Military Lighters - All eras all brands

[AlexeiK]

Hi all. Sorry if I chose a wrong thread for my question. I have several "Vietnam" Zippos (all bought in Japan, the seller seemed to be a respectable collector). I'm not sure whether the lighters are authentic. But if these are fake, then it's a high-quality fake. What do you think?

 

1. VIETNAM 68-69 DAU-TIENG. D CO 2nd BN (AN) 7th CAVALRY Garry Owen. "When you are not with the one you love love you (sic!) one you are with". Note a typo in the tricky phrase. Note the letters ARE in the slogan: engraving preceded damaging.

 

2. VIET NAM 68-69 CU CHI. Betty Boop: "F*k me". "For those who fight for it freedom has a taste the protected will never know".

 

3. VIETNAM 68-69 DA NANG. 1 Old Ironsides. "Fighting for peace is like f*king for virginity".

[Cobra 6 Actual]

AlexeiK, they are, unfortunately, all fakes. There are usually several indicators of a fake Vietnam Zippo:

 

1. The location named and unit are not correct: for example, the First Infantry Division never had units at Danang, so a lighter indicating that location would be a fake.

2. Weird mis-spellings: no self-respecting GI would buy a lighter with the word "Infantry" spelled "Infanty" ... but, I've seen that several times. I've also seen mis-spellings of base names, military ranks, etc.

3. Wobbly engraving: the letters should be crisp and the linear portions nice and straight.

4. This isn't always so, but most of the authentic Army and Marine Corps Zippos will not have enamel or paint in the letters, themselves. On the other hand, many of the US Navy ship Zippos will have color enameled letters and logos, as will those of the USCG and USAF.  The Army and Marines, no. Also, note that other brands of lighters, such as “Penguin”, “Vulcan”, and “Wellington”, would often have the letters filled with black paint or color enamel.

5. Most authentic Vietnam Zippos will have some design element, whether it is done in cloisonné enamel, paint, engraving, or even an attached 'beer can' construction emblem. Whatever the method, the design should be of a professional appearance. (The 'beer can' designs usually are much less well-executed). A lot of the fakes have really sketchy (sorry) artwork.

6. The bottom stamp of the Zippo should actually be stamped, not engraved. Here's the Zippo Company's official listing, with photos, of the date stamps and codes:  http://www.zippo.com/about/article.aspx?id=1582

7. The date listed is incorrect: for example, the Ist Infantry Division was in Vietnam from 1965 to 1970. If a lighter shows a unit of that Division with a 1972 date that would indicate that it's a bad one.

8. Chrome partially or completely gone from the lighter, leaving a brass finish. The finish has often been ground off or chemically removed.

9. Sayings or quotes that just don't make any sense. Here's one I saw recently "The power never win the willing of the people" ... what the heck does that mean?

10. The lighter's insert should be a genuine Zippo one and marked as such.

11. Zippo lighters constructed solely in brass were not made during the period of the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975. In fact, the first brass Zippos came out in ~1983. (With the exception of WWII, when Zippos were made out of a mild steel [which tended to rust] and then coated with a black crackle finish paint; the body of the genuine Zippo was/is, however, made of brass ... but, it is then usually completely covered in a chrome finish. Also, modern Zippos are now being made with a variety of finished from Glow in the Dark, to all enameled, to a Japanese Maki-e style, and so on.).

 

AlexiK, the wobbly engraving with the blackish paint filled letters alone are key indicators. I hope this information is helpful.

[AlexeiK]

5 hours ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

they are, unfortunately, all fakes. There are usually several indicators of a fake Vietnam Zippo:

Many thanks for so detailed and informative answer. The more I read about Vietnam Zippos, the more it seems to me that at least No. 1 & 2 are fakes. No 3 is somewhat different stylistically. Are you believe #3 is fake also? 

Buchanan's Vietnam Zippos is unavailable to me, but the available previews contain lighters with a very similar font style (with black filling).

a3912d58-10ef-4035-b33b-9ca029421a01[1]

[Cobra 6 Actual]

AlexiK, please don’t take offense, but there are many lighters in that book that are also fakes. In fact, all of the lighters in the two photos you just posted from the book are fakes, as is your Number 3.

