Ferrocerium Rods, Fire Steels and Fire Strikers.

These are all the different names for the same thing. Fire building is a keystone skill for all outdoor survival activities. Ferrocerium rods can light fires in any situation with a basic knowledge of kindling and fire building. Rods are waterproof and weatherproof. These essential tools are sometimes called metal matches, fire steels or misch metal.

Originally invented in 1903. It takes its name from its two primary components: iron (from Latin: ferrum), and the rare-earth element cerium, hence the name "ferro-cerium". A modern ferrocerium firesteel is composed of an alloy of rare-earth metals called mischmetal (containing approximately 20.8% iron, 41.8% cerium, about 4.4% each of praseodymium, neodymium, and magnesium, plus 24.2% lanthanum).

The resulting product creates a reliable fire lighting tool.