# A question \[about Zippo cigarette lighters\] for those who fought in WWII **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495 "2009-01-01T19:10:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![luvrbcs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@luvrbcs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvrbcs)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/1 "2009-01-01T19:10:58Z")
I was watching Band of Brothers and noticed something odd. It seemed that everyone lit their cigarettes with Zippo type lighters. Where did they get the lighter fluid for the lighters? They would be on the front lines and in battle for days on end. The lighters had to dry up. I can’t imagine carrying the cans on their persons. Anyone know the answer? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/2 "2009-01-01T19:19:07Z")
Where did you get the idea that the lighters ran out so quickly? My mother was a medium heavy smoker and only refilled her Zippo every few weeks. Plus with so many soliders carry lighters there was at least some refill cans around. From wiki > [@](#): > > Zippo lighters became popular in the United States military, especially during World War II — when, as the company’s website says, Zippo “ceased production of lighters for consumer markets and dedicated all manufacturing to the U.S. military.” [2] The Zippo at that time was made of brass, but as this commodity was unobtainable due to the war effort, Zippo turned to using steel during the war years. While the Zippo Manufacturing Company never had an official contract with the military, soldiers and armed forces personnel insisted that PX stores carry this sought-after lighter. [3] [4] ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/3 "2009-01-01T19:56:28Z")
Plus, whatever the Zippo company might say, stuff other than lighter fluid would work in a pinch. Gasoline is not a good idea, it’s dangerous for that use, and it stinks, but I’m sure some of them tried it. Alcohol actually works, and could probably be snitched from medical supplies. This guy gives a ranking which you can take or leave: > **[Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos](https://www.yahoo.com/)** > > Latest news coverage, email, free stock quotes, live scores and video are just the beginning. Discover more every day at Yahoo! The actual packaged lighter fluid is naptha based, which is why Coleman fuel would work reasonably well. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/4 "2009-01-01T22:37:27Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Plus, whatever the Zippo company might say, stuff other than lighter fluid would work in a pinch. Gasoline is not a good idea, it’s dangerous for that use, and it stinks, but I’m sure some of them tried it. Alcohol actually works, and could probably be snitched from medical supplies. This guy gives a ranking which you can take or leave: > > [http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080308173800AA6sRwP](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080308173800AA6sRwP) > > The actual packaged lighter fluid is naptha based, which is why Coleman fuel would work reasonably well. I’ve tried gasoline, it emmits lots of black smoke, but why do you think it is more dangerous than the standard lighter fluid? Also, I don’t think diesel would work well in a Zippo, unless it was mixed with a more volatile liquid. Diesel has negligible vapour pressure in room temp so it is impossible to ignite it without preheating. ---
**Author:** ![luvrbcs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@luvrbcs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvrbcs)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/5 "2009-01-01T22:58:46Z")
Actually, I did smoke years ago, and I used Zippos. I don’t fully recall how long they lasted, but I don’t remember it lasting that long. Still, what did they really use? Any vets? > [@astro](#): > > Where did you get the idea that the lighters ran out so quickly? My mother was a medium heavy smoker and only refilled her Zippo every few weeks. > > Plus with so many soliders carry lighters there was at least some refill cans around. From wiki ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/6 "2009-01-01T23:18:49Z")
Edited title to indicate subject better. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/7 "2009-01-01T23:26:19Z")
**Colibri** , eh? I know that’s ‘hummingbird’, but it’s also a brand of lighter. There are posters named **Zippo342** and **zippo fuel**. No **Ronson** or just plain **Zippo** though. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/8 "2009-01-01T23:56:23Z")
I was a pipe smoker, and those need constant relighting, placing a big burden on any lighter. When I went in the army near the end of WWII, got a Zippo from the PX. It was the most reliable lighter I ever had, and it lasted for years and years, then got another, and then stopped smoking. One filling did last for a very long time. Another amazing thing is that Zippo would replace any lighter that ever went wrong, broke, or otherwise failed, no questions asked. What other company would do that. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/9 "2009-01-02T02:25:50Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Plus, whatever the Zippo company might say, stuff other than lighter fluid would work in a pinch. Gasoline is not a good idea, it’s dangerous for that use, and it stinks, but I’m sure some of them tried it. Alcohol actually works, and could probably be snitched from medical supplies. This guy gives a ranking which you can take or leave: > > [http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080308173800AA6sRwP](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080308173800AA6sRwP) > > The actual packaged lighter fluid is naptha based, which is why Coleman fuel would work reasonably well. You may be onto something here. To this day the Coleman company likes to brag about how some of its products were used in WWII. Coleman fuel was probably readily available. Course, a can of lighter fluid is a small, light thing (think of a can of 3-in-1 oil, or Liquid Wrench). Your average GI could stuff one in his forty-pound backpack and not notice the extra burden a bit. Flints may have been another matter. While a five-pack would easily fit in any pocket, they were rather easy to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/10 "2009-01-02T02:30:23Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > Flints may have been another matter. While a five-pack would easily fit in any pocket, they were rather easy to lose. Yeah, but a flint could last a long, long time. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/11 "2009-01-02T02:31:34Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > Also, I don’t think diesel would work well in a Zippo, unless it was mixed with a more volatile liquid. Diesel has negligible vapour pressure in room temp so it is impossible to ignite it without preheating. I’ve never tried diesel in a Zippo, but it worked OK for me in a lamp made out of a jam jar with a piece of hairy string for a wick - but that was lit with a match. I guess it would be a question of whether the sparks from the flint were hot and long-lived enough to flash a little region of diesel into enough vapour to get the thing started. I’m tempted to experiment… ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/12 "2009-01-02T03:14:55Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Yeah, but a flint could last a long, long time. True, but never long enough for my liking. . . . ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/13 "2009-01-02T03:38:06Z")
I have a zippo and i use offical zippo fuel. It seems to dry up and evaporate withing a couple weeks and i have to keep refilling it ---
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/14 "2009-01-02T04:05:39Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > Flints may have been another matter. While a five-pack would easily fit in any pocket, they were rather easy to lose. I solve this problem by putting the flints in the cotton pack inside the lighter itself. I fit quite a few in there, and I’m never left swearing when the flint runs out. I would think that lantern oil would work well as a fuel. I used charcoal lighter fluid once in a pinch and that also seemed to do its thing nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/15 "2009-01-02T04:27:38Z")
My grandfather (who was on Guam during the war) also kept his flints under the felt on top of the cotton stuff. When he was still riding and working horses he carried nothing but Zippo. I never asked what he did for fuel during WWII, sorry. He probably would have come up with a cock and bull story about stealing it from the Army. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/16 "2009-01-02T04:38:47Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > You may be onto something here. To this day the Coleman company likes to brag about how some of its products were used in WWII. Coleman fuel was probably readily available. Course, a can of lighter fluid is a small, light thing (think of a can of 3-in-1 oil, or Liquid Wrench). Your average GI could stuff one in his forty-pound backpack and not notice the extra burden a bit. Coleman stoves would have been handy for heating up things like c-rations. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/17 "2009-01-02T04:41:20Z")
> [@hekk](#): > > I solve this problem by putting the flints in the cotton pack inside the lighter itself. I fit quite a few in there, and I’m never left swearing when the flint runs out. IIRC, the instruction sheet which comes with new Zippos suggests this very thing. I know when I smoked and had Zippos, this is what I did with flints, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/18 "2009-01-02T15:33:27Z")
> [@hekk](#): > > I solve this problem by putting the flints in the cotton pack inside the lighter itself. I fit quite a few in there, and I’m never left swearing when the flint runs out. I’m a pipe smoker who uses a Zippo, and I put spare flints in my lighter like this also. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/19 "2009-01-02T16:29:21Z")
I believe the fluid these use is naptha, or cleaning fluid. Automotive bug and tar remover will work in a pinch, naptha being one of the main ingredients. Mopar part # 4886330aa. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495/20 "2009-01-02T16:30:51Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > IIRC, the instruction sheet which comes with new Zippos suggests this very thing. I know when I smoked and had Zippos, this is what I did with flints, as well. I always thought that’s why they coated them with that red stuff. It keeps them from degrading. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-zippo-cigarette-lighters-for-those-who-fought-in-wwii/479495.md?page=2)