 

I’ve just been messaging back and forth with yokota57, another acknowledged expert on Vietnam lighters. We’ve decided that we’ll develop a separate thread, entitled “Indicators of Fake Vietnam Lighters”. We’ll also try to post pictures of good (meaning “authentic Vietnam lighters”) as well as bad (meaning “fake Vietnam lighters”) ones. Give us a couple of days to get it organized.

[mtnman]

Thanks Cobra, that will be very very helpful to have you and yokota working on that to keep us safe from the vast number of fake Zippos out there! The community truly appreciates you, as you know I do, for the invaluable help your experience has afforded us. Looking forward to your new project! 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Thanks, mtnmn. We’ve put it here for now:

At this point, it is all stuff you already know, but we hope to “build it” further.

[AlexeiK]

29 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

... there are many lighters in that book that are also fakes. 

... We’ve decided that we’ll develop a separate thread, entitled “Indicators of Fake Vietnam Lighters”.

That sounds great!

I also have a couple of "Vietnam" Zippos which are more modestly engraved, non-typical of fake Zippos. Could I ask your and yokota57's opinion here or would it be better to wait for a separate thread you announced?

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Probably best to move your pictures to this thread:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[mtnman]

31 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

 

What an interesting design! Is that enamel?

[Cobra 6 Actual]

No, mtnman, actually it is chrome. (Just my poor photography skills.)

[mtnman]

Well gentlemen, I thought I would share one of my favorite Zippos today from the Vietnam War era and the secret War going on in Laos as we ramped up to actual significant numbers of boots on the ground instead of just advisors in 1965. This Zippo Slim lighter is The first lighter I've ever seen from Air America. The lighter dates from 1963 and as you see it says Air Vietnam on one side with a green enamel background, some chipped away from the adventures of the original bearer. The other side has a blue enameled intaglio "AIR AMERICA" beautifully done in the font which characterized the Air America advertisements and sides of the planes and helicopters that they flew under the auspices of the CIA which backed the organization and operations as needed. Air America was a passenger and cargo airline started privately in Southeast Asia in 1946 but as of 1950 it became a CIA sponsored airline that had a public front upheld throughout the Cold War activities that precipitated to the Vietnam War, through the Vietnam War and the secret wars concomitant with the main conflict until 1976 when Air America ended as a CIA operation. 

 

The operations center where Air America offices were housed, was located at Tan Son Nhut Air Base just outside Saigon. Air America was given the image of a small passenger and cargo airline in Southeast Asia along with Continental Air Services Inc which was its sister CIA airline. Leading up to the actual beginning of the Vietnam occupation by significant numbers of troops in 1965 there were secret operations going on in neighboring countries such as Laos and Thailand.

 

Operation Water Pump was one of these clandestine ops that were carried out by Air Commandos who were teaching Laotian and Thai pilots how to fly so as to give closer support to the Laotian and Thai special forces operators who were operating in Laos against communist insurgents from the NVA, and the Pathet Lao communist homegrown organization within Laos itself. Eventually as the war ramped up in '66, the Air Commandos began flying with Air America to FAC (Forward Air Control) close air support for the Laotian troops and Thai special forces as well as the Green berets operating with Thai special forces against the Communist insurgency in Laos.

 

This Air Commando led FAC operation became code named Butterfly. The Air Commando CCT's trained at Hulbert Field In the US, would fly with Air America pilots and utilize the universal ID call sign "BUTTERFLY"  with a number specific to that operator for that day such as Butterfly 66 or Butterfly 44. These Air Commando "Butterfly" FAC's found Air America as invaluable to their work in operations trying to keep the Laotian people free from communist tyranny and the slavery endemic donations cursed with that blight. Air America pilots would fly U-1 Bird Dogs, Cessna's, UH-1 Hueys et al. in their special ops missions over Laos and throughout Vietnam and Thailand. 

