Presumed,<br><br>These things really interest me also. I have got to get one.<br><br>My understanding is that the wooden plunger itself is not a tight fit but that the gasket makes the tight fit. So a bit of swelling in the shaft would not prevent the piston from moving. Also the gasket material is not absolutely perfect, so a slow push of the piston down the tube would allow air to leak out around the gasket to allow you to seat the piston. Only a rapid push of the piston generates the required compression of air to ignite the tinder.<br><br>I am looking at the horn version for myself, hopefully an after the Holiday present to myself. I also want one of their tinder carriers. I ask if they could make a comb unit with tinder carrier in the handpiece of the firepiston and was told they are working on this version in Wood. Maybe this will be available after the Holidays.<br><br>The plastic versions you found do not appeal to me as much as the wood or horn models simply due to their more industrial look. (Shades of my wooden walking stick preference).<br><br>Hopefully, Paramedicpete will have some time over the holidays to give us an evaluation of the Wooden FirePiston he has. <br>