What are magnesium permanganate crystals ? Are you refering to potassium permangate/cindy's crystals ? I never knew that that little container could take the oxidizing effect from kmno4, but on the other hand i never heard of any special containers needed for kmno4...

í actually find i weird to hear that fox 40's are hard to find. you can find them very easily here. Although i don't have one.

i agree on the uselessnes of the chain on the issue flint rod, it actually gets in the way. I have no problems using that flint rod wenn used with the hacksawblade. It's the type of rod i first learned to used ferrosium rods with. useing a p-38 as a striker still posses a problem...