Gearing Up for a Backpacking Trip.

In preperation for a upcomming backpack trip to the Gila National Forest I've been looking at traditional woodsman equipment. Now I've always liked handmade knives and leather goods. The whole idea of making your own tools and then using them just gives you a sense that your closer to the land.
To me thats how things should be. I recently came across another device thats thousands of years old. Its called a Fire Piston. A fire piston works on the principle that if you compress air extremely fast you create friction. Enough friction and you can create enough heat to start a fire. Thats exactly what a fire piston does.

Its a small cylinder like object that has a rod that slides into a chamber with very little clearance. On the end of the rod you place fungus,dead wood, or other tinder type material. Then you insert the rod and slam it into the cylinder. This creates a ember that is red hot with which you can start a fire with. Traditional fire building has always been interesting to me.
Now some could say that you could just strike a match or use a lighter. However these items are not full proof. Weather conditions and other things can have an effect on the use of these things.
To add to the value of the fire pistons craftsmen are making them out of beautiful cocobola wood and other materials. Hopefully I can find one within my price range before my next trip so I won't have to take matches or a lighter on the hike!