Do you know much about Zippo lighters?

[peacefuljeffrey]

I recently bought a sterling silver armor Zippo lighter from a source called Zippos & Things via eBay. (Had a good positive rating of 99.x percent.)

I am reasonably convinced that there is no problem with its authenticity, but some things concern me (especially since I spent $169 on this lighter).

First: The fit & finish.
When the lighter is closed, it simply doesn't seem straight. If you trace the lines of the left and right side of the base up, the lines of the lid go off at a slight angle toward the hinge. It's as though the lid is not rectangular in profile, but sort of trapezoidal, with the longer side being the one opposite the hinge.

Second: The bottom stamp.
When you hold a Zippo to look at its "front," the hinge is on the left. Generally, if you then tilt it to look at the bottom, you should be seeing the bottom stamp right-side-up. This one's stamp is upside-down when viewed this way. I'm not sure if this indicates anything at all wrong with the lighter's authenticity. I read a similar question elsewhere on the web about someone who had the 70th anniversary model with an upside-down bottom stamp as well. Someone else said that it had only to do with which way the base of the lighter was oriented when the hinge was welded on; but I would have thought that a factory would have that regulated to occur in only one way.

I would love to know if other specimens of the sterling silver armor Zippo are like this; or if I was given some sort of factory second; or if this is simply a knockoff. It definitely seems to be made of sterling silver, though -- judging by the relative ease with which its surface mars up and takes scratches. It has that whitish-mirror look of silver, too.

Does anyone here have a silver Zippo or any knowledge of the characteristics this one should have?

[ghostrider]

Can't help you with any of that Jeffrey as I don't know much about Zippos, nor do I own a sterling one. I did look at the three I own, and they all have an upside down stamp if that's any help. I can assure you that they are authentic Zippos because I bought them on board ship when I was in the Navy.

[Fred Sanford]

I also collect Zippo's and have some dating back to 1937.

What codes are on the bottom?

Is there a roman numeral or a serial number?
Is it supposed to be new or did you buy an "old" one?

Got any pics?

[peacefuljeffrey]

Here are two pictures of the lighter.

The first shows the lighter's profile, and the second shows the bottom stamp.

Picture 1:
The parallel lines of the left and right sides of the base go vertically; the parallel lines of the left and right sides of the lid seem to tilt toward the left and are not parallel to the lines of the base, even though the lighter is closed and the seam between them is fully seated.

I believe that something about the lighter is mis-molded or something. What I think I see is that the right side edge of the lid is longer than the left side edge, resulting in a sort of trapezoid shape rather than a rectangle.

If I were to find out that this is normal for this model -- that the manufacturer's mold simply always makes them this way, I'd be fine with it. But couple the apparent "defect" with the fact that I bought the lighter site-unseen from an internet source (albeit one with the appearance of legitimacy) at a price significantly lower than MSRP...

I don't really think that the lighter is illegitimate, or a knockoff, because it really does seem to be made of sterling silver. Who would make a knockoff out of the expensive, genuine material? (Of course, I have not actually had tests run on the material -- it just really looks, and tarnishes, like sterling silver.)

Picture 2
This shows that the bottom stamp is "upside down." On all other Zippo lighters I've ever seen, the "front" (design or logo side) is shown when you view the lighter with the hinge on the left. Tip the lighter when holding it face front, and the bottom stamp is usually right-side-up. This one, when the hinge is on the left, shows the bottom stamp upside down. I am not sure if this is standard for this model, or if it occurs with some Zippos randomly.

I just got off the phone with Anne at Zippo's consumer relations department. She invited me to send photos in an email, and possibly to send the lighter in to be examined. I'll send her the email, and may eventually ship the lighter off to them.

When I bought the lighter, I was so excited. I'm sure many of you know the angst of feeling eager anticipation followed by letdown and disappointment when the item you ordered does not meet your standards and expectations. That's how I feel about this. This was going to be, for me, the Zippo to top all Zippos! If it didn't seem like a factory second, I would be happy with it, but currently my full enjoyment of it is truncated...

