Zippo year quality question

A

austin37

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Messages
293
Evening,

For the classic and slim Zippo lighters (not armor versions).. Is there a period of time or decade, perhaps Stamp date on bottom that denotes best quality… for example a early 80s classic high polish chrome vs a brand new high classic polish chrome.. would there be any reason to buy the older used vs new lighter with everything else being same?
 
I had a slim i got in the late 80s carried pretty regular for about a decade till it got stolen
The black crinkle coat was just starting to wear off
I think it worked fine

I have only tried a few other ones from the 2000s and pretty limited use
They seem to be a bit fussy with flints
But that could be the flints themselves

In the late 70s i got dad a polished hard chrome
Took about 20 yrs for it to start wearing through the chrome
 
I have older ones and new ones, I have not noticed quality slippage but then again I don't actually use mine.
 
I have ones from mid 80s and early 90s, mid 2000s and 2010s, 2018 up to as new as last year. the older ones...dont seem any better really than the newer ones. I use mine.

I'm sure to serious zippo collectors certain years are the "best." I can't tell any of them as better or worse on look over and igniting them.
 
I have two. A brand new one gifted to me by a friend and my uncle's that went ashore with him at Omaha Beach. Really about the same.
 
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