Bob Hudson Posted April 18, 2021 Share #1 Posted April 18, 2021 This is a first for me: a ZIPPO brand brass buckle. This one is from the USS PAUL REVERE LPA 248. It is still in the original box and it has a matching ZIPPO Slim lighter, never fired. I had no idea until now that ZIPPO made buckles. There is a second ZIPPO Slim lighter for the Revere, but it has been used. These came from a retired Navy Captain who was commissiond in 1961. He told me he quit smoking at some point and since the Reveres are the oldest lighters in this little collection I'd guess he quit circa 1978 when he was XO of the Revere. His first ship was the Bon Homme Richard CVA 31 in 1961 and there is a Penguin lighter from the Bonnie Dick. The only other non-ZIPPO is for the USS Princeton LPH-5, branded "Commercial Products Co" in San Diego. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 18, 2021 Author Share #2 Posted April 18, 2021 This USS Mitscher DL 2 ZIPPO is dated 1964. This USS BAYFIELD APA 33 ZIPPO is dated 1966: This is the used Revere ZIPPO: dated 1969 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 18, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted April 18, 2021 Here's the Bonnie Dick Penguin lighter: "Commercial Products" lighters have "San Diego California" stamped on them, but they also are marked "Japan" so we can bet they're not made in California Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 19, 2021 Share #4 Posted April 19, 2021 3 hours ago, Bob Hudson said: This is a first for me: a ZIPPO brand brass buckle. This one is from the USS PAUL REVERE LPA 248. It is still in the original box and it has a matching ZIPPO Slim lighter, never fired. I had no idea until now that ZIPPO made buckles. There is a second ZIPPO Slim lighter for the Revere, but it has been used. These came from a retired Navy Captain who was commissiond in 1961. He told me he quit smoking at some point and since the Reveres are the oldest lighters in this little collection I'd guess he quit circa 1978 when he was XO of the Revere. His first ship was the Bon Homme Richard CVA 31 in 1961 and there is a Penguin lighter from the Bonnie Dick. The only other non-ZIPPO is for the USS Princeton LPH-5, branded "Commercial Products Co" in San Diego. Aloha Bob, Nice collection of Zippos you've posted. Many of the larger USN vessels had Zippo products in their Ships' Stores which included belt buckles, slim lighters and custom lighters. Here's a personal set of Zippos which I purchased (and wore) aboard the USS LUCE (DDG-38) And here are more Zippo belt buckles from the 1970's including the USCGC TAMAROA, hero ship of the "Perfect Storm" USCGC TAMAROA (WMEC-166) ex-Fleet Tug USS ZUNI, Iwo Jima invasion veteran USS PAPAGO (ATF-160) USS ORTOLAN (ASR-22) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 19, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted April 19, 2021 2 hours ago, Salvage Sailor said: Ships' Stores which included belt buckles, slim lighters and custom lighters. As I said above, I did not know before now that ZIPPO made buckles. Thanks for sharing those: anyone else have buckles with ZIPPO marks on them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GI_Jane Posted September 29, 2022 Share #6 Posted September 29, 2022 On 4/19/2021 at 5:18 AM, Bob Hudson said: As I said above, I did not know before now that ZIPPO made buckles. Thanks for sharing those: anyone else have buckles with ZIPPO marks on them? I have this buckle from the USNS Comfort (t-ah-20) marked Zippo (not the best pictures, sorry). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted September 29, 2022 Share #7 Posted September 29, 2022 Aloha GI Jane, Nice Hospital ship Zippo belt buckle, thanks for posting this and also welcome to our Forum. Members, if you're curious about these USN Zippo belt buckles and wish to see more examples, go to eBay and search for "USS" Zippo belt buckle (or USCG or Navy or USN if you prefer) and the fleet will appear. The " " quote marks will limit the search to those buckles. There ya go... PS - Here's a very groovy U.S. SECOND FLEET buckle from a listing I just viewed. (Atlantic Fleet Cold War, circa 1970) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy Howdy Posted September 30, 2022 Share #8 Posted September 30, 2022 On 4/18/2021 at 5:48 PM, Bob Hudson said: This USS Mitscher DL 2 ZIPPO is dated 1964. This USS BAYFIELD APA 33 ZIPPO is dated 1966: This is the used Revere ZIPPO: dated 1969 Actually ///ZIPPO// is 1977. IIIZIPPOII is 1969 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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