 

There was a Forward Air Control station with radar and communications equipment on a small mountain top called Lima Site in Laos which overlooked the jungle going into North Vietnam and the ho chi Minh trail. Lima site was operated by Air Force and CIA operators and supplied by Air America pilots on a small strip below the site. These men guided our pilots in for attack into and egress from North Vietnamese airspace, giving them information about enemy MIGs, anti-aircraft SAM site activity and location, locating downed pilots and and guiding the pilots into their destinations with accuracy.  The Communists caught on and attacked Lima Site 85 eventually and the only way any of the men survived who were barely able to hide from the overwhelming force, while the attack was being orchestrated, was because of an air America pilot brave enough to fly back in after the attack and get the men out. 

 

Below is a picture of Bob Caron with the signed photograph also pictured below, from the actual photographer who caught Bob's helicopter as it left the roof in Saigon of the American Embassy. Bob had an 8-year service with Air America, as a pilot who flew in the Vietnam War in his early 30s. There is a picture of him next to One of the helicopters he flew with the air America lettering I described on the lighter, clearly seen in the blue font. Also pictured is his helicopter on the embassy in Saigon taking off the last passengers to escape the communist murderers intent on capturing and torturing and murdering with extreme prejudice, anyone who they could bring under their power. 

There is so much more I could say about the history of these incredibly brave and resilient men who flew with other incredibly brave and resilient men as they were used as political tools of fools instead of being given the authority to crush the enemy tyrants who wanted to enslave the people of Southeast Asia. God bless those men who had every intention of doing their job and freeing the people of South Vietnam from the tyranny that threatened them, but were betrayed by this vacillating and duplicitous nation's government as it descended from its Reformation roots. 

 

 

[yokota57]

2 minutes ago, mtnman said:

Well gentlemen, I thought I would share one of my favorite Zippos today from the Vietnam War era and the secret War going on in Laos as we ramped up to actual significant numbers of boots on the ground instead of just advisors in 1965. This Zippo Slim lighter is The first lighter I've ever seen from Air America. The lighter dates from 1963 and as you see it says Air Vietnam on one side with a green enamel background, some chipped away from the adventures of the original bearer. The other side has a blue enameled intaglio "AIR AMERICA" beautifully done in the font which characterized the Air America advertisements and sides of the planes and helicopters that they flew under the auspices of the CIA which backed the organization and operations as needed. Air America was a passenger and cargo airline started privately in Southeast Asia in 1946 but as of 1950 it became a CIA sponsored airline that had a public front upheld throughout the Cold War activities that precipitated to the Vietnam War, through the Vietnam War and the secret wars concomitant with the main conflict until 1976 when Air America ended as a CIA operation. 

 

The operations center where Air America offices were housed, was located at Tan Son Nhut Air Base just outside Saigon. Air America was given the image of a small passenger and cargo airline in Southeast Asia along with Continental Air Services Inc which was its sister CIA airline. Leading up to the actual beginning of the Vietnam occupation by significant numbers of troops in 1965 there were secret operations going on in neighboring countries such as Laos and Thailand.

 

Operation Water Pump was one of these clandestine ops that were carried out by Air Commandos who were teaching Laotian and Thai pilots how to fly so as to give closer support to the Laotian and Thai special forces operators who were operating in Laos against communist insurgents from the NVA, and the Pathet Lao communist homegrown organization within Laos itself. Eventually as the war ramped up in '66, the Air Commandos began flying with Air America to FAC (Forward Air Control) close air support for the Laotian troops and Thai special forces as well as the Green berets operating with Thai special forces against the Communist insurgency in Laos.

 

This Air Commando led FAC operation became code named Butterfly. The Air Commando CCT's trained at Hulbert Field In the US, would fly with Air America pilots and utilize the universal ID call sign "BUTTERFLY"  with a number specific to that operator for that day such as Butterfly 66 or Butterfly 44. These Air Commando "Butterfly" FAC's found Air America as invaluable to their work in operations trying to keep the Laotian people free from communist tyranny and the slavery endemic donations cursed with that blight. Air America pilots would fly U-1 Bird Dogs, Cessna's, UH-1 Hueys et al. in their special ops missions over Laos and throughout Vietnam and Thailand. 

