#263775 - 09/29/13 07:38 AM
Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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Well, I never in a million years thought I'd do this but I just spend $15 on three 250ct boxes of Diamond Strike-Anywhere matches! Here's the deal...I don't smoke, and really don't have a lot of use for matches. I do like to keep some around the house for emergencies, mostly for lighting candles, stoves, sterno etc for power outages. Generally I have a few lighters around and some UCO matches for hiking and camping. Now you folks will probably think I've been living in a cave for the last few years, and maybe I have, but I hadn't realized til relatively recently that the good old red-and-white strike-anywhere matches were discontinued in 2010 in favor of "greener" ones that must be struck on the box. True, you can still get ones that claim to be SA but in my experience they don't work with spit unless you strike on the box. I suppose it's mostly for legal reasons that they made the change but for wilderness/survival use I really like to have matches that can be struck on something besides the box. After all, the box can get wet and the striker rendered useless, and of the strikers can get used up before the matches. My favorite improvised striker is a kydex knife sheath. Anyone else here rathole away a bunch of matches before they were discontinued?
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#263776 - 09/29/13 10:24 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Addict
Registered: 03/18/10
Posts: 530
Loc: Montreal Canada
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The modern day SA matches I've tried are worse than dollar store strike on box matches. I think the best option you have is storm matches, burns when wet and in wind, the the plastic container is pretty watertight.
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#263778 - 09/29/13 12:33 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: jzmtl]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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Another vote for storm matches as a backup ignition source. A good container is quite important. I generally use a Bic as my routine appliance for this task.
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Geezer in Chief
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#263780 - 09/29/13 02:04 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: hikermor]
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Geezer
Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
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I had a couple Bic lighters including the one I found frozen in the park last winter. Based on the found lighter's resilience to bad times I bought a 5 pack of Bics to populate all my kits (packs, vests et al). Recently I bought another 5 pack just to stash away. Bics in general are inexpensive, and they hold up well to rough and wet handling. It's hard for me to justify buying matches.
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Better is the Enemy of Good Enough. Okay, what’s your point??
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#263784 - 09/29/13 03:38 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Addict
Registered: 11/26/04
Posts: 506
Loc: S.E. Pennsylvania
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They had to get rid of them because mice could chew on them and cause a fire.
Well, at lease that's what my grandma told me when I was 5.
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Univ of Saigon 68
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#263786 - 09/29/13 04:31 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Rapscallion
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/06/04
Posts: 4020
Loc: Anchorage AK
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I have several boxes of the green tip SA type. Not nearly as good as the ones from years ago.
But I also have lots of storm matches, including a couple tins of Coleman collectibles. What great packages.
Used to be able to strike matches on my zipper. The new ones fail.
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The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
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#263791 - 09/29/13 07:23 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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I really like the UCO Stormproof matches, and I have quite a few of them. FWIW the matches I just got are older ones but still sealed in celophane; they're the old Diamond ones. I opened a box to try them and they do indeed reliably strike on kydex, and they worked on a DMT diamond sharpening stone I had laying around.
Obviously they're a curio. Once I use them them up there won't be any more, and certainly the limited remaining stock will get scarcer and poorer as they 'age'. Just wanted a few high quality SA for my kits.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#263792 - 09/29/13 07:49 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Paul810]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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I squirreled away about 10 boxes of Ohio Blue Tips years ago when I heard they were going out of business. Glad I did, as it's pretty much impossible to find a good strike-anywhere match nowadays. Even regular kitchen safety matches are getting harder to find around here. I guess people just don't buy matches like they used to. This is a very good point. I remember reading once that when the 'sulphur match', the modern strike-anywhere, was invented the president implored them to release the patent rights "for the good of all mankind." The modern match was that big of a deal. But fast forward to 2013 and the match is nearly obsolete. I almost never use them at all. Most smokers use a lighter. I guess that naked fire is not much used now by the average person, and when it is there are better ways to light one than a match. Still, I dig having some old red tips!
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#263793 - 09/29/13 08:24 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 08/03/07
Posts: 3078
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For lighting a fire in a survival situation, you can use both a strike anywhere match alternately pushed into cardboard with a windproof match. Make a row of about 10-15 alternating strike anywhere and windproof matches then dip everything in melted wax. This will keep both matches safe and dry from water or dampness. To light a fire cut off section of one strike anywhere and one windproof match, expose the strike anywhere match head then strike to further ignite the windproof match, the wax covered cardboard will further burn for an additional 1-2 minutes. If you can't get a fire going using this match setup then you need bring along some Coleman gas or Methylated spirit as well Knowing how to light/stike a match could be crucial as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsbSMplJ6g4
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#263796 - 09/29/13 11:03 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: CANOEDOGS]
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Geezer
Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
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Strike Anywhere @ Amazon Whodathunk that Amazon would have something like that?
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Better is the Enemy of Good Enough. Okay, what’s your point??
