1. What are strike anywhere matches?
There are two kinds of matches: safety matches ("strike on box") burn only on the specially coated striking strip of the box — and strike anywhere matches (short SAW matches), whose heads ignite on any suitably rough surface: stone, concrete, unglazed ceramic, denim, a shoe sole, a nail file.
The difference sits in the head: in safety matches the phosphorus sits on the striking strip; in strike anywhere matches it is directly in the head. This became possible with the non-toxic head compound based on tetraphosphorus trisulfide ("sesquisulfide") — proven in 1898 by the French chemists Savene and Cahen: non-toxic, heads not explosive. The Diamond Match Company acquired the US patent in 1900 and offered production to other companies. You can recognize strike anywhere matches by their two-tone head: red/reddish-brown ignition compound on top, a lighter striking strip (white/blue) below.
Strike anywhere matches with red heads; striking strip on the side of the box (photo: VR38DETT, copyrighted free use, via Wikimedia Commons)
2. Why they belong in your emergency kit
| Property | Emergency advantage |
|---|---|
| No lighter needed | No gas, no mechanics, no long sparks-striking like with a ferro rod |
| Ignites anywhere | Stone, wall, edge, concrete — even if the box is missing |
| Cold-proof | No battery, no electronics — works reliably even in frost |
| Storable | Lasts decades when kept dry |
| Low cost | A box of 50–100 pieces costs just a few euros |
3. How to strike them properly
- Grip safely: Hold by the wooden shaft, head never toward your body.
- Strike: Draw the head away from your body across the rough surface — quick and firm, don't grind.
- Good surfaces: The box's striking strip, concrete, brick, river pebble, unglazed ceramic, a file. Bad: smooth surfaces like glass or painted metal (too little friction).
- Use the flame: Let the burning match hang slightly, then light your tinder (candle, stove, fire pit) from below.
- Build the fire: Fine tinder first (birch bark, waxed cotton), then thin twigs — never thick logs directly.
The flame sits at the head — let it burn briefly before adding tinder (photo: Jamie Street, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
4. Storage: the five ground rules
| Rule | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| Keep dry | Damp heads no longer ignite reliably | Airtight container (film canister, screw-top glass); add a silica gel pouch |
| Separate from friction | They ignite on any rough surface — including inside | Store heads UP, individually in straws/tubes or fixed in slots |
| Protect from heat | Strong heat (direct sun, car interior) can ignite the compound | Store cool and dark; never in the glove box or in sunlight |
| Plan a reserve | One box is not enough | At least 2× 50–100 pieces, distributed (main stock + bug out bag) |
| Keep from children | Ignites on everything | Out of reach/lockable — treat like lighters |
5. The waterproof match container
The classic for the trail: a small container with a tight lid (film canister, tobacco tin, ready-made match containers with a strip in the lid). Pro trick: heads down in the container — the compound stays dry even if water gets in. Glue two strips of the original striking surface into the lid and the tin becomes a complete fire-starting kit.
- Add backups: lighter (gas), ferro rod (magnesium), stormproof matches (burn through wind/rain for ca. 10–15 seconds) — each covers a different failure mode.
- Tinder: wax-soaked cotton balls or birch bark — the match flame catches immediately.
6. Safety: the three key points
- Clear the fire site: remove dry, flammable material around it; mind the wind; never leave a fire unattended.
- Extinguish thoroughly: water/soil/sand, turn the embers and check — residual heat lasts hours.
- Care with gas: sniff for gas before lighting stoves/heaters — strike anywhere matches ignite instantly, everywhere, including where you don't want it.
7. Checklist: fire equipment
- ☐ Strike anywhere matches: 2 boxes (50–100 pieces) in a waterproof container
- ☐ Spare striking strips (2 pieces) in the lid
- ☐ Stormproof matches (burn through wind/rain for ca. 10–15 seconds)
- ☐ Lighter (gas) + ferro rod as backup
- ☐ Tinder: waxed cotton or birch bark
- ☐ Silica gel pouch against moisture
8. Did you know?
- The non-toxic sesquisulfide compound (1898) restored the reputation of match factories — before that they were notorious for white phosphorus ("phossy jaw" among workers).
- The US Postal Service bans shipping strike anywhere matches (Class 4: flammable solids) — buy them at a hardware store.
- On planes: matches belong in checked baggage, not carry-on.
- Quality varies: newer brands use less compound on the head — older boxes ignite noticeably more reliably.