Engraved Zippo lighters from the Vietnam War
A rare, authentic collection of 282 Vietnam era Zippo lighters went on the auction block June 21st at Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati. The collection belongs to artist Bradford Edwards, whose collection was showcased in the book Vietnam Zippos: American Soldiers’ Engravings and Stories 1965-1973 (Sherry Buchanan, University of Chicago Press, 2010). Some of you may remember the collection, which received media attention by the New York Times, NPR, and others. The lighter collection had a starting price of $30,000 to $50,000 and was included in the book. Considering the years of search Mr. Bradford spent in Vietnam sourcing and assembling the collection, the starting price seems realistic.
Most Americans remember the Zippo, with its cool flip-top lid and unmistakable clicking sound, as the device used in the 1950s and 1960s by gentlemen to light a woman’s cigarette. Don Draper or James Bond would do it best. Two quick moves — flip, click. Smooth as silk.
The mechanics of a Zippo lighter has remained basically unchanged since it was first introduced in 1933. Just this month, Zippo celebrated the production of its 500 millionth Zippo lighter with an engraved and numbered edition of 10,000 lighters at $45 a pop.
It’s the stainless steel case that users like to modify and personalize. In World War II, the Zippo was the soldier’s friend, providing dependability for fire whether lighting a cigarette or explosives.
Many more at link: http://observatory.designobserver.com/accidental-mysteries-062412/34848/index.html
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It was given to me by my little brother when we served together there. It had the 101st Airborne Division's Screaming Eagle insignia and my regimental crest (which dated back to the Band of Brothers troops of WWII) and my battalion's '2/501 Infantry' designation.
I lost my little brother a couple years ago. I wish I still had the lighter--but I'd rather have my brother back...
R.I.P., Jim. 
unengraved, but it still works.... I think. 
but I haven't been able to find a flint or wick in at least 20 years.
Got goosebumps w/ the engraving that listed Bein Hoa, Cu Chi and Long Binh. I was at each, and can't help but wonder if I knew the owner.
Last edited Fri Jul 6, 2012, 12:50 AM - Edit history (2)
like those in the O.P. I think (not sure) I gave it to my father who later stopped smoking and might have put it away with the smoking. I wonder whether that collection in the o.p. might include one with my ship on it. Hmmmm.
I now have recreated a couple of new ones. Will do the Photobucket thing. ON EDIT: Here they be, my crude artisanship::
Another one, brass, looks really beaten, but only because I took off the protective lacquer and it tarnishes immediately, plus the engraving was just a black outline. These in the pic are chrome, so get all fingerprinted instantly. And the the little lapel pins kept falling off and lost until I found a good glue. Messy looking, eh?
