Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Zippo lighters

Just watched a video Rep Causer posted on FB on how Zippo lighters are made.(his way of promoting local business in his area) Got me to thinkin. How many of you own one? Are they popular where youre from? Being from PA, theyve always been popular here, but ive never owned one.

I own three or four. They are good for lighting up a campfire or a stogie.

The fuel evaporates pretty fast. If your not using it every day they are not that practical IMO. I do have 3 of them. A standard sized classic, a slimline and my grandfathers slimline from the '70s.

I never bought one because I heard they leak. Not sure how true that is though.

I've accumulated about half a dozen Zippos... used 'em all quite a bit over the years and sent 'em back to Zippo for refurbishing at "no charge". Got 'em back in top condition once again... good job, Zippo !~!~!

Use 'em to light my many pipes... they do a fine job, but really "eat-up" the lighter fluid !


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

i bought one at the Syracuse gun show years ago for 3 reasons - I had always wanted one, they were $5 used, and it a'ready had my initials MLP engraved on it.

But I spend more time adding fuel than using it.

Maybe somebody here knows. I bought my first one, years ago...probably 1984. I bought it in a cigar store and the old due filled it with lighter fluid for the first time. Over the years, it really held lighter fluid good and lasted a long time. Then it got dunked in the water. Afterwards it seemed like the fluid would run out a lot quicker. I bought a new one a few years back but it sure doesn't seem to hold lighter fluid like the old one did when I first got it. Made me think it was the lighter fluid itself and not the dunk that did it.

You need to let them set for awhile before putting one in your pocket. That lighter fluid will blister your leg.

My Dad always had one on him, he died of lung cancer in 2006.

Mike

I have one laying here in the drawer. Used to use it regularly when I smoked, but I quit 55 years ago. I think if I filled it and added a fresh flint it would still work.

In my hunting packs I carry the disposable $1 lighters that are sold in hardware and dollar stores and they work fine.

Jim

They temp people to smoke.

I don't smoke. I used to have a cigar once in a great while, but haven't had one in probably twenty years or more.

Not if you slip a "ranger" rubber band over the opening. (I cut my bands from a bicycle tube.) I've run experiments with my three Zippos several times, and one filling of fuel will last for about ten weeks. For the experiments, I've fired the Zippo up twice daily for about seven to ten seconds, about what it would take to light a handful of tinder for my campfire. As I said, ten weeks and it still burns.

Obviously leaving the "ranger" band on the Zippo would be inconvenient for a smoker who knocks off a pack or two of cigarettes a day .... but I don't smoke.

Also a major advantage of a Zippo is I don't have to keep holding down a button for it to stay burning, and it is windproof, too. I also carry a couple 1/8 oz. cleaned Tabasco bottle filled with fuel, in my daypack.

I would not be without my filled-with-fuel Zippo when I am going out in the boonies, etc.

L.W.

I have 2 Zippos and 2 Zippo knockoffs. I use them rarely though.

Even empty there is something to be said for having a reliable spark source in the woods.

I was born in 1951.

My mom's father was a wildcatter and worked in the oil fields.


What's the old saying " don't tell my mom I work in the oil patch, she thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse.

In fact the "Daisy B" of Spindletop fame is named after Daisy Bradford IIRC.

Well WR would come see us now an then and stay for a week. He was a unfiltered Chesterfield guy.

I think I was six the first time my mom busted me an my brother (who was 4 at the time) hiding out in the garage and trying to light his Chesterfields we had light-fingered, along with his Zippo.

Course we got our azz busted.

I've loved the smell of Ronson lighter fluid in a Zippo since I was a wee tyke. Still do.




So here is a story about a $1300 Zippo Lighter.

I've had the pleasure of hunting in several states and here in Texas in numerous locals. It's kinda fun of an evening, sitting around a campfire, after dinner and everyone is starting to get "lubricated" to tell this story.

I'll pull out my Zippo and ask if they've ever seen a $1300 Zippo. Someone will invariably ask to fondle my Zippo and when they do they say. Bullspit, no way that cost $1,300.

I proceed to tell them that I have rental trailers. I had rented a trailer to this guy for $650 per month and let him get out two months without paying rent. When he took off, he stole the refrigerator, the stove, the hot water heater and even rolled up the 7 year old used carpet, and took it also.
The only thing left of value in the trailer was a Zippo lighter. I then inquire. Wouldn't you say this is a $1,300 ligher. This happened around 2002. I have kept it till this day.
Never fails to get a chuckle.




I do luv me some Zippos.

Best,

GWB

You wouldn't happen to have a photo detailing the ranger band, would you? I'm having trouble picturing where it would go. Not enough left brain synapse firing. Thx.

you just put it over the seem of the lighter.....makes it more or less air tight so the fluid has no where to evaporate to.....no its not perfect but does vastly improve life per filling