A couple of Vietnam era lighters

Here's a couple "Zippo's" I've turned up cleaning the basement out.

This one was given to me by a friend's dad when I graduated High School. He gave all of us that ran around together Zippo's. He was a retired police officer. I don't know if this was his or a reletives. I never knew his first name. We just called him Mr. Moore or Rob's dad.



The part that is hard to read on the side with the 9th Naval District says:
515-88-69
Glenn Moore
EN2

The back has a RVN Service medal on it and is engraved:
UDT-21
U.S. Navy

Lighter is a 7 point Zippo from 1967


This one was given to me by the local surplus store guy. He wanted it to go to a collector and not a high school kid that'd use it.



Says:
Da-Nang
Viet-Nam
1965-1966


Map of Vietnam with major cities or bases. From the top of the map:
Hanoi
Hue
Danang
Chulai
Saigo(n)
Camau

Lighter is made by Noble and is a windproof model

Enjoy!!

Fins...

Picked up 2 more today at the local flea market.



Says:
DANANG
VIETNAM
65-66


Map of Vietnam with major cities or bases. From the top of the map:
Hanoi
H.Phong
Danang
Chulai
Nhatrang
Saigon

Lighter is made by Zenith and is the windproof model



501st pocket patch type crest with motto "Geronimo"


says:
Company "C"
501st Infantry
101st Abn. Div.

Made by Vulcan

Fins...

I came across lots of Vietnam era zippo on eBay, but every single one doesn't seems to be original from Vietnam military(repro/fake). If anyone knows where to find a real original Vietnam zippo, please kindly let me know. I feel interest to get one. Great thanks

Vintagebob wrote:I came across lots of Vietnam era zippo on eBay, but every single one doesn't seems to be original from Vietnam military(repro/fake). If anyone knows where to find a real original Vietnam zippo, please kindly let me know. I feel interest to get one. Great thanks

First off, thanks to 1stDivVet for posting his photos of lighters. VintageBob, I collect Zippos and since I served in Vietnam in 1968-1969 my two interests merged.

You are correct that practically all of the "Zippos" on eBay are repros/fakes. I have gotten to the point where a I won't buy a supposedly authentic Vietnam Zippo unless I can also get a copy of the original owner's military discharge document, the DD-214. Although this has meant that I have passed up a fair number of lighters that could have been authentic; the reverse is that the few that I have obtained are the 'real deal.'

Good luck!
Joe

I still have both the regular and the slim that I had engraved in RVN. Sent the slim to the wife.
I have also picked up several others over the years, mostly at flea markets.
Would post photos, but have just changed computers and I can't find them.
Sarge

Sarge wrote:I still have both the regular and the slim that I had engraved in RVN.  Sent the slim to the wife.  
I have also picked up several others over the years, mostly at flea markets.  
Would post photos, but have just changed computers and I can't find them.  
Sarge  

That's great, Sarge! I know that my grandkids have an interest in military history that I've encouraged. One in particular is even interested in my lighters ... always good if we can share an interest in things!

Hi Guys!
How do u now the difference between a fake amd a real Vietnam used Zippo?
I see them for sale sometimes but i dont now anything about them ,so i never buy them. i hope u can tell me the diffrence between a fake and a real one.
Thx so much.
marc

59tankbat wrote:Hi Guys!
How do u now the difference between a fake amd a real Vietnam used Zippo?
I see them for sale sometimes but i dont now anything about them ,so i never buy them.  i hope u can tell me the diffrence between a fake and a real one.
Thx so much.
marc

Hi Marc --

There are usually several indicators:

1. The location named and unit are not correct: for example, the First Infantry Division never had units at Danang.

2.  Daft mis-spellings: no self-respecting GI would buy a lighter with the word "Infantry" spelled "Infanty" ... but, I've seen that several times.

3.  Wobbly engraving: the letters should be crisp and the linear portions nice and straight.

4.  This isn't always so, but most of the authentic Zippos will not have enamel or paint in the letters, themselves. Major exception is that many of the US Navy ship Zippos will be color enameled.

5.  The bottom stamp of the Zippo should actually be stamped, not engraved.

6.  The date listed is incorrect: for example, the Ist Infantry Division was in Vietnam from 1965 to 1970. If a lighter shows a unit of that Division with a 1973 date that would be telling that it's a bad one.

7. Chrome completely gone from the lighter, leaving a brass finish. The finish has often been ground off or chemically removed.

8.  Sayings or quotes that just don't make any sense. Here's one I saw recently "The power never win the willing of the people" ... what the heck does that mean.

Hope all of this helps!

Hi Joe,
Thx very much for yr anwser,its very helpfull.

You're welcome, Marc! Regards, Joe

A new one for the collection.

"Presented [/right]
Map of Vietnam with cities(top to bottom)
Hue
DaNang
Quinhon
CamRanh
Tan Son Nhut
Saigon
Bienhoa
Binthuy

Made by Penguin Mate

Nice one, 1stDivVet! I have a similar one that has a map with city names on one side and 'compliments of the USO' on the other side. If it tuns up I will post a photo.

A few more I've turned up.

US Army Service Clubs
Made in Japan

Southwestern Signal Corps School, Fort Gordon, GA.
Made by Vu-Lighter Corporation., Atlanta, GA

A USAF one.
Made by Cornet. Stamped ROCKY under name.

Dick Marsh
66-67


Back says'

VIETNAM
lists following cities on map
HANOI
HUE
DANANG
QUINHON
NHATRANG
CAMRANH
PHANRANG
SAIGON

Phan-Rang under map

11th Air Assault
Made by CREST-CRAFT in Japan


Reverse has basic Paratrooper wings

Nice ones, 1stDivVet! Here’s one from the former President of South Vietnam:

USN Officer's lighter
Gold anodized aluminum made by Ronson.

That's a sweet one Joe!

Late Vietnam USAF Security Forces
Made by Zippo and is a 6 point.

720th AC&W Squadron
Made by Vulcan
Unit Crest on 1 side


720th AC&W Sq.
Middleton Islan
Alaska

329th ABRON
made by LSMC in Japan

Thanks, 1stDivVet ... quite the collection you’ve got.

Thank you. I have a lot of assorted ones I've picked up over the years. These were in a box with some WW2 and Korean War era ones. There's some WW1 trench lighters around here too. Come to think of it, there's a strip of Civil War era matches somewhere. LOL

Fins...