difference between old and new zippos

[deathbata7x]

other than just looking at the bottom stamp

[Spanish Flea]

Zippos with date codes on the bottom are easy to figure out.

The older ones are a bit harder, need to use a combo of the bottom stamp and the stamp on the insert to "narrow" it down to a year.

Example, i have a Engine Turned Sterling Silver Case. Now the only stamps on the botton are "Zippo" and below that it says "Sterling" This model dates from (now i'm guessing here) '56 to '68. So when i date the insert the insert is a '67-'76 insert.
So i've narrowed it down to two years.
'67 or '68 it could be.

But here's where there could be a twist. What if the Zippo was sent to zippo and they replace the insert. In this case the insert is the only means of finding a date. So it's just a guess-ta-mation, and not always correct.

Spanish Flea

[deathbata7x]

ok thanks for the help

[Blue]

here's another thing to look for. I don't have the exact dates in my head, but if you see a zippo with a 3 or 4 barrel hinge, you know it's definitely old.

[deathbata7x]

barrel hinge? or barrel chimney

[Hunter007]

Barrel hinge...what barrel chimmney?

Hunter007

[deathbata7x]

o wait sorry bout that nevermind im thinking of something else we learned in chemistry lol

[Blue]

definitely barrel hinge. Each circular piece on the hinge is called a barrel. Don't worry I think I asked the same thing when I first started collecting

[arthurdent]

deathbata7x said:

o wait sorry bout that nevermind im thinking of something else we learned in chemistry lol

do you mean to say that you were paying attention in class for a change?

[Spanish Flea]

deathbata7x said:

other than just looking at the bottom stamp

Check this out, i'm going to expand this section. To the Left, I have the Bottom Stamps and Insert stamps.

www.spanishflea.com/DateCode.html

Spanish Flea

[phdmatt2002]

i dont want to snyper this thread but
is there a difference in the dates for slim inserts, specifically the layout of the keep away from kids, use only zippo flints, join zippo click message.

[deathbata7x]

spanishflea said:

deathbata7x said:

other than just looking at the bottom stamp

Check this out, i'm going to expand this section. To the Left, I have the Bottom Stamps and Insert stamps.

www.spanishflea.com/DateCode.html

Spanish Flea

that helps a lot thank you

[albonico]

Also keep in mind that the five barrell hinge is larger before 1956, which seems to be a transition year. Ok kids. Pull out the insert, grab a magnet off the frig and place it on the case. So, large five barrell hinge, a magnet sticks to the case, whatta we got? 1950-53 steel case. Hmmmmmmmmm. Think I'll weight a steel case with insert full of fuel and a non steel case on the postal machine at work. Bet the steel case wins. Nothing beats the sound of a steel case. ATBGO.

[phdmatt2002]

i weighed my zippo (brushed chrome) at the PO last year and i think it was ~1.6 oz (with package) or $0.80

[deathbata7x]

thats cheap i thought it would be a little more expensive then that