Fyr’mups

I have made a separate pouch for this item before, the Spark’mups. (Which was actually the first thing I ever posted on this blog.) Meant to hold a Silva match case (a copy of the K&M Matchcase), containing a SparkLite and TinderQuick tabs.

If you want to know a bit of the thought process behind this (and several other pouches to come) read about the Tūl’mups. Same basic premise and design features – just a different size.

As usual, I started out with a rough paper model to get a sense of the size needed. A lot cheaper than making mistakes in fabric. Not a perfect medium, but it works okay.

A few pictures I snapped. I think it’s all fairly self explanatory. The BALLS (Belt Attachment Lowerable Loop System) might not be, but that is explained in the aforementioned link.

Oh yeah...sewn by hand on the commute to work and on lunch breaks.

Totally Tubular - Spark’mups

I’ve had this Silva match case (a copy of the K&M Matchcase) for about a dozen years now. For many years I carried strike anywhere matches in it, but decided to carry a SparkLite and TinderQuick tabs in it instead. (The strike anywhere matches of today are nothing like the ones I used to use as a a kid, not to mention that my ability to light fire is limited by the number of matches I have. And invariably a bunch of them fizzle out.) This allows me a far greater chances to light a fire. The TinderQuick tabs are not only a great tinder, but also prevent things from rattling around inside the case.

The compass on top is not a cheap toy, but a piece of quality gear. While not suited to orienteering, it is more than adequate for general way finding.

This gives me two really vital tools in one small container - a compass and a means of starting a fire.

The only drawback to it is that the knurling on the brass tends to chew up pants pockets and damage things carried inside the pocket. To avoid that I decided to make a belt pouch for it.

Using one piece of black 2" tubular webbing, a 1" side release buckle, and some edge binding tape, I constructed this. Done entirely by hand on the daily train commute.