BCB International
British Survival Heritage Since 1854
BCB International is one of the world’s oldest survival-equipment specialists — a Cardiff, Wales family firm whose story runs from an 1854 Crimean-War cough bottle to the invention of the very first liferaft survival kit. At Keep Shooting we carry three of BCB’s NATO-issue essentials: the Liferaft Fishing Kit, the Mayday signal mirror, and the lightweight wire saw — small, proven pieces that earn their place in any kit.
About BCB International
BCB International is a Cardiff, Wales survival-equipment specialist with roots going back to 1854. At Keep Shooting we carry three of the brand’s compact, NATO-issue essentials — the Liferaft Fishing Kit, the Mayday Signal Mirror, and the Lightweight Wire Saw — the kind of small, proven gear that disappears into a pack until the day you need it.
From a Cough Bottle to the Liferaft Survival Kit
BCB’s name comes from “Browne’s Cough Bottle” — a cough medicine formulated in 1854 and shipped to British troops in the Crimean War. The Cardiff firm has been family-run by the Howell family since 1949, and over more than a century and a half it grew from a pharmacy into one of the world’s leading makers of survival and protective equipment for military, marine, and humanitarian use. Its defining moment came in the 1950s, when BCB worked with the British Army to design the world’s first liferaft survival kit — the lineage behind the compact Liferaft Fishing Kit we stock today, with 36 metres of line plus assorted hooks, swivels, weights, and lures packed into a pouch small enough for a ditch bag.
Three NATO-Issue Survival Essentials
Each BCB piece we carry is the real, issue-grade article rather than a camping-aisle imitation. The Mayday 2-Inch Signal Mirror is a NATO-codified heliograph (NSN 6350-99-613-9818) with a flash visible up to roughly ten miles; it floats, aims one-handed, and has a lanyard hole, so it belongs in any liferaft, ditch bag, or survival tin. The Lightweight Wire Saw is built from eight-strand stainless steel wire with nylon wrist loops — NATO-approved, pocket-sized, and able to cut through wood, plastic, and bone, which makes it a staple of escape-and-evasion and bushcraft kits alike. None of them weighs much, and any one of them can change the outcome of a bad day outdoors.
Build Out Your Survival Kit
BCB’s pieces are made to ride alongside the rest of your kit. Pair them with a first-aid kit, a canteen, and a mess kit from our broader field gear catalog, and round out an overnight setup with a sleeping bag or tent. For a cutting edge to back up the wire saw, the ESEE survival knives are a natural match, and you’ll find more field-ready apparel and gear from Rothco and Mil-Tec. Every BCB order ships from Keep Shooting with fast handling and our satisfaction guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions — BCB International
Yes, we maintain inventory of the most popular BCB International products. Each product listing shows real-time stock status. If an item is temporarily out of stock, you can sign up for back-in-stock notifications on the product page.
Yes! All orders over $49.95 qualify for free shipping, including BCB International products. Orders typically ship within 1–2 business days.
Keep Shooting offers hassle-free returns on BCB International products. If you're not completely satisfied, contact our customer service team for a return authorization. All products must be in original, unused condition.
Yes, Keep Shooting is an authorized BCB International dealer. All products are sourced directly and include full manufacturer warranty coverage.