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hi can anyone tell me what the correct name for this stove. It is a small can of waxy fuel that comes with a holder for canned food. Lasts a few hours? I think it is Swiss
Any ideas?

Thanks Yowie

You are right, it´s a Swiss fuel cooker called "Notkocher 71" (emergency stove 71)

Speaking of stoves does anyone know how many uses one can get from a German esbit folding stove or a UK hexamine folding stove before they need to be replaced? I recall reading something about the UK rations at one time included a cooker with fuel tabs and if I remember correctly a new cooker was issued every few days but fuel tabs were "re-filled" every day or every other day? I'm thinking that as long as they are not abused/buried with sand/whatever they would last quite awhile. Any thoughts??

rationtin440 wrote:Speaking of stoves does anyone know how many uses one can get from a German esbit folding stove

I´m using mine for now +25 years...

Thanks housil! A few years ago I bought several at a really good sale and I figure now I have enough to last quite awhile. Still too funny though, the fuel tablets smell like fish!

rationtin440 wrote: Still too funny though, the fuel tablets smell like fish!

Before or after you burn them? Never noticed that yet, just a "weird" smell...

Actually I may be confusing them with the UK hexamine fuel bars which as the reviewer said are very waxy indeed. However there is a distinctly fishy smell, and I seem to recall it from the esbit fuel tabs after opening a box and before using them. I'm not sure about the toxicity level of either type of fuel tablets but since I don't plan to eat them or use them inside any enclosed structure without adequate ventilation, I'd say that point is moot. (although the hexamine tabs do smell worse than the esbits when I've used them----not sure what the smell reminds me of but definately re-inforces the warnings about NOT using them without adequate ventilation.).

I forgot to mention this; I'm curious about the "shelf life" of the fuel bars themselves (esbit and hexamine) compared to the trioxane. I have used trioxane bars from 1982 withing the past 3 months and they seem to be fine----a bit crumbly though. And of course one will get a truely horrible taste on the tongue after handling the crumbles if one eats finger food without washing ones' hands thoroughly.....

These are trickier to find in the states, but they are around, and come with a book of wooden matches

rationtin440 wrote:Speaking of stoves does anyone know how many uses one can get from a German esbit folding stove or a UK hexamine folding stove before they need to be replaced? I recall reading something about the UK rations at one time included a cooker with fuel tabs and if I remember correctly a new cooker was issued every few days but fuel tabs were "re-filled" every day or every other day? I'm thinking that as long as they are not abused/buried with sand/whatever they would last quite awhile. Any thoughts??

Esbit stove will last until it rusts to death or is crushed beyond repair, super simple it just works forever even with heavy use/abuse.

rationtin440 wrote:I forgot to mention this; I'm curious about the "shelf life" of the fuel bars themselves (esbit and hexamine) compared to the trioxane. I have used trioxane bars from 1982 withing the past 3 months and they seem to be fine----a bit crumbly though. And of course one will get a truely horrible taste on the tongue after handling the crumbles if one eats finger food without washing ones' hands thoroughly.....

Esbit = Hexamine

Hexamine will last pretty much forever, you can even put a cube out and re use it later.

Trioxane will last pretty much forever IF its in an air tight container, otherwise it sublimes and your left with a somewhat flammable dust.

(That said im using trioxane from 1980 that has been stored in a box in a corner, and its perfect.)