Anyone still uses Zippo lighters?

[Oracle]

I quit smoking 40 years ago. I collected Zippo lighters from every ship I served on during 20 years in the Coast Guard I still have them, somewhere.

There was a dive bar in San Diego across the street from the Broadway pier named Bernie's. The bar was very popular with Navy and Coast Guard members and had huge glass front display curios filled to the brim with ship Zippos. That bar is long gone and I don't know what happened to the collection.

The sound of a Zippo opening, lighting and closing is as distinctive as the sound of racking a shell into a shotgun.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Had many over the years. Bought one from the souvenir shop In the USS McCain when it was in port. Still have it in the box.

I carry one on my moto for cigars. I replaced the innards with a Thunderbird butane torch. Bought several for friends. Even got the Zippo torch insert for a friend, but it has no sight glass, so IMO the Thunderbird is better since you can see if you have fuel.

 

[Golddollar]

This thread jogged my memory about another Zippo I have. I never smoked, but one day I found a Zippo lighter I had to have. It was a Cleveland Indians model, complete with a full color Chief Wahoo. The seal is unbroken, the price tag is still on the lighter, the lighter sits in its tray with the paperwork, the tray sits in the tin box, and the tin box is in the sleeve. Anybody who wants it will have to wait for my estate sale.

 

[pawngal]

My son has collected Zippos since he was a teenager. Has well over a 100.
He also has one of the Zippo factory floor standing lighted display cases

 

[ordnanceguy]

I have never been a smoker and don't plan to start now. However, this Zippo called to me, for rather obvious reasons, so I made no effort to resist the urge to add another Smith to the stable.

 

[Bastogne71]

I’ve never smoked but used a Zippo to light many a heat tab & C-4 for cooking C rations & boiling water. Occasionally lit off some time fuse with it as the need arose. We could wade a chest deep creek with a Zippo in your fatigue pocket and it would light fine when you waded out of the water.

Still have several around that I keep filled just in case.

 

[wrkerr]

I am cursed with constantly cold hands. Every winter, I always carry Zippo hand warmers and lighter. Never without the lighter year-round.

I also add a lighter every time I visit Hawaii. I don't smoke but there is something about Zippos.....so "American". A true collectors item.

And they work fine on white gas. Cheaper than lighter fluid.

 

[STCM(SW)]

My main one I use of many I picked up from every ship I was on.

 

[pasound]

I've had a Zippo since 1966. Several, actually. My current one (2013 version) has been filled once to make sure it works, and then left sitting to see how long it took the fuel to evaporate - three months. It's part of my needed tools. It's not solid steel like my 1968, but still acts like a regular Zippo.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I "Acquired" a gold inlaid Zippo from one of the people that I showed around the places and clubs in "Okie" in the 60's on one of my visits to the fun places to go and see, eat, drink and have fun at and maybe soak in a hot tub of water and get my back scrubbed down.

It was of the USS HANDCOCK but some where in my travels it got lost or traded.......... bummer.
However I did bring a few "Auzzie Hats" back home, some how. !!

Got to love those shore duty visits, where you get to meet the other half........
well, except when the Shore patrol told me to climb down from the palm tree, while knocking down coconuts, to take back to the ship, when time was up.

Just don't over fill those baby's !!

 

[Jeff423]

It always bothers me when in the movies or TV, someone (usually the bad guy) pours gasoline on something, like a car and then lights and throws in the Zippo to start the fire.
But I guess you can't do it with a butane lighter.
I've got one somewhere from the aircraft carrier I was on.

 

[Golphin]

I still have a couple and when I smoked they never got far from me. Always loved the smell and the click. I can smell it and hear it now and it makes me want to go get one of mine and fire it up.

 

[since 61]

Back in the sixties we used to put English Leather cologne in them. Can't remember how they lit but they smelled good.

 

[Rustyt1953]

When the Bic lighter was introduced in '73, I said goodbye to Zippo leg.

The Bic is more than adequate for my current needs.

 

[Oldiron]

I have posted my Coast Guard zippos before, have somewhere between 15-20 of them. No ships since I was never on a ship. The one I have not been able to find is a duplicate to the one I found in boot. It had a large CG emblem on it. Gave it to my Dad since I didn't smoke and he carried it until all the finish and emblem fell off.
On another note, when I was a kid my brother and I were walking the edges a large lake that is close by and normally they let it down in the winter. We would always walk the area that stays underwater in the summer looking for arrow heads and lures. Found a zippo buried in the muck and washed it off in the lake thinking it would maybe be good for some parts. Anyway, walking back home I got it out of my pocket and gave it a spin. Low and behold the thing lit. Don't remember what I did with it but I'm sure my Dad or Granddad got it and used it since they both lost hundreds over their life times.
Larry

 

[Chukar60]

I quit smoking decades ago. Haven’t had a Zippos since and only had a couple when I did smoke. They got stolen or lost too easily.
But a couple posts here reminded me of my dad. He smoked Camel studs and always used his Zippo to light them.
He quit smoking over 40 years ago and has since passed, but the smell of the first puff off of a cigarette lit by a Zippo is unmistakable and still stirs memories. Strangely I do not mind that smell at all, but the next puff? Well that is a bit different.

 

[kaaskop49]

I had several Zippo lighters but I remember an old Ronson best.

The one below could be its twin.

Thanks for the memories!

Cdog: Are you and I the only 2 people in the world who used this style Ronson Lighter? First I've seen other than my own. $2.99 in 1965

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[kaaskop49]

I quit smoking 40 years ago. I collected Zippo lighters from every ship I served on during 20 years in the Coast Guard I still have them, somewhere.

There was a dive bar in San Diego across the street from the Broadway pier named Bernie's. The bar was very popular with Navy and Coast Guard members and had huge glass front display curios filled to the brim with ship Zippos. That bar is long gone and I don't know what happened to the collection.

The sound of a Zippo opening, lighting and closing is as distinctive as the sound of racking a shell into a shotgun.

Add to that, ...as the clicks of a Colt SAA being cocked.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[JJEH]

Cdog: Are you and I the only 2 people in the world who used this style Ronson Lighter? First I've seen other than my own. $2.99 in 1965

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Wow, looks like they still make it

Typhoon Chrome Satin
– ronsonlighters

 

[wood714]

I'd love to have one that was used in the field during the Vietnam war.

Seen a few on ebay, but anyone can scratch or engrave something in a old Zippo.