-Jeffrey

[Fred Sanford]

I think it's a legit Zippo.

I'm just surprised to see it so scratched up and used for a 2006 model. That thing looks like it's 5 years old already. Is that how it came? Was it supposed to be new? Did you scratch it up like that?

I can't see the lines you're talking about in the picture but someone would have to go to a load of trouble to stamp Zippo in the bottom like that if it were fake.

[peacefuljeffrey]

David,
Thanks for the replies.

It's true that the lighter looks beat up already. I've had it less than a month, but it is made of solid sterling silver, and sterling tarnishes very easily from fingerprints, and is softer than what Zippos generally have for a case. I made the decision right away that this would be a "user" lighter, not a "safe queen" to be kept in mint condition on a shelf or in a, well, safe.

It rides in my jeans pocket along with a stainless steel Zippo money clip, a silver U.S. dollar, and various odds and ends. (I'm the kind of guy who always has a pocket full of Tom Sawyer-esque stuff. :D ) That explains all the scuffs. I didn't expect anything different.

The lines I'm talking about are the left and right sides. The sides of the bottom of the lighter go vertically, and then the sides of the top of the lighter cant off to the left a few degrees. I cannot help but notice it. I think it's even detectable in the picture of the lighter lying down. I'm just not sure if it's normal for this lighter, or if it was slightly defectively manufactured.

-Jeffrey

[Fred Sanford]

It is a very cool lighter. I am glad to see you use it too. I like to use mine but I quit smoking about 8 years ago so I've not used any since.

It looks like in the bottom photo that the hinge is slightly bent or that the lid of the lighter is open slightly.

Let us know of the outcome as I'd be curious to see what the folks in Bradford, PA say about it.

I'll look at the pics more on my other computer later as it has a better monitor. Right now I'm viewing it on my laptop.

Cheers,
David :)

[vampyrewolf]

I would say check if the hinge is sitting straight. I've adjusted mine 4-5 times over the time I used it.

The only good thing about zippos is that you can beat em up and they still work... if the fuel hasn't evaporated :p

I switched to a colibri andromeda last fall after a few years of zippos.

Depending on flame height and how often I'm just playing with it, I get a couple weeks to a fill. Best run was 2 months on a fill, with it just barely getting the 2nd blue cone. Butane lighters are great as long as you depressurize the tank before trying to fill again(or you won't get very much in and think it's broken, like lots of ppl do). I don't know how many times I hear "the first tank went great, and it got worse after the first month before it just quit working at the 2 month point.... they forget to depresurize it and it's not filling.

I haven't dumped my zippo yet. Just like my trench lighter, I know that if I take it out in the bush I can burn kerosene if nothing else.

[ghostrider]

I used to carry my Zippo from the ship, but I tired of it always being dry when I needed it. Every since I bought my Z-Plus insert it doesn't leave my side hardly. I prefer butane for paracord, and the Zippo form factor protects the trigger button from being pushed while in my pocket. I've had other butanes come up dry because of an exposed trigger. I too carry stuff in my pockets. :D

[peacefuljeffrey]

It is a very cool lighter. I am glad to see you use it too. I like to use mine but I quit smoking about 8 years ago so I've not used any since.

It looks like in the bottom photo that the hinge is slightly bent or that the lid of the lighter is open slightly.

Let us know of the outcome as I'd be curious to see what the folks in Bradford, PA say about it.

I'll look at the pics more on my other computer later as it has a better monitor. Right now I'm viewing it on my laptop.

Cheers,
David :)

David,
I have verified that the lid is as closed as it gets for those photos. I can't tell that the hinge is bent in any appreciable way, but the lid above the hinge is not in direct line above the base below the hinge. I don't know that there is any adjustment that I would be able to do to remedy that. What I can see is that when the lid is as seated as it gets, the sides of the lid are not parallel with the sides of the base -- they tilt hingeward.

By the way, I don't smoke, nor have I ever. I have always carried a Zippo since late in high school, just because I like their design and I like having fire available -- and I prefer their simple design to the complexities of pressurized butane lighters with their o-rings and gaskets and fragile nozzles and what-have-you.

