Military Lighters - All eras all brands

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Thanks, Yokota57! Here’re a couple of Fire Service patches from that base as well:

 

[AlexeiK]

64th Coast Artillery “We Aim High” | C Battery(?). Japan campaign, 1952-1955. Japanese-made Wellington. I’m not sure that ‘C’ with the cobra actually refers to the C Battery, but it seems the most likely solution.

[yokota57]

4 hours ago, AlexeiK said:

64th Coast Artillery “We Aim High” | C Battery(?). Japan campaign, 1952-1955. Japanese-made Wellington. I’m not sure that ‘C’ with the cobra actually refers to the C Battery, but it seems the most likely solution.

Ichi-Ban !!! Fantastic "Cobra". Thanks for posting it!

[AlexeiK]

1 hour ago, yokota57 said:

Fantastic "Cobra".

Does indeed 'C' mean C Battery or are other versions possible?

[AlexeiK]

U.S. Army Training Center, Armor. Fort Knox Kentucky. Note the general insignia “This We’ll Defend” with the rattlesnake. May it predate the introduction of the USATC Armor insignia with the tank track and thunderbolt? Japanese-made Rothco.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

A couple of nice ones, Alexei! On your question about the “C” standing for “C Battery”. That is a high probability, but without an actual attribution from someone knowledgeable about American Artillery units, at this point it is just our best guess.

However, I can be more definitive on your Ft. Knox lighter question: That “This We’ll Defend” distinctive unit insignia was worn on the shoulder straps by cadre, including Drill Sergeants, at Ft. Knox’s U.S. Army Training Center. It is a smaller version of the Drill Sergeant’s Qualification breast badge, which looks like this:
 

 

Here’s a bit more about the design elements:

 

The U.S. Army Drill Instructor Badge is a gold plated metal and enamel insignia, 2 inches in width and 1 51/64 inches in height, consisting of a flaming torch above an armored breast plate and jupon (shirt worn under the armor) in front of a rattlesnake on a green background, grasping in its mouth at upper right and with its tail at upper left, the ends of an encircling scroll inscribed "THIS WE'LL DEFEND" in black letters, between 13 black stars, 7 on the left and 6 on the right.

Some elements of the design are adapted from the United States Army Flag and the Seal of the Department of the Army (a snake, the motto and scroll and the armor). Also contained in the design is the torch of liberty and 13 stars.

[Castle_Keep]

Presumably a U.S. pineapple grenade lighter from WW2.   

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Really nice lighter, Castle_Keep! As you probably know, there are several modern commercially-made versions of that “trench art” lighter … but none as cool as your original!

[Castle_Keep]

13 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Really nice lighter, Castle_Keep! As you probably know, there are several modern commercially-made versions of that “trench art” lighter … but none as cool as your original!

Cobra-6-

Much appreciated, sir!  I'll post a wizbang cigar cutter tomorrow.  

[yokota57]

1 hour ago, Castle_Keep said:

Presumably a U.S. pineapple grenade lighter from WW2.   

Ichi-Ban !!! Great lighter and crashed A6M photo. Thanks for posting!

[AlexeiK]

9 hours ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

A couple of nice ones, Alexei! On your question about the “C” standing for “C Battery”. That is a high probability, but without an actual attribution from someone knowledgeable about American Artillery units, at this point it is just our best guess.

However, I can be more definitive on your Ft. Knox lighter question: That “This We’ll Defend” distinctive unit insignia was worn on the shoulder straps by cadre, including Drill Sergeants, at Ft. Knox’s U.S. Army Training Center. It is a smaller version of the Drill Sergeant’s Qualification breast badge, which looks like this:
 

 

Here’s a bit more about the design elements:

 

The U.S. Army Drill Instructor Badge is a gold plated metal and enamel insignia, 2 inches in width and 1 51/64 inches in height, consisting of a flaming torch above an armored breast plate and jupon (shirt worn under the armor) in front of a rattlesnake on a green background, grasping in its mouth at upper right and with its tail at upper left, the ends of an encircling scroll inscribed "THIS WE'LL DEFEND" in black letters, between 13 black stars, 7 on the left and 6 on the right.

