Sorry to revive an old thread, but just a warning: I just purchased what was listed as a Doan G.I. firestarter on Amazon, fulfilled by Amazon but sold by ETREE, and it is indeed a counterfeit. It has identical packaging, (except it does not say "Doan" at the very bottom of the cardstock,) and nearly identical markings, but it is made in China, and nowhere near as effective as the real G.I. Firestarter. I'm very disappointed in the seller, and to an extent, with Amazon, considering the item was fulfilled by them. Now I'm afraid to try to purchase another Doan Firestarter, since I know what to look for, I'm seeing that most eBay and Amazon listings don't seem to be the real thing, or at least, could very well be a counterfeit! Buyers beware!
I've notified Doan, and also have asked for their help in locating a local dealer or reputable online seller, since I can't seem to find one. In the meantime, maybe I'll try the MagSlab from Firesteel, (whose products I trust,) even though with s/h it ends up being a bit more expensive.
I like to support US companies, but even more importantly, I think items sold as "survival" kit should be reliable. The Chinese Magbars are very hit-or-miss in my experience. This particular unit doesn't shave, spark, or flame up like the genuine article. I'm not convinced that in very wet conditions it would be easy to start a fire with this. I've started fires in swampy, boggy conditions many times with a Doan, and have 100% faith in their product. Unfortunately, I have little faith you can easily tell a forgery from the real McCoy online.