 

There was a Forward Air Control station with radar and communications equipment on a small mountain top called Lima Site in Laos which overlooked the jungle going into North Vietnam and the ho chi Minh trail. Lima site was operated by Air Force and CIA operators and supplied by Air America pilots on a small strip below the site. These men guided our pilots in for attack into and egress from North Vietnamese airspace, giving them information about enemy MIGs, anti-aircraft SAM site activity and location, locating downed pilots and and guiding the pilots into their destinations with accuracy.  The Communists caught on and attacked Lima Site 85 eventually and the only way any of the men survived who were barely able to hide from the overwhelming force, while the attack was being orchestrated, was because of an air America pilot brave enough to fly back in after the attack and get the men out. 

 

Below is a picture of Bob Caron with the signed photograph also pictured below, from the actual photographer who caught Bob's helicopter as it left the roof in Saigon of the American Embassy. Bob had an 8-year service with Air America, as a pilot who flew in the Vietnam War in his early 30s. There is a picture of him next to One of the helicopters he flew with the air America lettering I described on the lighter, clearly seen in the blue font. Also pictured is his helicopter on the embassy in Saigon taking off the last passengers to escape the communist murderers intent on capturing and torturing and murdering with extreme prejudice, anyone who they could bring under their power. 

There is so much more I could say about the history of these incredibly brave and resilient men who flew with other incredibly brave and resilient men as they were used as political tools of fools instead of being given the authority to crush the enemy tyrants who wanted to enslave the people of Southeast Asia. God bless those men who had every intention of doing their job and freeing the people of South Vietnam from the tyranny that threatened them, but were betrayed by this vacillating and duplicitous nation's government as it descended from its Reformation roots. 

 

 

 

That is a GREAT double-sided AVN/AA lighter. Number One! Thanks for the post. *Previously posted "Air America" Japanese-made "Vulcan" from my collection.

[mtnman]

2 minutes ago, yokota57 said:

That is a GREAT double-sided AVN/AA lighter. Number One! Thanks for the post. *Previously posted "Air America" Japanese-made "Vulcan" from my collection.

Yakota! Awesome lighter man! Beautiful, perfectly centered insignia and I find splendid, the miniature enamel work... Thanks so much for sharing!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Excellent scores, mtnman and yokota57!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[mtnman]

This is a lighter from a World War II pilot who completed training in 1943, lieutenant William W. Wolfe. Lieutenant Wolf trained in one of the most difficult aircraft flown during World War II regarding control of the aircraft during flight. The reason there were so many problems with control of the aircraft arose from the limited flight surface of the wings mitigating somewhat, the lift and general response of the aircraft to controlled maneuvers.

 

The wings were short relative to the aircraft fuselage in comparison to other bomber aircraft of the time. B-26 bombers were manufactured by Martin which was known for engineering aircraft that were more difficult to fly than other more well-known aircraft such as the B-17 flying fortress or the B-24. Those men who mastered the B-26 aircraft were never true masters because the aircraft consistently challenged their flight capabilities and demanded consistent diligence and attention to the aircraft's characteristics in flight that could only be learned over time.

 

Lieutenant Wolfe was eventually assigned to and flew with the 391st Bomb Group 9th Air Force, European Theater, with his five person crew including bombardier, navigator, engineer and gunners throughout 44 and his crew. A typical mission would involve a payload of 8 500lb bombs, so 4 tons of explosives when hitting surface installations.  Heavier individual bombs up to 2000 lb would be utilized for hitting concrete reinforced with steel such as the submarine pens on the coast of occupied France. 

 

An example of one of his missions was March 14th 1944. Two boxes or groups of B-26 bombers we're hitting "noball"  sites in France which is the code word for V1 rocket launch sites. The one rockets were launched on a giant ramp called a ski that was 100 ft plus long and set up at a 30 to 45° angle. V1 rockets were shaped like a bomb with small wings and a tail like an aircraft with a pulse rocket on the tail structure coming up at a perpendicular angle from the bomb shaped fuselage at the rear. The V1 rocket was called a buzz bomb because it made a loud buzzing sound that could be heard as it got closer to its target. These were the first cruise missiles which were aimed in the direction of the target and given enough fuel calculated to go empty and the pulse rocket go out over the target at which point the buzz bomb would simply hurl towards Earth ending with the 2000 lbs of explosives erupting in fire and flame somewhere in the Target City such as London for example. 

