I was one of the first Marines who hit the beach in Chu Lai Vietnam in 1965. We all had Zenith lighters with a picture of Vietnam on one side, and the words Chu Lai Viet-Nam 1965-1966 on the other. Never saw any Zippos...

Obviously that insert was fake, but I assume it would be very common to replace the inserts.

I just finished restoring 2 old zippos (one from 1994 and one from the 70s) and I can’t believe how well they still work. These last forever

the picture on the atlantis lighter is called "La femme à l'oiseau" which means woman with bird

OMG the insert writing, I'm dying!

"made in Zippo USA"

I never assumed these were genuine 60s zippos, I always thought they were the zippo equivilent of the hats you buy at flea markets if your a vet.

i bought two in Saigon in 2015.. seeing this video, and "oh nuts" should've known better, a charlie scam...

Thanks Jeff. You are the person that got me interested in Zippos. God bless. John

Thankyou! I was going to buy one of these from Ebay. You helped a ton.

Another great video CL

what chu lai ing for

yup just a small bit of info here and there to try to make it convincing

I know this is gonna sound crazy but was the Vietnam zippo book written by Jim Fiorella? Because that's my uncle 😂😂

The hand engraved registration 'R' is a nice touch.

Another thing - most Vietnam Zippos seem to have had a chrome finish. This one seems to never have had a chrome finish.

Love the show!

Are there any zippo alternative or "fakes" that have a thick quality hinge?

dang it, just bought one in Hanoi yesterday with the same quote. From what I can tell it is an actual period correct '67 Zippo with a later engraving to increase the value.

Would you be able to sell this fake zippo? I don't mind that it is fake, but I do like the design of it.

My dad has one that says I walk through the valley of the shadow of death with no fear because I am the baddest mother fucker in this valley

Possibly the insert is a replacement.

Makes me feel like such a zippo noob lol

just playing devils advocate, could 64-65 be the time he was in country and he was only in chu lai during 65 not 64?

I need your help. My Zippo makes no more sparks. and I was wondering if I can repair my Zippo? sorry for my bad english. i am from austria.

Sorry, off subject, Jeff, but I wanna wish you a very happy 4th of July, dude! Hope you & Gus have a safe one!

@cutlerylover you said you have a real Vietnam zippo, would you be able to make the video on it soon? I can't wait to see it!

thanks more coming

well goodday jeff smith (cool collection btw)

So you are telling me if I drop my Zippo and it gets a dot near the logo it has become fake. And also that insert that looks new, well maybe the original insert was completely messed up so the guy put a new one

Is the case real? And the insert fake?

Where should I buy a genuine vietnam zippo

Forgot to mention it has the one dot on the left of the zippo stamp, looks correct, and it has a diamond cut in the chimney, I'm assuming for a pipe. Can't tell on the case because it's worn to the point it's barely readable.

Damn man. Thanks! Didn't know this about Zippos. Cheers

I was helping a Vietnam veteran clean his shed and house out today and I found his light he got from in the war of Vietnam

Better question is... what are you still doing up?

Man, you should have kept that Smith&Wesson 686. That's a fine revolver.

You didn't even notice the No Code on either side at the bottom.

I was wondering if you could help me out I had gotten what I believe is a Vietnam zippo and I'm not sure if it is real or fake

The army babysits the previous area the marine corps slaughtered and does firewatch

Met a guy at a coin show who was a fellow collector and he had two rare zippos one from the first surf contest at honolulu and a box top style zippo for sale but he knew then values being a fellow collector but his stories were pretty cool

They're probably real zippos..but the images could be engraved later from black market lighter dealers in Vietnam during the 70s and 80s.

There is a whole eBay page selling these as “a piece of history”, a couple actually. Then I found some others are labeled as repos and are shiny and look brand new and cost half the price or less from other sellers, and they have the exact same markings and writings on them, for every single one of these “worn” ones, I’ve found one that looks spot on it in the “repo” version, then there’s these that are “worn” for $40+ that are claimed and labeled to be “authentic” and “a chance to buy a piece of history” someone is buying the $15 dollar ones and just wearing them down, selling them for more than double.

Did I just go back in time Jeff?

Oh and also, Chu Lai was home of the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division of the US Army from 1967-71.

I have a 1978 zippo with pine valley golf course on it. It was only 2 dollars put fluid in it and it lit. The lid moves side to side because it's loose and it will scrap the spark wheel when closing. The insert also has a dent in the side. If I send it to zippo to have it repaired and feel like it's brand new would that decrease its value also?

