How does he get a match to light so easy? 🤣😂

It’s time to make matches great again

They used to make “strike anywhere” matches. My grandfather didn’t smoke, but had matches for a wood burning stove and other things. A quick bit of friction with just the right amount of pressure would light the match. My grandfather could light them on his fingernail, zipper and other surfaces, (pretty much anywhere). For the stove, he usually just used the top or side of the stove. Haven’t seen ‘strike anywhere’ matches in decades. They were replaced in stores when I was a kid in the 70s by “safety matches.” Nobody calls matches “safety matches” anymore. But the ‘strike anywhere’ matches were made so you could do just what the name implies. And they were readily available and widely used in the period when most cowboy movies take place (mid- to late- 1800s).

The Kinski Glare is the glaringist glare in cinema history...as can be attested to here by two of the squintiest squinters

This has nothing to do with matches being low quality today. The comments saying matches are garbage today are a great example of why it's important to learn about history. Modern matches are called "safety matches" and were introduced due to a huge and dangerous problem with these “strike anywhere” matches. They used to often accidentally ignite from friction, even rubbing against each other. Imagine a whole box of matches igniting in your pocket just from friction. This used to happen a lot. So a "better, safer" match was designed that would only light on the scratch paper on the side or back of the box or booklet. These took a lot of ingenuity to invent and were called "safety matches". They are not crappier or worse matches; they are better, SAFER matches that the public cried out for.

Strike anywhere matches

Strike anywhere matches that don't exist anymore. For "safety" reasons.

For a few dollars more. Great scene.

They make them like garbage now-a-days. Nothing is quality anymore.

First, because that’s Lee Van Cleef. Second, in the 1800 matches were made that way. To be self lighting and easy. Safety matches were invented in Sweden and didn’t make it to the USA until much later and took a while to reach the west

the old strikes anywhere match. I used to strike them one handed with my thumb nail.

Once upon a time. They made matches (they had a white tip) you could strike on any hard surface. Haven’t seen them around in forever.

"Strike anywhere" matches were a thing. I'm not sure you can get them anymore.

They used strike anywhere matches, but if the strike was out of sight, they'd staple sandpaper on a boot heel or wall.

They used to have 'Strike Anywhere' on match boxes. They would, just as said, light on any rough surface.

Klaus Kinski, famous eccentric German actor once spent time in a mental hospital in his country. He has a long resume of serious acting roles.

The good, bad the ugly

Book matches, even into the 1970s, had a much higher sulfur and potassium content. Back then, I once had a whole book of matches ignite in my pocket while running, from the friction against the cardboard cover.

Kudos to the bullied actor who could get that muscle in his face to twitch on command!

The matches we got now are safety matches you used to be able to strike a match on just about anything if it had a little friction it would ignite

Back then every cowboy had a strike patch on the back of their collar.😎

"Diamond® Strike Anywhere Kitchen Matches" are still available.

They were wax matches back then we have safety matches now.

They used to, and we can still buy red tip matches you can strike off of almost anything.

I used to strike them from my jeans, belt buckle, shoe, finger nail, tooth, wall, etc..

The prop man.

Old matches (19th century) contained white phosphorus (or later, red phosphorus plus other chemicals) in their striking heads. A light rub against any rough surface—fabric, a boot sole, a fingernail, wood, or even the skin of one's neck—was enough to ignite the match.

what dat?

This is why they have to make “Strike on Box” matches today

Strike anywhere match

Sandpaper. I small piece of sandpaper tapped out of view because "Strike Anywhere" didn't always.

back in the early 60's my mom had me run up to the store on my bike to get a box of 50 strike anywhere matches... when I got home I tossed the bag and box onto the kitchen counter and the whole damn thing went up in flames!

Those matches wouldn’t dare not to light.

Good matches back then, not cheap chyna shi#