I've seen it in Westerns, War movies, and Mafia movies but where are places you can strike a match... besides the side of a box? Clint Eastwood strikes it on stubble from the side of his face. Mafia people have struck it on a fingernails by holding it under a nail. I've even heard of people striking it on their teeth. But can these really be done or should we carry a lighter if we ever get lost in the woods?

Use modern technology!!!! lawl.

Personally, I've done both the teeth and fingernail successfully. Ahh the fun dumb stuff we did in High School chemsitry for a grade...

On some of the Modern day box of matches you still see the term Saftey Match in use, which is what most matches are these days. They are made of a Chemical that only ignites when it is struck against the strip of Chemical on the Match Box.

Older matches such as might be seen in a Western, or used by Soldiers, are of a Strike anywhere type that will ignite through Friction pretty anywhere that the surface is rough enough, you can still buy these for use in Camping say where you might lose a Match box but keep a small bundle of Matches.