 

Lieutenant Wolfe piloted his B-26 bomber named "Belle of Mount Rainier"  as you see on the lighter.  leaving at 14:00 to be over the target at 15:21 and to land back at base by 16:00 . The mission report verified direct hits on two ski ramps for the 

V-1's with accompanying building damage. The aircraft ran into heavy flak on the return flight with damage to the aircraft and injury to the bombardier necessitating and emergency landing at Lympne for medical evac. 

 

Enjoy the lighter guys! 

[mtnman]

I wanted to add one more aspect to this lighter which is an example by the way, of the heavy duty structure of World War II lighters many of the pilots and soldiers on the ground carried. The lighter itself is relatively light but the structure and tight construction of the lighter makes it practically indestructible. The last aspect I wanted to point out was the place where Flint is put into the lighter and screwed into place with the spring on the end of the little screw. This lighters Flint goes in from the side actually as you will see in the picture below. 

[yokota57]

19 minutes ago, mtnman said:

This is a lighter from a World War II pilot who completed training in 1943, lieutenant William W. Wolfe. Lieutenant Wolf trained in one of the most difficult aircraft flown during World War II regarding control of the aircraft during flight. The reason there were so many problems with control of the aircraft arose from the limited flight surface of the wings mitigating somewhat, the lift and general response of the aircraft to controlled maneuvers.

 

The wings were short relative to the aircraft fuselage in comparison to other bomber aircraft of the time. B-26 bombers were manufactured by Martin which was known for engineering aircraft that were more difficult to fly than other more well-known aircraft such as the B-17 flying fortress or the B-24. Those men who mastered the B-26 aircraft were never true masters because the aircraft consistently challenged their flight capabilities and demanded consistent diligence and attention to the aircraft's characteristics in flight that could only be learned over time.

 

Lieutenant Wolfe was eventually assigned to and flew with the 391st Bomb Group 9th Air Force, European Theater, with his five person crew including bombardier, navigator, engineer and gunners throughout 44 and his crew. A typical mission would involve a payload of 8 500lb bombs, so 4 tons of explosives when hitting surface installations.  Heavier individual bombs up to 2000 lb would be utilized for hitting concrete reinforced with steel such as the submarine pens on the coast of occupied France. 

 

An example of one of his missions was March 14th 1944. Two boxes or groups of B-26 bombers we're hitting "noball"  sites in France which is the code word for V1 rocket launch sites. The one rockets were launched on a giant ramp called a ski that was 100 ft plus long and set up at a 30 to 45° angle. V1 rockets were shaped like a bomb with small wings and a tail like an aircraft with a pulse rocket on the tail structure coming up at a perpendicular angle from the bomb shaped fuselage at the rear. The V1 rocket was called a buzz bomb because it made a loud buzzing sound that could be heard as it got closer to its target. These were the first cruise missiles which were aimed in the direction of the target and given enough fuel calculated to go empty and the pulse rocket go out over the target at which point the buzz bomb would simply hurl towards Earth ending with the 2000 lbs of explosives erupting in fire and flame somewhere in the Target City such as London for example. 

 

Lieutenant Wolfe piloted his B-26 bomber named "Belle of Mount Rainier"  as you see on the lighter.  leaving at 14:00 to be over the target at 15:21 and to land back at base by 16:00 . The mission report verified direct hits on two ski ramps for the 

V-1's with accompanying building damage. The aircraft ran into heavy flak on the return flight with damage to the aircraft and injury to the bombardier necessitating and emergency landing at Lympne for medical evac. 

 

Enjoy the lighter guys! 

Thanks for posting this AMAZING lighter! You made my day. 391st BG site has photos and info on Wolfe (same Serial #). He is far left in the crew photo (different a/c) and seated 6th from your left in the Air Medal photo. Check it out.

