My wife found a source for Strike Anywhere Matches (Wal Mart in SW MO.).

My question is; How to safely carry them. I have plastic and metal match cases but I am concerned about friction between two match heads. Can I load them 1 up, 1 down and would that help?
Any experiences carrying them?

Thanks
Jon Davis

The main problem would be the wear to the matchhead due to the rattling. This can be prevented with a cotton ball.
I´ve tried to ignite the matches in a container by severe impact. The experiment was totally unsuccessfull. Carrying the matches in a container should be save enough.
Loading one up one down will not do much for the safety but it will increase the capacity of the container.

From what I've READ, but not TRIED, if you paint them with clear nail polish, they'll be fine.

... also, so long as the surface that the tips are touching are smooth-ish, the match heads should not ignite. The ignition material is on the tips, not the sides, so match-to-match contact shouldn't be an issue. As kids in Scouts (loooong ago) we carried these things all over the place without a hint of respect for them, and none of us ever blew up (to my knowledge).

I totally agree with the other posts!
A couple of things: 1) Putting the finger nail polish on the match heads makes them VERY water resistant, 2) I have never had a problem carrying them in a match container but I have learned the hard way--NEVER put a group of them into your pants pocket ! ! !

Great find, I've been looking for some of them for months and can't find any <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I would carry them in either a plastic or metal match case, packed very tightly so they can't shake and move around at all. Alternating up/down should help get more in.

I agree with all posts. I dip in clear nail polish. Once dry I dip the wooden part (not the match head) several times in melted paraffin. Turns them into waterproof, little torches! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I found them at K-Mart and at some grocery stores in Arkansas. I buy a pack about every 6 months and dole out some to relatives.

Pick me up a box and I will send you the money! I can't get them anywhere. A friend gave me some but they are very old and won't light.

i also store my (clear nail polish dipped) strike anywhere matches in one of those plastic waterproof containers with a cotton ball to keep 'em in place. i take one out every now and then to test and they've all lit up with a couple of strikes. i usually strike them against the handle of my kershaw pocket knife since thats what i usually always carry with me.

I still have my original BSA metal match safe and a GI plastic one, carried them all over the world with never a match lighting accidentally. Keep in mind, fire requires oxygen and there is simply not enough in a closed match safe.
I am surprised that strike anywhere matches are hard to find. I get mine at the regular grocery store, a pack of 3 boxes sells for about $2.99. I can't remember a grocery store that didn't have them somewhere on the aisles. I prefer Penley brand, seem to strike better than the Diamond brand, and the sticks are stonger. Back in the good ole days, the Ohio Blue Tips were the best. Diamond bought them out and so they faded away. Cheers!

Sorry Widget, but the match head itself does not need oxygen to burn as it has it's own oxidizer. Only the wood needs oxygen to burn. And if one of them ignites then they all will light and the container will blowup. Matchheads packed together can and do make a serious explosive device. But properly stacked matches in a container such as yours should not be a problem.

I carry them with me every day.

When they are in a match case, I load them half up and half down, with a cotton ball at each end. Keeps them from rattling, prevents the "poof-bang" sound of an accidental ignition of a bunch of matches, and gets one or two more in the case.

With a flat pack, I put them into a strip of cardboard, half in one way, half in the other, so that even if they do light, I'm likely to only loose half of them. (Although everything else in the tin might be pooched as well, though.) That goes into a heavy duty, mini zipper bag, then into a tin of some sort. I carry them like this for both my PSK (in the woods) and the survival module in my bag of tricks (around town).

In either case, I give them a double coat of clear shellac- they burn hotter and they are more resistant to moisture. In the flat packs, I put a bit of emery board between the strips if I'm carrying two, or taped down if I'm carrying one; in the case, I cut one a piece of one to fit, and make sure that I've got the cotton ball in there good. I find it holds up to moisture better than the striker on the box, and it ensures you have a striker that is as dry as the matches. (I used to not do that, but this place is good about pointing out your erroneous preconceptions.)

speaking of the infamous ohio blue tips

-yes i stand pround to say i still have probably half a box stored away in a air tight container..............when they began to disappear, i decide to hold on to a few for a rainy day

You guys and gals ever play "cowboy" maych fights as kids? Take turns striking each other match heads and the first one to light loses.

I have been having a hard time finding the strike anywhere matches in Hawaii for the past six months or so. I remember the blue tip ones. Those were great. Haven't seen those for a long long time.

Just pack them carefully and you will be fine. I have gone to a couple of calls where some kid thought it would be fun to put a bunch in a pipe and the friction lit them off and poof look mom no fingers. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Do a search online and i'm sure you'll find a video one of these Einsteins made.

typicaly i would store matches wraped in cotton wool, even though it takes up more space (my EDC is a bergen, and its not confused with a BOB). that also means that you have tinder for each of your matches. If they are tightly packed so that they can't rub on anything works, but the problem comes when you have used half of them. something to think about, doesn't matter if they store forever, when they blow up after you have used three or four.

the other thing is to try not to subject your kit to hard impacts(I.e. run over by a jeep or tank, droped out of second story windows, ect), and check it every now and then, particualy any fire hazards. you don't want to be in a survival situation because of your suvival kit.

i think in the regular waterproof match container that a cotton ball would do a pretty good job at preventing significant friction. even if almost all of the matches have been used. of course, if you must use that cotton for tinder then you should find a substitute. but even then, i'd say for nail polish coated strike anywhere matches it would take some serious impact to cause ignition. it would be an interesting test though if anyone has the time.

