I have some BCB from 1994 as well, and I just lit three of them. They all took a few strikes to ignite, although every strike produced a flash. They took a little while to actually burst into flame once lit, and when submerged half-way through their burn, the flame went out but they kept burning at the same pace but only with a small vigorous blue ring at the chemical. They all burned down to the end or very near the end of the chemical, but they all went completely out when there was no chemical, even the one I didn't dunk in water.

I just lit two more:
1. dunked and then lit, the reduced blue burn, but eventually came to flame, back to reduced blue burn when wet to end of chemical.
2. lgnition on first strike (I pushed harder that time), flame all through to end of chemical, not dunked.

So, they still work, but if they get wet before striking, dry them off, and don't let them get wet while burning, as it might be harder to light tinder with only a small blue burning ring. The wood is only a handle. I don't recall if the wood burned when I purchased them in 1994. I also can't recall from back then if the flame was noticably reduced after being dunked, but I don't recall that they weren't either, and because I think I would have remembered that, they probably didn't. I do recall being very impressed with them when I first got them, now not so much. They are probably losing efficacy.