[yokota57]

41 minutes ago, mtnman said:

This is a lighter from a World War II pilot who completed training in 1943, lieutenant William W. Wolfe. Lieutenant Wolf trained in one of the most difficult aircraft flown during World War II regarding control of the aircraft during flight. The reason there were so many problems with control of the aircraft arose from the limited flight surface of the wings mitigating somewhat, the lift and general response of the aircraft to controlled maneuvers.

 

The wings were short relative to the aircraft fuselage in comparison to other bomber aircraft of the time. B-26 bombers were manufactured by Martin which was known for engineering aircraft that were more difficult to fly than other more well-known aircraft such as the B-17 flying fortress or the B-24. Those men who mastered the B-26 aircraft were never true masters because the aircraft consistently challenged their flight capabilities and demanded consistent diligence and attention to the aircraft's characteristics in flight that could only be learned over time.

 

Lieutenant Wolfe was eventually assigned to and flew with the 391st Bomb Group 9th Air Force, European Theater, with his five person crew including bombardier, navigator, engineer and gunners throughout 44 and his crew. A typical mission would involve a payload of 8 500lb bombs, so 4 tons of explosives when hitting surface installations.  Heavier individual bombs up to 2000 lb would be utilized for hitting concrete reinforced with steel such as the submarine pens on the coast of occupied France. 

 

An example of one of his missions was March 14th 1944. Two boxes or groups of B-26 bombers we're hitting "noball"  sites in France which is the code word for V1 rocket launch sites. The one rockets were launched on a giant ramp called a ski that was 100 ft plus long and set up at a 30 to 45° angle. V1 rockets were shaped like a bomb with small wings and a tail like an aircraft with a pulse rocket on the tail structure coming up at a perpendicular angle from the bomb shaped fuselage at the rear. The V1 rocket was called a buzz bomb because it made a loud buzzing sound that could be heard as it got closer to its target. These were the first cruise missiles which were aimed in the direction of the target and given enough fuel calculated to go empty and the pulse rocket go out over the target at which point the buzz bomb would simply hurl towards Earth ending with the 2000 lbs of explosives erupting in fire and flame somewhere in the Target City such as London for example. 

 

Lieutenant Wolfe piloted his B-26 bomber named "Belle of Mount Rainier"  as you see on the lighter.  leaving at 14:00 to be over the target at 15:21 and to land back at base by 16:00 . The mission report verified direct hits on two ski ramps for the 

V-1's with accompanying building damage. The aircraft ran into heavy flak on the return flight with damage to the aircraft and injury to the bombardier necessitating and emergency landing at Lympne for medical evac. 

 

Enjoy the lighter guys! 

I suspect this is your man at Arlington.

[mtnman]

Thanks so much for adding those wonderful pictures on yokota! Well done sir and I'm so thankful you enjoyed this very significant record of the history of the men of this land Who fought for the freedom to live according to the righteous biblical standards upon which this nation was built. They set their life blood as a barrier and boundary and said "no further,"  against those who would strip us of the freedom to live by that righteousness of the commandments our laws were once based upon and lock us in the chains of wickedness in tyranny. These men are an example of who the Men of America need to rise to the mettle of once again and far more, for the battle is within this time. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Great lighter, mtnman! And with the historical information that you and Yokota57 have located, it’s even more impressive!
 

Here’s a WWI lighter that is a model of simplicity, even for that era:

 

 

Essentially, when the flint wheel is turned the sparks create an ember in the wick. This smolders and cigarettes are lit off of it. When done, the wick was snuffed with the fingers. Crudely made and totally useful.

[Thrifter_01]

Some more USAF lighters from the collection.

 

Vulcan 1502nd FMS Squadron Lighter from Hickam AFB Hawaii, still with box.

 

 

Recently found, and we'll used, 3510 USAF Hospital Vulcan lighter while they were stationed in Randolph AFB.

 

 

Last one is a Pipe-Mate brand lighter that was given in DaNang, Vietnam to the 35th Combat Support Group.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

All nice one, Thrifter_01! And I especially like the last one. Here’s a Marine Bulldog one:

 

[yokota57]

US Army / Korean Communications Zone. Company "A", 712th Transportation Battalion (Railway Operating). Original box & cellophane Japanese-made "Penguin".