ironraven,

I have a bunch. The one in question is a ferro rod pulled from a StrikeForce. It is 1/2" in diameter by 2 1/4" long. At first I thought it was just where the black coating is, so I tried again on a shinny part. Same result! Now I need to test my other ferro rods.

Check out yours. Rinse it under the faucet for a few seconds and then try to make sparks. All I got was wet gunk, at first.

Any space or weight taken up by matches would be better used by a good ferro rod and treated cotton-ball tinder. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I keep a few lifeboat matches in my kit for serious emergencies. A couglan's tinder tab that's been pulled apart and a lit match = fire. Dump my tinder on top. One thing that I have found is that putting the match box, or striker and matches in a small ziploc bag, or tin foil works wonders for servicability.

I say always have ferrorod (or sparklite), matches, and tinder because what if some rug rat has to use my kit to start a fire? Far-fetched, I know, but what if? But its still debateable, it depends on who is expected to use the kit and their skill at using what's in it. Just my plugged-nickel's worth.