I thought they were made illegal in PA but last night while cruising our local grocery store, I just happened to look up and behold! Diamond Strike Anywhere Matches. Thy aren't the old reliable Ohio Blue Tips, but seem to be of good quality. Needless to say, I grabbed a three pack! My wife didn't really understand why I was so excited.... wonder why?

I remember reading recently (within the last year) that the blue tips went away because too many amateur bomb-makers, i.e. teenaged boys, were stuffing them into pipes and such in misguided efforts to follow vague and usually stupid/dangerous instructions for making same that they found on the web.

I heard the same thing. That was why I was surprised to see them in the store. Apparently the big thing was to stuff them into tennis balls. Gee, that seems like a dumb way to start a fire...

I did a little research on Ohio Blue Tips and it seems Diamond Brands bought them out and closed them down. There is only one other brand I have ever found recently in the USA, they are Penley brand with a West Paris, Maine address. The quality is better than the Diamonds although they are apparently made in China. They all look consistent in diameter and heads are all "full" instead of the Diamond inconsistent sticks and heads. I bought them in a little country store to light a BBQ after a cabin we rented was found to be without a stove. I actually also still have a big box of Ohio Blue Tips and unfortunately they are so old they will usually not light at all. Just a token reminder of my campng days as a youth:)

I recall a canadian brand also;either a bluebird or red cardinal on the logo-or was it a big canadian snow goose like my friends from Barrie that moved down here? Maybe our canadian members can report. <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Might that be a swan?? We had Swan brand here, a yellow box with a swan on it. But I do not remember where they were produced.

Burak

I think it's Redbird - I'll check when I get home, I have a big box of them. You can either buy a big box or you can buy a "six-pack" of smaller boxes, like the kind my dad always used to carry. Canadian Tire sells them in the Camping Section, and so does Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). I've probably seen them in the local Safeway, for that matter. I've never had any trouble lighting them, unless it's obviously deformed (which happens but not very often). I've never heard any complaints about them. If you're up near the Canadian border, swing across and ask the Customs guy if there's a Canadian Tire nearby <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For those who are interested in the Diamond brand of strike anywhere matches, they seem readily available. I usually get them at OSH (Orchard Supply Hardware). My wife thinks they are also available at local supermarkets.

John

I still have a box of Blue Tips that I guess I should ration since they are no longer available. Is there a way to properly store them for an extended period of time?

I would say in U.K.


Alain