Would be glad to. But reluctant to send them through the mail. Check Wal-Marts.

Jon

Around here we have the more hazardous kind of the strike anywhere matches. The entire head is made from ignition material. Even with those match-to-match contact is no issue. The space in the container simply doesn´t allow the matches to achieve a sufficient speed for ignition. My main reason for packing cotton wool in the container was the abrassion on the head caused by the rattling.

I have heard a rumor (don't remember where) that they changed the formula to reduce the chance of ignition caused by impact. I guess that this might cause a gap in availability.

Many of the places that used to carry the StrikeAnywhere matches ceased to do so because the cost doubled due to them becoming labeled 'hazardous material'.

Track down the manager of the grocery store you usually patronize, and ask if they could get some. Point out that hunters, fishermen, boaters, etc, don't usually carry around a large cardboard box of matches with them. Also point out that no one else around seems to carry them. Maybe they will change their ordering habit if they think there might be enough profit in them.

K-Mart, the higher-priced grocery stores, and some of the outdoor-type stores may carry them in your area, too.

Sue

I've found the Penley brand strike-anywheres in Albertson's grocery stores near the BBQ and picnic supplies.

I always load my matchcases with head up/head down matches. I have never had any issues doing this at all. About the only thing I ever consider is how long the match sticks are. I have a couple of boxes of Strike Anywhere matches with long sticks that do not fit my cases. A quick 2mm trim and these are set to go, but if I did not look first it would not be a fun time putting the lid on the case.

I use Shellac to coat my matches, this works very well for waterproofing. I have found wax eventually caused them to degrade.

I would recommend anyone who sees Strike Anywhere matches to buy them. They do seem harder to find and impossible in some states.

Here are some of my cases...



With shellaced matches...

What kind of match cases are those?

They appear to be K&M Matchcases. Another link. Another.

Although, they look very similar to the Silva matchcase.

-john

Yup, those are K&M matchcases. K&M used to make the Silva cases too, but not that current screw top version which is made in Taiwan.

Those K&M matchcases sure are sweet. But knowing how well prepared you are, Schwert, I'm almost afraid to ask...do you EDC all of them at the same time? I'm chuckling as I type this, but then again, I wouldn't be surprised if you said, "Yes". <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Well I will admit to having quite a few scattered about, but no I do not carry all of them at once.

I do have one in my vest and one in each vehicle, one in my camera backpack, and one.....

well you get the idea <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I do think they are about the best case around....but am a bit hesitant to toot that horn as I do help the maker, Keith Lunders, retail them.

I fully believe in the Chris K philosophy that matches should always be part of a kit for their familiarity alone....your skills with alternative methods are great but mean nothing while you are incapacitated.

I carried strike anywhere matches up and down the Appalachian Tail in the 70's in a cheap plastic combination whistle/compass/matchcase without incident. I recently found that old matchcase in going through some of my old gear and the matches inside (from the 80's) still worked fine. It's been stored in cardboard boxes in sheds, attics, and garages and never opened until September of this year. When the matchcase was in my pack in the 70's it got dropped off of one cliff, floated in several rivers, and generally well used without regard for the matches inside. I loaded matches one up and one down (just to fit in a couple of extra) and used them almost daily without incident for years.

I was in my local ACE hardware store today and found strike anywhere matches. They were in the isle with BBQ supplies. They had 5 boxes (250 count) at $1.29/box so I bought them all.
Been looking for these for a while.

all these posts make me wonder why Safety Matches have ever been invented ?!? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
And why Strike Anywhere Matches are forbidden in some places/countries ...
<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I guess it's because they can make incindiaries. If you get the chance, see an old move called "Stalag 17".

Sue

Schwert,

I see over on the K&M web page that online orders cannot be processed at this time. Do you happen to know when they might be back up? (Also, do they plan on making any more of the long cases that fit REI matches in the future?)

I see they have some family business to tend to -- hopefully all is going as well as possible and they have a happy holiday.

Thanks for any info you can provide...

cedfire,

Both Keith and I have had deaths in our families and have had a hard time putting the attention required into the site.

However, Keith did finish a batch of REI Long cases in Clear Anodized (silver color), and he can handle mail orders by check or money order. The longs are the same price as before $21. Just tally up what you want, add $4 (or $5 for international) postage and send him a money order.

This is a bit of a longer process but one we can handle. The issue with the website is that Credit card orders MUST be handled in 3 days or they are canceled....this just is too much pressure for either of us right now.

The site should become functional in the new year. I am hoping to turn over my part to one of Keith's family members which will likely result in a much better and more timely response.

I promised Keith I would help him, and I feel good about what I have done, but the internet has expectations that are difficult for a part-time watcher and a skilled metal artist to keep up with.

I appreciate all the orders and support we have had over the past couple of years, and I hope we can continue with an even better system in the coming months. Keith Lunders is an amazingly skilled machinist and these cases deserve a place in our kits and hands.

Thanks for the information. Best wishes and prayers to both of your families during this difficult time...