I have about 20, all but one are in storage. Colt, Coke, a gold one, M-29 44 mag, and lots of NAscar ones that I got when I smoked Camels.
A friend had the Coke one given to him new by his brother, he never used it. One day at work he handed it to me, said we both like zippos, I want you to have it. I thanked him. He committed suicide over the weekend. Every time I see it I remember Richard.
I have 2 of my Dad's. He smoked King Edward or any nickle cigar he could find. They stunk up the house and vehicles. I bought him a nice pipe, a zippo and several brands of pipe tobacco in 68 or 69. He stuck with the pipe. The hinge wore out and he kept it together with a rubber band. Keep in mind Dad was an engineer and could have bought a new one. I bought one and had my son give it to him for xmas. HE left it in the box on a kitchen shelf and still used the old one.
After he quit smoking I asked for his pipes and zippo's. I sent the one I bought him back to Zippo, explaining the sentimental value. They put a new hinge in it, put a new inside piece in and returned it with the original guts. I have it and the one my son gave him in my collection. When I look at the old one I remember Dad lighting his pipe at deer camps or evenings at home.
They were/are an american made item that is solid and durable. They are often seen in WW 2 movies or some Bogart like feller lighting his Lucky Strike in a movie. And they worked every time. Almost.
While reading an article on the air war over the English Channel I came across one story about a Brit pilot who was shot down. One of his buds circled him for protection while he was floating down in his chute. The pilot said the guy was trying his best to get a cigarette lit on the way down.
After the guy was fished out and taken back to his unit his friend was glad to see he lived. Then he asked why were you trying so hard to light a cigarette? The guy said the last time I was shot down the cigs and lighter got wet, I was in the water for hours, I just wanted one before I splashed in.
Evidently a Zippo does not work well hanging from a parachute.
The one I have used for quite a few years was stolen off my porch one night. The only night I've forgotten it outside.
The trick to keep from getting leg or chest burns is to squeeze the bottom with a paper towel before using it. Let the towel air dry before you throw it in the trash. I also leave the top open for a few after filling it. Then I light it a few times, this seems to keep it from leaking.
What goes around comes back to ya.
I'm gonna say it was about 25 years ago, my bro and I were deer hunting our regular spot. We got our bucks opening weekend and was looking to fill our bonus doe tag. Monday and Tuesday were slow, didn't see a deer. We took off for a small area we hunted once in a while. Bro was smoking his normal cigarillo. A big doe ran across the trail, he kicked in the 4 bbl on his truck to get closer. Didn't work, I saw the doe going up the far ridge in thick timber.
We moved on, I'm looking out the window for more deer. No we weren't road hunting, just going to a new spot to still hunt.
My bro said I smell smoke, I said probably this old Dodge engine after the gas overdose. He said no I really smell smoke. So I looked at him.
Smoke was streaming out of his carhart coveralls. It was going up and curling behind each ear. Pretty unique sight.
I said bro, you're on fire. He looked down and saw the smoke about the same time he felt the heat. He screamed some get you banned words and started slapping his chest yelling I'm on fire. He was hitting his chest so fast and hard he sounded like a 2 beater Sikorsky coming in for a landing. I had grabbed the wheel since he was busy.
He's my brother what can you do in times like these? Well I for some unknown reason started laughing. I laughed hard, I had us in the ditch for a while. My side hurt, tears ran and it was just plain funny. HE was not hurt, if he could not have put out the little fire in his flannel shirt from the cigarillo cherry I told him I had the tanker truck ready, just hit the brake and I'd save him. When it was all over he too laughed. But I laughed the hardest.
Several years later I had just filled my zippo, didn't do my normal explained above. My flannel shirt soaked up some lighter fluid. When I lit a cig it started burning around the pocket area. We are on our way to deer hunt, before daylight. Flames can be seen for miles. My bro casually says to me, hey bro your on fire. I immediately knew why, I started slapping my chest to put out the fire, through the smoke and slapping noises I was making I heard this laugh, it was a roar from someones belly. For some reason my Bro thought this was funny.
So if you are going to be around your Bro, make sure you remove all excess fluid and be careful.
Maybe since I am now retired maybe I"ll take a drive to the factory since they are made in PA. I"ll get it fixed while I wait! 
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