherguy]

prepare for potato quality picspam

[thatotherguy]

1. The unpackaged Matchcap in its unnatural habitat.
2. Filled up with 20 standard kitchen matches, which fit comfortably. Bonus shot of ugly fingers complete with terrible cuticles.
3. With a standard kitchen match for scale, side.
4. Match for scale, diameter, ugly fingers. Diameter is roughly that of a U.S. nickel.
The little baggie of extras that come with it consist of one extra o-ring, 3 extra phosphorus striker pads, and one extra sandpaper striker pad for the bottom. There's ample room for kitchen matches and a bit of cotton for tinder, if you please, and should be able to fit stormproof matches too. Machining and threads are exceptionally clean, O-ring came dry (easy to fix with a spot of silicone grease or chapstick). Extras baggie is small enough to be stuffed into the bottom of the case for safekeeping.

[Nix]

 

Good looking matchcase. 

[Nix]

Is there a way to attach the cap to the base with a lanyard?   

[thatotherguy]

Is there a way to attach the cap to the base with a lanyard?   

I was just thinking about that and I don't think there's a great way to do it. However, the knurling on the bottom is very aggressive so one may be able to tie a little turk's head bight with some cord and attach the pieces that way. I wouldn't be terribly confident with its staying power, though.

Also, the tolerances on the cap are pretty tight (relatively speaking, it's not finished like a Rolex by any means but it is better than I expected it to be) , and the O-ring is a snug fit in the cap. It would probably take some doing to accidentally lose the cap in a pack, and if you're using the case, I guess you have to stick the cap in your pocket or hold it in your match hand

[Poncho65]

That is a down right slick looking match safe

Something to get next time I have some extra funds

And grey happens to be one of my favorite colors

[Poncho65]

Also thanks for the pics

[thatotherguy]

I'll make sure to keep you all informed about any findings I make in use. I'm hard on my gear, so if there's a materials or engineering issue, I'll find it... i sincerely doubt there will be, though. 6061 aluminum is pretty reliable, the ano looks like it was done pretty well, and the machining is clean enough that I dont foresee any issues.

[Poncho65]

I'll make sure to keep you all informed about any findings I make in use. I'm hard on my gear, so if there's a materials or engineering issue, I'll find it... i sincerely doubt there will be, though. 6061 aluminum is pretty reliable, the ano looks like it was done pretty well, and the machining is clean enough that I dont foresee any issues.

 

After a bit of use could you give is some thoughts on it It looks very well made as you said though, so you shouldn't have any problems

[thatotherguy]

I'll make sure to keep you all informed about any findings I make in use. I'm hard on my gear, so if there's a materials or engineering issue, I'll find it... i sincerely doubt there will be, though. 6061 aluminum is pretty reliable, the ano looks like it was done pretty well, and the machining is clean enough that I dont foresee any issues.

 

After a bit of use could you give is some thoughts on it It looks very well made as you said though, so you shouldn't have any problems

Will do. Ill use it for a while and report back with my findings.

[Max Stone]

I'll make sure to keep you all informed about any findings I make in use. I'm hard on my gear, so if there's a materials or engineering issue, I'll find it... i sincerely doubt there will be, though. 6061 aluminum is pretty reliable, the ano looks like it was done pretty well, and the machining is clean enough that I dont foresee any issues.

 

After a bit of use could you give is some thoughts on it It looks very well made as you said though, so you shouldn't have any problems

Will do. Ill use it for a while and report back with my findings.

Very good looking case. 
Something that could last for years and protect the matches. Depending how humid your climate is, you could throw a few rice grains in to help absorb any residual moisture that could get trapped inside?

[thatotherguy]

I'll make sure to keep you all informed about any findings I make in use. I'm hard on my gear, so if there's a materials or engineering issue, I'll find it... i sincerely doubt there will be, though. 6061 aluminum is pretty reliable, the ano looks like it was done pretty well, and the machining is clean enough that I dont foresee any issues.

 

After a bit of use could you give is some thoughts on it It looks very well made as you said though, so you shouldn't have any problems

Will do. Ill use it for a while and report back with my findings.

Very good looking case. 
Something that could last for years and protect the matches. Depending how humid your climate is, you could throw a few rice grains in to help absorb any residual moisture that could get trapped inside?

Good idea. There's certainly enough extra room in there

[Poncho65]

I'll make sure to keep you all informed about any findings I make in use. I'm hard on my gear, so if there's a materials or engineering issue, I'll find it... i sincerely doubt there will be, though. 6061 aluminum is pretty reliable, the ano looks like it was done pretty well, and the machining is clean enough that I dont foresee any issues.