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#263798 - 09/30/13 03:24 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Russ]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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It looks like all the Amazon ones are either the crappy new style of green ones or NOS red ones selling for $40 per box. Essentially the same price as ebay or higher. But I will have to check out the new ones if there's a good option. I'm pretty close to the MN border.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#263800 - 09/30/13 04:09 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3223
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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I gave up on strike-anywhere matches a long, long time ago. Never could get any that were reliable after any time in storage, even carefully sealed. The white tip would rub off and that was it. In fact, the way I would guarantee that the matches would work was to pack a safety match striker strip (folded over onto itself) with the strike anywhere matches.
I actually had better luck with good ol' paper matches. They would work even after being soaked and dried out. Just tear out about four of them including the base they are held by and you have yourself a surprisingly decent match.
Bics replaced them and I've never looked back. I still carry lifeboat matches for extreme situations, and they do seem to hold up over time.
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#263801 - 09/30/13 04:23 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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You have a good point, Doug. There's a reason I don't use matches much, just wanted to have some of the older kind. UCO Stormproof matches are about as good as it gets IMO, and all my kits have some of them packed inside. A Firesteel.com GobSpark Armaggedon with some Tinder-Quik is my main go-to fire tool, though. Hard to argue with a Bic! They work great and are cheap. I have some Bics but my favorite lighter is the Numyth Tohil peanut lighter. It's waterproof, very very well made and has been completely reliable so far. A little expensive but good gear often is. Plus, it's a long term investment. And it doesn't hurt that I got two of them when GoingGear.com had a 30% off sale.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#263802 - 09/30/13 06:15 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: haertig]
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Rapscallion
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/06/04
Posts: 4020
Loc: Anchorage AK
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The new ones are just as lousy, and I've no idea why.
_________________________
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
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#263808 - 09/30/13 01:55 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: hikermor]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 2208
Loc: Beer&Cheese country
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Another vote for storm matches as a backup ignition source. A good container is quite important. I generally use a Bic as my routine appliance for this task. Ditto. If needed, can light with a lighter.
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#263810 - 09/30/13 02:03 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Geezer
Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
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I do occasionally use a Green tip strike on box match, they seem to work fine. I gave up on strike anywhere matches years ago; they just aren't the same quality. Just another reason I switched to Bics.
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Better is the Enemy of Good Enough. Okay, what’s your point??
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#263812 - 09/30/13 02:46 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 03/01/11
Posts: 309
Loc: north central west TX
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....my favorite lighter is the Numyth Tohil peanut lighter. It's waterproof, very very well made and has been completely reliable so far. A little expensive but good gear often is. Plus, it's a long term investment. And it doesn't hurt that I got two of them when GoingGear.com had a 30% off sale. while the exterior case is lovely, it would appear to contain the same lighter as the standard Peanut lighters now available for under $5 on ebay. i do agree that the Peanut is a good one. its the most reliable lighter i've found after a long search (that's not to say its 100%, nothing is!). in fact, this unknown product was something i came across back in 2007 - see post #6 here: http://edcforums.com/threads/can-any-recommend-some-good-keychain-sized-lighters.42660/
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#263828 - 09/30/13 10:56 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: wileycoyote]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/08/03
Posts: 1019
Loc: East Tennessee near Bristol
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The design is similar but it is much larger than the peanut lighter from County Comm. The Numyth Tohil lighter section is about 1/3 bigger diameter and similar height to the peanut. With the peanut being steel to the NT lighter's aluminum, the weight is about the same.
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#263830 - 09/30/13 11:01 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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The Numyth Tohil is a really exceptional piece of gear. Probably the guts are pretty standard (and well made) but the machining is immaculate. The O-ring seal is great which prevents it from drying out. The threads are well machined and it works smoothly. Mine is a bright orange finish which minimizes the chances of losing it if you drop it. And the bottom is flat, allowing it to stand up well for use as candle.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#263839 - 10/01/13 12:41 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/08/03
Posts: 1019
Loc: East Tennessee near Bristol
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Also, it's got a much better seal. Looks like about 1/16th inch and is held between the body and cap by a lip on the cap. The seals on the peanut I've got can be easily rolled from between the two with a finger with it closed.
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#263843 - 10/01/13 12:50 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: brandtb]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 01/21/03
Posts: 2203
Loc: Bucks County PA
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They had to get rid of them because mice could chew on them and cause a fire.
Well, at lease that's what my grandma told me when I was 5. Still made. http://www.diamondbrands.com/pages/matches/28.phpStill for sale - Go to Amazon.com Order as many as you like.
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#263845 - 10/01/13 01:30 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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Martin, two of those three links are to the newer, clearly inferior products that replaced the red tip matches. The other is to the old matches, but 1) they're now $45/box of 250 and 2) the reviews (if you look at the dates) indicate that most people aren't getting the original red tip match. All of the information I can find shows that the original red tip version was discontinued. From reviews, and my own experience, the newer green tip versions are very poor, or at least don't light well unless the supplied striker is used. Diamond's own website lists only strike-on-box matches.
