Altoids Smalls - survival kit blade

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DocBurN

Joined
Feb 25, 2010
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403
Its crazy, and i have a proper regular survival tin kit.. but want to create a very small fire starting kit that will fit the "Altoids Smalls" for my own entertainment while the stupid canadian snow melt! :D

I'll put a small firesteel, off course, and a super small but hopfully good knife. The point of my question is.. what would be the best super small knife (folder prorably) that would actually fit inside that little tin ?

Any suggestion are welcome and thank you for your time

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How about an SOG Micron 1? it's about half the length of a Farmer (folded) and 1/8th inch thick:

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Freakin' nawice Lads..

I like the bug and micron.. and cost next to nothing.. done some reading and the bug seem to be the more popular one (mostly average durability according to some other web site)

The point for me (the job I got for the small blade) is maybe do some small wood shaving to start the fire, or maybe strike the firesteel, not sure yet, unless i found a very flat and small dedicated fire striker. Now.. is that bug strong enough :) and will start looking for knife store to order them

Thank you very much for your suggestion
 
what's the size of the minis tin vs the regular altoids tin?

if it's smaller, than some of those knives mentioned might not fit

a large scalpel blade or a hacksaw knife would be options on for a small tin

hacksaw blade can be made to any length and sharpened to hair shaving sharp

hacksawknife.jpg
 
I never thought of sharpening a hack saw blade. I have a couple of pocket knife blades from a broken Case knife that I have in a kit. But that hacksaw blade is a great idea.
 
mtwarden said:
what's the size of the minis tin vs the regular altoids tin?

if it's smaller, than some of those knives mentioned might not fit

a large scalpel blade or a hacksaw knife would be options on for a small tin

hacksaw blade can be made to any length and sharpened to hair shaving sharp
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Crap, i should have bring it with me to work today.. dont have the specific mesure on me at the moment, but im not 100% fixed on the altoids smalls.. could be something else.. but its have to be a fraction of the size of an ESEE survival tin can (or a regular altoids tin) since i already have a fully fonctionnal kit that size. The altoids smalls (or something else around that) could do for miniature last ditch fire kit im building

From the first look, seem like the bug will fit.. but the custom lenght of the hacksaw blade could be optimized to the exact specification of the "altoids smalls". The handle would be better on the bug/micron but pretty isn't necessary, just an addon.. fonctionality and size-saving in the tin can count more
 
kyhunt said:
I never thought of sharpening a hack saw blade.
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Me neither.. and where would i get an hecksaw blade ? got some idea.. i'll look around our canadian stores

EDIT: i had a different name for the hacksaw blade.. i got some already waiting at home :)
 
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The Spyderco Bug is a bad idea. Mah woman has one on her key ring and if she were here I'd take some photos of it doing stuff. It is fun but it is extremely limited. You'd get more performance from a cut down scalpel handle a few blades. I understand the desire for a little folder over a little fixed because you can get a more useful working size in the space available, but that is too small. Ideally, I think you want something between that size and a Delica size, or a bigger tin.

It's a one or two finger pinch grip at best –
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Not ideal, but you could go with a SAK like the Classic Lite or Signature Light (maybe even the Midnight Manager or Mini-Champ, but I don't know the size of the tin). The blade is so-so for wood shaving but you would have the added benefits of scissors and an LED light, tweezers, toothpick and even a pen on some models. Just a thought, for versatility and getting the most bang for your buck.
 
I think a little SAK is about the best idea. Just for illustration though - If I was minded to carry my stuff in these sorts of tins a lightweight FRN Spyderco [or the like] with the clip off is what I'd be looking towards for edge retention and toughness over that, especially ground the way I have this one. It would require a tin a tad bigger but the returns would make it worthwhile to me.

altoidggzg027.jpg
 
Small Knives idea so far
- Spyderco Bug, (length closed 1 5/8", cutting edge 1 1/8", length closed 1 5/8", cutting edge 1 1/8") around 10$
- SOG Micron 1, (Length Closed: 2.75", Overall Length: 3.44", Blade Length: 1.5") around 20$
- A.G. Russell™ Ultimate Pen Knife, i dont know it at all but they say Blade Length 1-1/2", titanium.. that could work, around 20$
- CRKT RSK MK5 as an open overall Length of 3.81 inches so that will not work for this particular project
- hacksaw blade, custom lenght, free for me, already got some
- Victorinox SAK classic (2.25" length), more options than cutting, around 20$
- Victorinox SAK minichamp, (2.25" length) loaded with features, maybe too thick for the altoids smalls

* The grip is not a huge factor but it count.. probability of having another bigger blade is 99%+ but I want the kit to handle itself on its own. shaving woods will be a problem with the low grip knife tho..

* The space available is limited by the tin

* For Edge retention and Toughness, the better available with the restriction.. but if i ever need that kit with nothing else, im stuck in deep trouble anyway.. could see that kit as a 1-5 uses only.. and even with a bad edge retention or toughness, probably still can do the job a few times before it break or get dull hopefully, just not that well or that easy. live or die situation, I would use the only cheap dull knife or my nails if i had to.

I got a Victorinox SAK minichamp on a keychain somewhere, cant wait to see if it fit.. and the hacksaw blade win for the space taken thats for sure.. regarding the other stuff i'll put in, if space is that tight, the hacksaw will fit flat at the bottom but i think i got space for a folder type.. but which one..

BTW: thank you all for your ideas.. and any comments are still welcome
 
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Here's one option - made by Gerber and uses utility blades.

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An excellent little blade made by Bryan Breeden, although maybe a little big for your needs - it just fits corner to corner in a regular Altoids tin.

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What may be your best solution - a modified utility blade (bottom one) that can be hafted in a stick:

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BTW, what part of Canada are you in?

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
BTW, what part of Canada are you in?

Doc
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Didn't think about a regular/modified utility blade.. i'll check the length of the closed gerber.. but im starting to like the idea of having a small handle more and more.. unless the utility blade alone fits the small tin

and im from the eastern part.. in Montreal/Québec

damn, i need the specs of that tin quick :)
 
You could also go the route of doing Doc-canada's idea only with a custom piece of steel of your own design. Shouldn't be too much money. Maybe go with a 1/16th thick blade or even 3/32. Then just put a little dental floss in with it and you're good to go.
 
The altoids small container inside dimensions are roughly 2 1/16" long and 1 5/16" wide. This is minus about a 1/16" inch. I just put a scale to one sitting on my desk so you have some clearance on the inside.
Corner to corner is roughly 2 3/16", just for your information.
 
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