How to Strike a Match

Ignigte a match with a proper striking procedure.

Man has likely wielded fire for thousands of years. Even so, without modern conveniences, it is notoriously difficult to create. One of the most ubiquitous and easy-to-use fire starting elements is the match. From wooden and cardboard to waterproof and easy-strike, matches are produced in a variety of forms. Striking a match is a straightforward concept, but should you be down to your last match, you must take great care to do it properly.

Instructions

1. Pick up your match and grasp it between your thumb and forefinger.

2. Hold the match toward the middle or support the upper part with one of your other fingers to prevent it from breaking as you strike it.

3. Locate a coarse, solid surface. The ideal surface is a low coarseness sandpaper, but a close facsimile should suffice.

4. Slide the head of the match briskly across the surface, but without enough pressure to snap it.

5. Hold the match with the head down as it ignites and shield it from wind to give the flame a chance to build before using it.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep matches dry at all times.

• Exercise caution when lighting matches around flammable materials.

References

• Bushcraft Stuff: How to Strike a Match Correctly