 

After a bit of use could you give is some thoughts on it It looks very well made as you said though, so you shouldn't have any problems

Will do. Ill use it for a while and report back with my findings.

Thanks otherguy

[thatotherguy]

I'll make sure to keep you all informed about any findings I make in use. I'm hard on my gear, so if there's a materials or engineering issue, I'll find it... i sincerely doubt there will be, though. 6061 aluminum is pretty reliable, the ano looks like it was done pretty well, and the machining is clean enough that I dont foresee any issues.

 

After a bit of use could you give is some thoughts on it It looks very well made as you said though, so you shouldn't have any problems

Will do. Ill use it for a while and report back with my findings.

Thanks otherguy

My pleasure.

Initial thoughts are very positive. I like the quality and overall form factor of this case considerably more than the Marbles match safe and US military surplus plastic safe it replaced. Only benefit the Marbles has over it, aside from aesthetics which are subjective, is the captured cap of the Marbles. In order to lose that cap, you have to lose the whole safe. However, I've never had a problem keeping up with the cap on the surplus safe, so it's far from a big deal. I like the integrated striker design a lot and think it will work well for normal use, though I will probably end up carrying a backup striker in the chamber as well (as I do with all of my other safes) simply because I don't like the idea of having to rely on the wee little one alone in a pinch.

[Poncho65]

Just found a brand called England's Glory matches that use to be made in England but they are now made in Sweden Who has any of these and can you make pics of them Anyone in the UK or Sweden Cool looking artwork on the boxes from what I have seen but a real pic from a member here would be so much better

[Nix]

 

[Poncho65]

Also found that the same company makes Scottish Bluebells

Bit of history on them both here at Wikipedia

[thatotherguy]

Have you all heard about the old sportsman's field expedient match safe? A spent 12ga and 20ga shell will nest together and render matches rainproof in a hunting vest. I believe a 10ga and 12ga will also nest for a little bit larger safe. Plastic shell hulls are super light as well, and the expanded crimping at the head of each shell gives the nested hulls enough friction to stay together OK.

[Poncho65]

I might have heard of that years ago but not extremely sure it is a good idea, especially if somebody is hunting and gets lost but still has matches with them and need to keep them dry

[Nix]

Have you all heard about the old sportsman's field expedient match safe? A spent 12ga and 20ga shell will nest together and render matches rainproof in a hunting vest. I believe a 10ga and 12ga will also nest for a little bit larger safe. Plastic shell hulls are super light as well, and the expanded crimping at the head of each shell gives the nested hulls enough friction to stay together OK.

Great recollection. I had heard of that, many years ago.

Seems like it would be better than nothing. Which begs the question: what is the hunter doing with matches and no match safe?   

[thatotherguy]

Have you all heard about the old sportsman's field expedient match safe? A spent 12ga and 20ga shell will nest together and render matches rainproof in a hunting vest. I believe a 10ga and 12ga will also nest for a little bit larger safe. Plastic shell hulls are super light as well, and the expanded crimping at the head of each shell gives the nested hulls enough friction to stay together OK.

Great recollection. I had heard of that, many years ago.

Seems like it would be better than nothing. Which begs the question: what is the hunter doing with matches and no match safe?   

Honestly, most hunters I know (self included) dont carry matches in the first place. You'll usually find a Bic or cheap Bicalike in their kit. I think the old spent shells trick is somewhat a relic of the past, perhaps dating from the Depression era when you had to make do with what you had. I'd bet a lot of those cases were made out of shells guys found littering the ground.

Ninja edit: maybe they were most common with a 12 and 16 ga shell nested? The Sweet Sixteen was pretty popular around the turn of the last century, if memory serves. Shells would have been pretty easy to find.

[thatotherguy]

Alrighty, laddies and germs, the Matchcap has gotten its first use. I like it. I like it a lot. However, I disagree that the proper way to strike the match is from the opening towards the o-ring as Exotac recommends. I popped the heads off two matches doing that- the follow through hit the head of the match on the little ledge under the striker and above the o-ring and popped it right off. I prefer striking the match at around a 45 degree angle towards yourself, which gives you ample striking surface to ignite the head and plenty of room to follow through, plus easy ability to provide shielding from the wind. Will update if anything changes in my opinions as I continue to use it.

[Poncho65]

Thanks for the update otherguy good info about striking matches on it

[pomsbz]

Just got this. It comes with 12 UCO Titan Stormproof matches inside but there is room for two more plus the additional strikers so I now have 14 inside. I had thought to take the strikers out but then I wondered whether the striker paper is waterproof and will matches strike on it when it is wet? I'll ask UCO and get back to you. Would be a bit silly to have stormproof matches that cannot be lit.