Alright Pipe Smokers. It's the question that has destroyed countless friendships.

[shortbow]

Righto Chaps. As a kid (actually still am one, but a bit older) matches were a source of much delight, match guns not the least. But modern matches are nutin' but a frustration. Those old ones lit like a rocket, first time every time.

 

[St.Ignatz]

The modern match does seem to have an affinity for moisture. Is the Swan Vesta Smokers Match non sulfur still available? Haven't seen them in a decade at least.

 

[Ethan Bentley]

I use Swan Matches usually, there not safety so are easier to strike, but some of the most recent batches have been terrible. These seem to be the ones in the Centenary box (shame that) in the UK at least.

I've never really got on with a lighter but I can see some of their attraction.

I was thinking yesterday if you could use some form of slow match to light you pipe? Practicalities aside.

 

[CigarMan]

We still carry Swan Vestas at our shop and it seems that they still work as good as ever, at least the batches we've gotten.

 

[Geesie]

I have a Zippo pipe lighter, but I like my grandpa's old Nimrod lighter even though it's bulkier. Still prefer matches, though.

Nimrod! I had been trying to remember the name of that lighter.
Time to go eBaying for one...

 

[shortbow]

Never mind the lighter. I don't think they make women like that anymore either.lol

 

[Chaps]

Wooden matches most of the time. Sometimes a Zippo.

Danny

 

[Ethan Bentley]

We still carry Swan Vestas at our shop and it seems that they still work as good as ever, at least the batches we've gotten.

Very glad to hear it.The new batches now seem to be back on form, which is great.

In the mean time I was using "England's Glory" - made in Sweden.

 

[babs]

I had a reeeeeeally slick corona pipe lighter once. I found out though that I had never broken a box of nice wood matches by dropping them though. Can't say that for the lighter. In a pinch, I'd use either.. But I haven't sprung for a lighter replacement.

 

[Highlander]

Speaking on this topic.... Does anyone know what happened to the old "Strike Anywhere" matches? I can't find them anywhere in the last few years.

 

[Edward_Lindey]

Wood matches,

Edward

 

[ClothesHorse]

HighLander-

I found some (6 years ago) at an old style grocery on the poorer side of town and bought probably 10 boxes! I'm down to the last two. IF I find more I'll let you know.

We had a cast Iron Match Box in the kitchen that would fit a box of kitchen matches. I loved that thing. Now its tough to find the strike anywheres!

CH

 

[High Pockets]

Wooden matches exclusively, and only after all that chemical crud is burned completely off,....if it's windy outside I've been known to walk a long way to find a quiet spot to light correctly;...twice.

:rage: Strike anywhere matches were victims of the safety nazis,....you can still find them if you look, I found some quite easily and bought enough to last for years,....I still have plenty.

 

[Ethan Bentley]

Speaking on this topic.... Does anyone know what happened to the old "Strike Anywhere" matches? I can't find them anywhere in the last few years.

on ebay.com you can buy "strike anywhere" matches.

I do have a question though, what exactly are they? Are they just the sort that will strike against any rough surface, like Swan's or England's Glory in this country?

If so, what are the matches which you can light by crushing the match head, I'm thinking of the type used by the writer Paul from the film "Misery".

 

[High Pockets]

I used to do that,.....used to.
Following several incidents involving a still-burning hunk of sulphur under my thumb-nail I decided it wasn't as cool as I thought!

 

[Ethan Bentley]

I used to do that,.....used to.
Following several incidents involving a still-burning hunk of sulphur under my thumb-nail I decided it wasn't as cool as I thought!

I actually had something similar but I was using Swan Vestas.

 

[Seraph1227]

Kitchen matches inside (blue tip ) and lighters when I'm out walking

 

[Edward]

Usually whatever comes to hand first, but if I had my choice a lighter is so much more convenient in the vast majority of cases.

 

[emigran]

Zippo with pipe insert chimney...Smoking over 40 years... probably never used anything else... the sound of that click alone is worth it...

 

[HudsonHawk]

Usually one of these:



Not only convenient, but also has a built in tamper, which I otherwise lose with regularity. I like using matches too when available, but they are more fussy and the lighter is simply easier and more reliable.