What will you use to strike your lifeboat matches on?

I have just been smacked in the face with another of my survival misconceptions. I was under the impression that the waterproof/windproof "lifeboat" matches NATO 9920-99-966-9432 as sold by Lewis International, Inc., Miami, FL 33172, were the best available matches of any type for survival use. So I decided to test them the other day. What I discovered is that the only way I could get them to light by striking was to use the striking surface glued to the top of the non-waterproof bottle that they are packaged in. What prompted me to even try was that I had just read the section on fire starting in Paul Risk's book on wilderness survival in which he stresses the importance strike-anywhere matches in a survival situation. Mr. Risk makes good sense when he warns that varous types of "strike-only-on..." matches become worthless when the striking surface invariably becomes lost or damaged. I tried striking these on various surfaces including my kitchen stove burner grate, my multi-tool file, a piece of coarse emery cloth, and even on a strike-only matchbox striking surface. I ruined several matches and can only conclude that if the cap of that container in which the matches are packaged becomes damaged or lost, then the matches are worthless except as kindling. I am not the sort to take a manufacturer at his word when he says that these matches are waterproof. Rather, I prefer to imagine that they are very water-resistant and much more so than regular matches would be. Still I would never consider carrying them in anything but a true waterproof container. To do that means that I now also have to pack the striking surface (the entire lid) inside that waterproof container along with the matches. Not much can be done to reduce the chances of losing the cap and there is an even more likely chance that it will be damaged. The one match that I did strike on the cap (just to insure that they would indeed work) tore a chunk out of the striking surface, so I am now wondering just how long that would last anyway. Would I wind up with matches that I couldn't strike because the surface was torn up too badly?

Anybody have any helpful tips or solution to this problem?

thats weird, i had a hard time lighting lifeboat matches with the strike surface of the lid. In mine tests lifeboat matches work very well on normal match striking surface. In fact that what i use to light lifeboat matches. Scraping of the vanish like layer of the head first will save your striking surface.

i personnaly add lifeboat matches to the match box of the coughlans "waterproof" matches. This way i got waterproof matches and waterresistent matches, which are easier to use and cheaper. I ofcorse throw out some of the coughlans box first before i add the lifeboats to make space. They both work on the same striking surface.

your question is why I posted this
explanation about safety matches and why they NEED a special striking surface, two days ago...

Hope it will helpyou .......

I appreciate your reply and I did find your post on the subject. My post was as much to let anyone who might have made a false assumption (as I did) know that the lifeboats ARE NOT strike-anywhere. Your post was very infomative and appreciated. I am adding coated strike-anywhere's to my kit now though.

Oh, yes, I now understand what you meant ....
That could be .... disturbing (at the least !! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) to find out, in the field, they are NOT strike anywhere matches.

Has anyone found a good source of strike anywhere matches. So far I have struck out locally.

Bill

I live in a major city and I buy them in huge bulk at the local Albertson's grocery store. They are what we use around house as our regular kitchen matches for the grill, fireplace, etc. No problems finding them here. Must be a Texas thing I guess. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

http://www.emergencyresources.com/er_p11.html. They are $1.99 box of 250 large ones, but be aware that there will be additional shipping charges due to the HAZMAT toll required.

Might be worth a try, but the last time I looked in Albertson's in west Ft. Worth, they didn't have anything but the Strike-Only kind.

If you have a Galyans near you they were selling 3 box packs of strike anywhere kitchen size matches. I'm not sure if they still do, but they are the only place i've found in NJ that sells them.