Chili Ron Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Howdy, From time to time I see shortened zippo lighters. They seem related to Vietnam but not always. Anyone know the real reason for a short zippo?? Do they fit somewhere into combat gear?? Ive seen zippos stuck onto helmets....would that be a reason for cutting one? Seems like a lot of work. One fella suggested a shortened slim zippo which might come out looking like a miniature zippo. Now that could have a fun factor. U tube has directions to make or ruin one if you care to look. Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Can’t say as I’ve ever seen one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawhorse Kid Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Don't the reason behind them, but they look factory. Likely an after market knock off, their were many in that era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted April 14, 2022 Author Share Posted April 14, 2022 Thats IT. Thanks. But why? Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Maybe they were given the people whose time was almost up - they were SHORT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Because! PS: I never saw one in the wild either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 I know this doesn't really answer your question but it is interesting. They say the lighter is "shortened" but they do not say why. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-zippo-army-lighter-vietnam-400633408 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/shortened-cut-airborne-sai-gon-67-68-401571696 This history of "Zippo" mentions shortening their lighters by 1/4" in 1933. There is no other mentioning of "shortened" lighters. https://www.company-histories.com/Zippo-Manufacturing-Company-Company-History.html HERE YOU GO - Scroll down to "Short Model". The guy can't spell for crap or has no editing skills, but the "short" lighters were a thing done by the Vietnamese, not the soldiers and it wasn't done because the soldier was "Short" - Per this guy. http://vietnam.zippo.free.fr/repared.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 A bit more https://www.zippo.com/pages/then-now I recall bit of trivia, which may or may not be true - the shape of the Zippo, at least in part, was because the prototype was soldered on a hot plate. This is so old a bit of info, I recall hearing it on the Radio, and not in the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 Im just sent a Zippo that my wife gave me for my birthday in 1965, (the first gift she ever gave me three months before she married me) back to be restored after 52 years. The warranty is still good. I also have a Vietnam lighter that I can't even begin to consider selling, and will haunt my kids if they do. It works fine and looks great. I have my Dad's 1959 Ronson that Zippo, who now owns Ronson, will tell me if they can fix if I sent them a front and back picture of it. On the way this week end. Lots of trouble for a guy who stopped smoking a second after midnight in 2000 AD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 My dad was a heavy smoker and only used a Zippo lighter. For years I didn't know there was any other kind. I think he tossed it when he quit smoking. There's something sort of satisfying the way they work and sound, especially when the lid is opened & snapped shut. I never knew of the shortened ones until this thread. Seems it would make one-handed operation difficult, even with small hands. This one belonged to my father in law. He was a WWII vet, but not VN, so I don't know how he acquired it. Anyway, it's kinda cool. Great for cigars and camping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted April 14, 2022 Author Share Posted April 14, 2022 Howdy, they use the zippo all thru the Burn Notice show but no Burn Notice Zippos???? 007 hardly use one and I bet they made 200 different models or styles for Bond. Perhaps a Ukrainian model for molitive cocktails?? Is that shaken or stirred?? Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 I still have my Slim Zippo with my ship’s logo on it. If I can find it I will photograph it. I also have a Zippo my wife bought me with a USN anchor on it. It still looks brand new. I got the leather Zippo lighter pouch with it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 i carry a zippo a lot lately but its a standard not that short version Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WOLFY Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 aside from the slim and full size there are also “original reproductions” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 20 hours ago, Chili Ron said: Thats IT. Thanks. But why? Best CR Short stroked model for faster lighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted April 15, 2022 Author Share Posted April 15, 2022 Howdy, Maybe we need a short strokked SASS model>>> Anyone have time and tools to make up a few? The shorter one would fit onto a belt buckle better, perhaps?????\ Best CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 Lost mine down the toilet. Alcohol may have contributed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted April 18, 2022 Author Share Posted April 18, 2022 btt just once fer the weekdays crowd..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted April 30, 2022 Author Share Posted April 30, 2022 Howdy, I got to reading and it seems the short ones were damaged ones that were cut to remove damaged areas. Lighters and all sorts of other stuff was dug up and repaired and sold. Im intrigued by the idea of a short slim model. No real use for it, could look cool. Seems the short ones were NOT done by GI. Best CR thanks fer reedin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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