I could be missing something but it appears that current production of strike anywhere is limited to the green and white matches. There is one other brand that's red tipped but the reviews are pretty uniformly poor.
If you're finding them in local stores, I wonder if they're NOS or being produced for regional distribution? I'd love to see a picture of what you're finding in your area.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#263846 - 10/01/13 02:01 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1182
Loc: Channeled Scablands
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Do the green tip still work to re-prime centerfire primers? Or as smokeless powder replacement? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7nphPRG6JA
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#263847 - 10/01/13 03:04 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: clearwater]
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Rapscallion
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/06/04
Posts: 4020
Loc: Anchorage AK
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I would say probably not. I do not re-load primers, but given the poor performance of the igniter in the new formula, I can't see where they will function reliably in a firearm.
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The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
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#263916 - 10/02/13 02:28 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 08/03/12
Posts: 264
Loc: Missouri
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" I do not re-load primers" I've never heard of anyone reloading primers. Do you mean reloading Ammo?
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#263929 - 10/03/13 02:55 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: JPickett]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1182
Loc: Channeled Scablands
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" I do not re-load primers" I've never heard of anyone reloading primers. Do you mean reloading Ammo? Follow the link to a youtube video. There was interest when people could get primers a couple of years ago.
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#263938 - 10/03/13 06:01 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 12/26/02
Posts: 2995
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Its is possible to reload primers, its just not as simple as reloading the rest of the ammo.
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#263951 - 10/03/13 11:31 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Addict
Registered: 03/10/03
Posts: 424
Loc: Michigan
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I have heard that strike anywhere matches are used in the making of certain street drugs.This is why they are not what they used to be.The same can be said of Polar Pure iodine crystals.Last I knew they are no longer available.Again the lower element causes restrictions on the prepared minded.....
BOATMAN John
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#263978 - 10/04/13 08:11 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: boatman]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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I have heard that strike anywhere matches are used in the making of certain street drugs.This is why they are not what they used to be.The same can be said of Polar Pure iodine crystals.Last I knew they are no longer available.Again the lower element causes restrictions on the prepared minded.....
BOATMAN John You know, I didn't even think of that. You can't even buy two boxes of cold medicine nowadays. That's a shocker to folks like us that buy cartloads of stuff to be prepared. That may have a lot to do with it, but I'm not sure. After all, didn't they just move the stuff from the tip of the match to the side of the box?
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#264079 - 10/07/13 06:03 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 1182
Loc: Channeled Scablands
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I do like the thicker wood on the green tip matches. They don't break as easily when struck and burn a little longer.
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#264140 - 10/09/13 07:34 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 01/06/08
Posts: 319
Loc: Canada
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In Canada you can get SA Matches at any Canadian Tire. 250 full sized Redbird Matches cost around $3 CAD with Tax. Redbird SA Matches
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Bruce Zawalsky Chief Instructor Boreal Wilderness Institute boreal.net
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#264159 - 10/10/13 05:01 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: BruceZed]
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Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3223
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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In Canada you can get SA Matches at any Canadian Tire. 250 full sized Redbird Matches cost around $3 CAD with Tax. With all respect, though, the matches I see now (esp. the Redbirds) are half the match you used to be able to get. I mean the "half" comment literally: half the wood, half the red stuff, half the phosphor tip. IMO they've been dumbed down (or thinned down) to the point where they are good for lighting a cigarette or propane stove but not much else. When they're dead fresh they're usable, but they don't hold up over time, and after any moisture exposure the "SA" portion is unreliable; pack a phosphor striker strip if you really need flame. [end of rant mode]
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#264164 - 10/10/13 07:14 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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That's a common problem with stuff nowadays. I don't want to start another "back in my day..." rant but things seem to be shoddier across the board. Some things are still very high quality (HK handguns come to mind), but quality seems less common.
I still really like UCO Stormproof matches. And I'm anxious to try out the NOS Diamond ones I bought.
_________________________
“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman
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#264173 - 10/10/13 03:07 PM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: BruceZed]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 2208
Loc: Beer&Cheese country
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In Canada you can get SA Matches at any Canadian Tire. 250 full sized Redbird Matches cost around $3 CAD with Tax. Redbird SA Matches You can also still buy Scepter military style gas cans. (and Tim Horton's, though there's a few in the US) Grrrr .... other than the frigid weather, you guys have it pretty good up there!
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#264214 - 10/11/13 11:56 AM
Re: Old School Strike-anywhere matches.
[Re: Phaedrus]
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Addict
Registered: 05/23/08
Posts: 477
Loc: Somerset UK
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Strike anywhere matches are still sold in the UK, but are much less used than in years gone by. Certainly useful, but large stashes of matches, especialy strike anwhere ones make me a little nervous.
I read somwhere, but can not substantiate, that strike anywhere matches were prohibited on board ship on account of the fire risk. One could certainly see the risk in rough weather of a box of matches being struck by some heavy article and igniting.
A well known brand of safety matches in the UK is the "ship" brand, and it is alleged that at one time this brand was the only brand allowed on board ships.
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