Can’t light a match

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My son and I were practicing building a one-match fire the other night using stormproof matches and a plastic matchbox and I had a rather embarrassing thing happen – I couldn’t get the match lit. :brickwall:

Well, of course, we eventually got it lit, but not before destroying a couple of matches in the process. Also, my son successfully built two one-match fires, so we ended the day on a positive note, but it was very disconcerting that we couldn’t get the matches lit using the striker on the bottom of the plastic match box. Here are the details: I was using PROFORCE Equipment Wind and Waterproof Storm Matches which I had just recently acquired and was trying to strike them on an orange match holder with the small striking strip on the bottom of the match box. It’s not shown in the picture but it’s a charcoal-colored semi-metallic strip about 1 mm in radius. I’ve yet to ID the material, but it’s the only thing on the box to strike on. Please see the pictures below:

I tried numerous times and couldn’t get the matches to spark. I then tried striking them on the concrete numerous times and only succeeded in grinding away part of the sulfur. I even tried striking them on the files on my Swisstool. The ONLY thing that worked was the sandpaper? on the matchbox. I’ve used strike anywhere matches before, and these are obviously not as I didn’t see any white tip on the end. Can somebody clue me in as to what’s so magic about the strike paper on the match boxes and what I can use to upgrade my watertight plastic match box? Could I superglue some sandpaper to the lid or something? If so what grit should I use? Thanks in advance!

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