I’ve had this Zippo since early 2011. According to the markings it was made in August of 2010.
I don’t always carry it but when I know I’m going to need a lighter it’s what I use. I have other lighters around the house, for candles/starting the grill, but when I go out this one is in my pocket.
It was originally the matte black model but after more than a decade I decided to use acetone to remove the coating. It’s now raw brass which I do like.
The only downside of this lighter is that the original insert will lose fluid over a few days. I did add a small piece of this plastic over the bottom of the insert to act as a gasket. It does improve the time it takes for the fluid to evaporate by about double.
I know there are flame and torch inserts but I prefer the simple mechanism of this. I’ve had other torch lighters in the past and they always seem to break. If something on this Zippo ever breaks I know I can repair it with a repair kit. I don’t mind disposable lighters since they work well and serve a purpose but I enjoy the permanence of a Zippo.
You have a recommendation on butane inserts? I’ve gone through a few, and they’re great until they don’t work, and that doesn’t seem to take too long.
@constantokra I’m one of those people that hasn’t owned most of the things, but knows enough about them that it sounds like they have. So I haven’t used any of those lighters, though I should get one.
If you’ve used non-zippo inserts I’d recommend trying the official butane ones, but other then that, I don’t know what to recommend. There’s also the Robson JetLite which is a very cheap refillable jet lighter, similar size to a zippo