Product Testimonials

Fire Starting

Deluxe Bow Drill Set

For so long now I've made Bow and Hand Drills sets and wearing myself out trying to make a fire without success. I just want to say that I just made my first coal from the Deluxe Bow Drill Set on my 2nd try! It was AWESOME!

You were also correct when you told me it would be easier to make my first fire with the longer Sotol Hand Drill stalks. Now that I know how to do a hand drill fire I will try shorter stalks. Your pre-tested sets make it easy to get a fire.

I also wanted to thank you for sending me the change I accidentally overpaid with the Money Order - Thank You for your honesty
Robert Ahrens - Kansas

I got a fire my first try with your Deluxe Bow Drill Set, and my left arm is even in a cast! Even with a broken elbow your system is so perfectly tuned that I drilled out a coal with little effort. Great product!

Thanks for sending my bow drill so promptly. The following is completely true. I never tried one of these before. I have watched your video. I opened the box and took the contents to my garage. I followed your directions and in a couple minutes had my first coal on my first try. I couldn’t believe it.

I have tried several times before getting you Deluxe Bow Drill set since without success. I figure I must need to cut a new notch etc. Thanks a lot for the clear examples and the great tool. Once I have consistently gotten fire from this board I'm going to try more and more primitive methods.
Thanks
Charles Boinske - Pennsylvania

Got it today. Thanks for the fast shipping.

Got my first Bow Drill fire started after about 30 minutes of trying using your set. For me the final piece of the puzzle was no-stick spray in instead of beeswax in the
handhold - worked like a charm.

Thanks again!

Graeme Quinn - Ohio

Just wanted to let you know that I received my High Intensity Flint and Steel kit today. Opened it up and was really surprised with all the things crammed into that can. I figured I would give it a try and was amazed that I actually got the "char" lit on just the third strike. Works GREAT. Should have done this years ago. This will surely be something for me to pass on to the troop as another way for fire starting. Thank you. Will surely pass out the word as to where I got this kit and hopefully maybe arise some interest. At least now the troop will actually be starting a "true" flint and steel fire rather than the "Scout flint and steel" (ferrocerium rod). Again, thank you.
Craig Hertzog - Dover, PA

Flint (Brandon Flint)

That English flint really does make a much better spark than the flint I'd been using from North Carolina. That stuff worked, but the black flint really WORKS!! 4th of July style!!!
Steve K - Thailand

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Fire Pistons

I just received my fire piston today, and I'm very impressed with the quality. I got a hot coal the first time!
Todd S - Blue Ash, Ohio

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The quality of your Fire Pistons are awesome! I was able to get a coal on the very first try with the Buffalo Horn one I got from you.

Jute Tinder

Your Jute Tinder is GREAT!
The jute twine I received from you is the fastest and easiest way to start a fire. Over the years I've used lots of tinder like steel wool, shredded cedar and 100% cotton balls. Jute Twine is the BEST tinder I've found. Simply apply a small spark using a flint bar and steel to shredded jute to start a fire. Shredded jute also works great with fire pistons and bow drills.

Another benefit I found of the Jute Twine is it's very strong and can be used for camp crafts and securing your gear. I wouldn't leave home without it!
J. Falk - Florida

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Fire Making Videos

Vol. 1 - An extremely, well done presentation ! An excellent "HOW TO" , easy to understand video. There's no reason not to be "smoking those sticks" with this exact instruction. This is a must have instructional, training aid in your survival library!
"Mtn Mel"-Deweese,
Ret. USN SERE
Nature Knowledge Programs-Colo.
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Vol. 2 - Amazing ! Now - these instructors have really done their research! Extreme, interesting unique methods of fire making skills and techniques we've all "heard and wondered about". Here it is! The actual science of "HOW TO". Excellent !
"Mtn Mel"-Deweese,
Ret. USN SERE
Nature Knowledge Programs-Colo.
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I received the Fire Vol. 1 DVD last week and watched it over the weekend. The DVD is excellent. It is professionally done and jam packed with information. Worth every penny of the price.
Thanks,
Bob - South Riding, VA

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I just wanted to email you to thank you for your great video, "Fire Video #1 - Making Primitive Fire". I have been trying to successfully start a fire using the bow drill method for about a year now, and I have purchased several videos and read numerous articles on it. But I have been unable to master this art.

However, I recently received your fire making video for beginners, and the step-by-step instruction goes into greater detail than any video I've seen, and this is important because, as anyone knows who attempts to start a fire using primitive methods, the devil is definitely in the details.
I am proud to say that, due to "Fire Video #1", I can now start a fire using the bow drill method (along with the others methods you teach in this video).
And if it can teach me, it can teach anyone.

Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Steve P - Godfrey, IL

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It does me great pleasure to personally recommend the Fire Video Series Volume I as set forth by Midwest Native Skills. As a current member of the US Air Force and Close Quarter Combat instructor for the Special Operations Combat Arts Association, I have yet to come across a video on the subject of fire of such clarity and expertise as presented in this video it leaves little to no room for error.

Every conceivable detail and structure was laid out in a logical format, addressed properly and taught in the most effective way possible with attention to detail. It appears that no expense was spared during it's production which used state of the art computer enhanced imagery and skillful camera angles to enable the user to appreciate the full value of each of the skills presented.

Eric Rodriguez, SSgt USAF - Dayton, Ohio
Special Operations Combative Arts Assoc.
Regional Representative

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Tom T - Malden, Massachusetts

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I received the flint stones and the Fire video 1 and 2 last week, and I am completely "FIRED UP". Your explanations and demonstrations are great! Yesterday, based on the instructions in Fire 1, I made my own steel striker from an old file. The grinding wheel spark test proved the metal was right. I gathered tinder and created char cloth just like in the video, and created a blazing nest of tinder in less than sixty seconds with the third spark from my flint and steel!

I was amazed that your method worked so well in my hands. I can’t wait to try the bow and drill method, because there is no fire like a fire made with on-site raw materials. To be able to create fire with primitive skills is going to greatly enhance my wilderness experiences. From now on, using matches will seem primitive to me.
Thanks for the FIRE,
Steve Beach - Lawsonville, NC

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Got fire on 3rd try. I had been trying over a period of three weeks. Some 80 tries no coal. Used various types of wood no results. Got your set and instructions and had smoke in 9 seconds and a full blaze in 1min 32 seconds. Now that I know what I am doing I was able to make fire with my homemade sets.

I am the training captain at a major police department. I am wanting to start an Wilderness education program for teens. Developing lesson plans and sharpening outdoor skills at this time.

Very impressed with your web site and products. Read dozens of books out there and from what I have learned there are those who write about survival techniques and those who have made it work. Its the small details that expose the fakers.
Plan on coming to one of your courses in the spring .

Thanks For the Help
Captain Palmer
Winchester Ky Police Dept.

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I watched your DVD Fire Making #1 for the second time last night. Your video is without question the best teaching aide to making primitive fires that I have ever seen. I wish I had seen the movie 17 years ago when I first started learning how to make primitive fires. Your video (DVD) would have saved me a lot of frustration and wasted time.

Although there are other videos on making primitive fires, none that I have seen equal the quality of your DVD. It is a high quality professional video with excellent teaching technique. I like the way that you show the student the way to make a fire using modern techniques to gain experience. Then you show the student how to make a fire with just the material that they might have if they were lost in the woods (their clothes and a knife). And then finally you teach the student how to make a fire with only materials that nature provided. (Great teaching technique!!)

Thanks for the terrific DVD on making Primitive Fire!!!
Ron Hampton
Texarkana, TX
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I Just want to tell you guys that you did an excellent job of putting together Fire Volume 1 and 2, I thought I knew a lot of the fire making methods but you showed me ways I never even knew about. You got me thinking outside the box
Thank you and keep up the good work
Glenn Hood
Salmon, Idaho
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Water Filters and Purifiers

Steri-Pen Water Purifier
Just got back from a trip to Mexico and put the Steri-Pen to work everyday. It was simple to use and most important I never got sick from drinking the water (I even used it to sterilize thinks like bottled water and coca cola just to be sure. Great Product - thanks for the recommendation
Bob S.- State College, PA

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Survival Equipment

Testimonials coming soon!

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Knives, Axes, Saws & Sharpeners

Testimonials coming soon!

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Flashlights and Lighting

Testimonials coming soon!

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Books

"The books you have on your site are truly the best books available in each category. I've never regretted a book recommended by MNSI"
Joe from Michigan

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Just wanted to let anyone that didn't already know, how well the re-chargeable handwarmers work. I have used these for years and I can tell you they REALLY do
work!

I have used mine for headaches, sinus problems and migraine headaches. Before I used these I went to alot of Doctors and tried a lot of things, but these help me more than anything. If I have a headache in the evening I can put one on the back of my neck and it relaxes me so the headache goes away. I would recommend these to anyone. I don't know what I would do without them.
They REALLY, REALLY WORK!!!
Martha Hayden

		Midwest Native Skills Institute, Inc. P.O. Box 31764 Cleveland, Ohio 44131 Tom@SurvivalSchool.com All Rights Reserved 2007