Some elements of the design are adapted from the United States Army Flag and the Seal of the Department of the Army (a snake, the motto and scroll and the armor). Also contained in the design is the torch of liberty and 13 stars.

Many thanks for the clarification.

[AlexeiK]

“Top Three” Open Mess. Nagoya Air Base, Japan, 1954. Japanese-made Prince.

 

There is a pic of “Top Three” officers’ club: "Nagoya Hall in Nagoya, Japan. Home of 'Top Three' Club, EM Theatre, Gymnasium and Dance Hall. Picture taken from rock garden. April 1947".

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Another nice one, Alexei! Remember the US Air Force was only created as separate from the US Army in 1947, so this would still be “early days” for this military organization. The “Top Three Club” would be the club for the three highest enlisted Non-Commissioned Officer ranks.

[Castle_Keep]

11 hours ago, yokota57 said:

Ichi-Ban !!! Great lighter and crashed A6M photo. Thanks for posting!

Thank You!  I’m enclosing some info on the back of the crash photo.  

[AlexeiK]

41 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Another nice one, Alexei! Remember the US Air Force was only created as separate from the US Army in 1947, so this would still be “early days” for this military organization. The “Top Three Club” would be the club for the three highest enlisted Non-Commissioned Officer ranks.

Oh, I thought 'Top Three' is just a funny club name.

[Castle_Keep]

Offering a nifty 15th Infantry Regiment match safe and sidekick cigar cutter for your review:  

The Cigar Cutter Ashtray was made by the DRIGGS SEABURY ORDNANCE CORPORATION, of Sharon, Pa.  The copper rotating band bears the inscription "1 lb SHELL RAPID FIRE, COMPLIMENTS OF, DRIGGS SEABURY ORDNANCE CORPORATION, SHARON, PA."  This company was founded in 1897 and made weapons for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy prior to and during World War I. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Whoa, excellent cigar cutter and ashtray. Ditto for the match “safe”!

[Castle_Keep]

6 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Whoa, excellent cigar cutter and ashtray. Ditto for the match “safe”!

Thanks buddy.  We have the greatest hobby ever known to mankind.  

[yokota57]

30 minutes ago, Castle_Keep said:

Thanks buddy.  We have the greatest hobby ever known to mankind.  

I've run out of "Likes" due to all the great postings! Nice "Top 3" lighter and the Cigar Cutter/Ashtray & Match Safe are OUTSTANDING. Keep up the good work "Castle Keep" and "AlexeiK".

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[yokota57]

1 hour ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Ichi-Ban !!! That is a GREAT CH-47 lighter. Thanks for posting it!

[yokota57]

US Army / 8027th Army Unit (AFFE). Camp Nara, Japan. Japanese-made "Wellington".

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Siamundo and I had an earlier discussion on this thread with Posts #381 to #386 about Zippo, its marketing efforts, and where it had “missed the boat”. Just recently I looked at the Zippo website and, to my surprise, found that the Company has just come out with a Zippo insert that is a screwdriver carrier:

 

 

This innovative insert has two different-sized Phillips bits, a Standard bit, and a Torx one. They are all held in place with magnets. The insert fits all Zippos except the Slim version, the Armor version, and the 1935 replicas. Cost is ~$15.00.

[Salvage Sailor]

Very cool insert,

 

They did make keychains, pocket knives and some other items other than lighters

Destroyer Leader USS LUCE (DLG-7) Zippo pocket knife contracted and sold via the ships' store

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Yep, Salvage Sailor, they did. They also made flashlights and alarm clocks that fit into the Company’s cases. Even now there is a non-Zippo LED flashlight insert, the FlipLight:

 

 

This insert is available for ~$15. It even has a replaceable CR2032 battery.

 

Our earlier discussion was built around the idea that Zippo cases would lend themselves to other useful tools/inserts that military people would find useful since the cases are so compact and sturdy.