What is the design on the Atlantis lighter called?

hi i have bought 10 vietnam zippos. i thought they were al fake but the insert of one zippo is rusty and a little broken

Men in the army were attached to the marines. I know a nam vet who was attached to the marines most of his service

Great video,thank you my friend.

treat it the same as any metal get the proper paint or even better powder coat or duracoat or similar for a longer l;astign finish, a testured outdoor crylon woudl be cool

how can you be sure youre getting a real one? id love to have a real one from nam

i had 9 zippos on ebay for sale for $30 1976-2000 did not sell 3 were brass case. my son bought them so i gave him another brass zippo with my initals and a genuine viet nam zippo with lanyard. case had a kinda tri angle for hinge pin the lanyard was on and other end was a loop we hooked pocket button in so not to lose it in brush/jungle.

Can u show us your new collection

yes you need to buy new flints for your zippo. you can order them online and search 'how to replace my flint on my zippo on youtube itll walk you through

Jeff, I just received a 1962 Zippo with the BPOE Elks logo on it. It has not been lit and is in the original box. I want to fill it and enjoy it but I don't want to ruin it if I should leave it unused. Please let me know what to do.

hard lesson to learn. but BLEEP BLOOP

Interesting video Colonel!! . ★★★★★

youre the detective monk of zippos!!!

That stamp 😂👌🏽

Good video!

Did you buy this from a person stating it was real?

If it was made in 65 anyways, the soldier wouldn't of had it in war. It would of been made after his service.

Lol that was so random that story about how you traded all that and ended up with the glock. Its like some huge fetchquest in the life of cuttlerylover

yes given there are dozens of things thgat can be wrong in a zippo making you question its authenticity

awesome lol idk what tme it is in Pennsylvania, but in Toronto its 2 AM :P

its now 2 am, Im going to bed, oh happy 4th of july, lol

I had it engraved a week later at the China Beach PX below our hill at a Korean Gift shop licensed inside the PX. Sunglasses, photography, radios, watches-sold and repaired, and pins. He was a "retired" ROC Marine so we chatted. Since the Marine Air Wing only issued us 16s with mags/ammo and required them carried anytime off base, we were "bothered" by scooter "cowboys" knowing rules forbade shooting for minor grab-thefts. The Korean kept me stocked with $1 swing-guard stainless lockblades. :-)

Also I seen one with a marine logo on the front, and on the back of the lighter it had a green beret saying, and several other ones that don’t add up at all, so stay away from anyone on eBay selling these things they’re trying to pass them off as authentic.

thank you so much, video was informative

You sound like one of the experts on Pawn Stars in this video.

Aaah I know this video is older but it saved me from buying a fake lol! I almost didnt catch it but the year was wrong. Whew

is it just me or does jeffs voice sound squeaky

Just went to Vietnam and bought a zippo while I was down there. Had to replace the flint the first day of use :P Still like it!

happy birthday

I'm in Hue.i just bought what I believe to be real Zippo lighters. They defy your explanation, which has been invaluable. The seller says he was a boy, and when an American was leaving quite often they would give their lighters to the kids. Which corresponds to my guys time line. Which also helps me to know the owners survived.

They did not do brass until after Vietnam

U r livieng the life I want keep the videos comeing

Jeff stays up all night and parties!

I have a 64-65 cam ranh that has what appears to be a shield with a sword on the Inside of it. On the back, it has on the top, Lve by chance, love by choice, kill by profession. On the bottom, it says, when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

I didn't know there was so much to know about a... smelly lighter. ;-) Let me fill you in on this fridge, it keeps all your food cold for $800.00. It has an egg area and all the lettering is in cursive, a really nice feature. ;-)

You sounded way different in 2012!

официальная современная копия

I don't see why the US army would be a problem, there are often times multiple branches at one OP. Being commanded by a certain branches ie marines, army, navy doesn't mean that's all that's at that OP.

hey jeff you reposted this video didnt you

After watching this video I'm going to start collecting these fake veitnam zippos idk why but they look cool to me

Lmao, this video is great, you should be a teacher!

That was actually second person :D

maybe he got his zippo later and marked it when he started

I think the people who are watching this video on Zippos are well aware what the cam is and what it does...

I should be getting 2 to 5 Korea War time zippo's. One from my grandfather and one from my uncle. I think they are both slims.

Great!! That's some info i want :)

5:25 what has been seen cannot be unseen

LMAO at the tags! lol

zippo fluid at Sheetz do you know the price

Happy Independence Day

Anyway if they are fake and cheap and you know it the case is nice anyway,i would replace the inserts

hey jeff did you get my package? i sent you Hab seeds

I watched your video good sir.

make a video your lighter collection.