Vampyrewolf,
What kind of adjustments can/do you do to the hinge of a Zippo. I sure would be reluctant to flex it and risk breaking the spot welds. (The case is not warranteed by Zippo, you know.)

Please tell me what one has to do to depressurize a butane lighter before filling. I'm not sure if I've done something wrong or not, or failed to do something that needs doing. I have a $20 Vector jetflame lighter that really works very very well, reliably, and is built tough. It's great for melting paracord, especially. Zippos are not good for that unless indoors where there's no wind.

Ghostrider,
Would you please explain what you're talking about re: Z-plus? I've never heard of that ... nevermind, I just googled it and saw that it's a butane jetflame insert made to go into a Zippo case. Pretty cool, actually. I think I may acquire one, thanks. :)

-Jeffrey

[vampyrewolf]

You can flex the hinge enough to straighten it without breaking the spot weld. Mine was thrown and tossed around all the time... why walk 20feet when you can throw the lighter? Couple seconds of light prying and the lid would be close to straight again.

As far as depressurizing a lighter, simply hold a screwdriver or knife tip on the fill nozzle till it quits hissing. Fill it as much as you can. You may want to wait a couple minutes, hold it nozzle up, and press lightly again till you hit gas, top it off 100%.
It's pretty normal maintenance when you do it enough. When my lighter goes below the 1/2 mark I depressurize and top off. Flame adjustment a couple minutes later.

I wouldn't call them fragile, you just have to take care of a good butane lighter. I picked up a cheap belt pouch rather than have it loose in my pocket, less chance of having it come open and damage the ignitor. Picked this one up last fall, the finish is wearing on the lid and a spot on the back(from burning paracord ends for boot laces). Still lights first time, every time.

I had bought a couple cheaper butane lighters in the past, $20-40, and every one of them had the ignitor die in the first 6 months.... just up and quit. Spent the $75 on this one because of the ignition system. Whole reason... Spent an afternoon driving around the city before I found a shop carrying the colibri 'Quantum' line. No piezo to break down.

It's like comparing crkt to spydie.... while the cheaper one works, the quality one is well worth the money.

http://www.colibri.com/Catalogs/CCatalo ... x=QTR23100 I've got the gunmetal & silver

[peacefuljeffrey]

The Colibri has no piezoelectric spark igniter? What does it use to make spark?

-Jeffrey

[vampyrewolf]

"sst ignition system"... they have a seperate line that uses piezo.
poke around the site.... they even have one that all you do is break the beam to light it.

get a colibri, you won't look back.

[ghostrider]

Jeffrey,
I took some pics of the only one of my Zippos that I carry. In the pics, mine appears to have the same characteristics as yours. Maybe the alignment isn’t as bad but it does appear to be a little off. It’s hard to tell, but measuring it, it appears to be about 1mm, maybe 1/32-inch off from one end to the other. Here are some pics. I’ve also included the base of the lighter to show the upside-down stamp.


Also, what VW said. Get a Colibri, and only use Colibri fuel.

[Simple Man]

In my limited experience, as with most everything else, I don't think the more recent Zippos have the same build quality as they used to. I don't smoke either, but I usually carry a Zippo, in the winter especially. I had an older one, bought around '92, that would take 3 weeks to a month to evaporate and the line between the lid and body was almost imperceptible.

Compare that to one I got maybe 2 years ago after losing the original (that thing had GOT to be in a pocket somewhere...) that had to be filled at least once a week. I ordered a Z-plus for it and haven't looked back, I think it is the best thing that has happened to Zippo since stainless steel. The insert actually burns hotter and more reliably that a handheld butane soldering torch I used to use for projects.

[Zac]

I stopped carrying them after I quite smoking because it was too tempting...needless to say I have been in positions when a lighter was needed and I was empty handed and wound up sleeping in a freezing cold house with a wonderful wood burning stove that remained dormant. It looks authentic to me and makes me sad as I dont know what to do with mine