How to Date A Zippo Lighter

Determining the manufacture date of a Zippo lighter is vital to determining its value. Each Zippo lighter carries distinct markings that reveal its manufacturing date. This guide will help you identify your Zippo’s age by deciphering the date codes, patent numbers, trademarks, and other features that have changed over the years.

Zippo Regular Lighter Identification Codes

1. Understanding the Basics of Zippo Date Codes

From 1933 to the mid-1950s, the word ZIPPO was stamped on the bottom of the lighter in BLOCK letters. Starting in the 1950s, Zippo began to use date codes to track production, which allows collectors to determine the manufacturing period.

Block Letter Zippo Logo

2. Early Zippos (1933–1954): Pre-Date Code Era

Zippos from 1933 to 1954 bear the patent number 2032695 stamped on the bottom, accompanied by the iconic block letter "ZIPPO" logo. Since Zippos from this era lack date codes, collectors rely on design features, hinge variations, and case details to estimate production years.

Barrel Hinges

1933-1936: Applied/attached 3-barrel hinge soldered externally to the case, an early and less durable design.
1936-1937: Applied/attached 4-barrel hinge soldered externally, offering improved lid stability over the 3-barrel version.
1937–1942: Built-in 4-barrel hinge integrated into the case, enhancing both durability and the lighter’s seamless appearance.
1943–1947: Due to wartime material shortages, Zippo shifted to a 3-barrel hinge, with the center barrel longer than the outer two.
1948-1955: After the war, the company reverted to the 4-barrel hinge before transitioning to the modern 5-barrel hinge in the early 1950s.



Rounded vs. Square Corners

1933–1937: Early Zippos had square corners, as the cases were made from rectangular metal tubing with a soldered base.
1937–1941: Around 1937, Zippo redesigned the case with rounded corners, switching to a single-sheet metal casing, eliminating the need for a soldered base.

Vertical Line Designs

Some early Zippos featured vertical lines engraved into the case.
Notably, some models have double vertical lines at two corners, while others have single vertical lines at all corners. These design variations can help narrow down production years.

Flat vs. Round Bottoms

1933–1941: Early models had either a flat bottom or a slightly rounded base.
1942–1946: Wartime "Black Crackle" models also featured flat or rounded bottoms, depending on the production run.
Post-1946: The "canned bottom" (indented base) was introduced in 1946 and became a standard feature.

Flat Round

1942 to 1946: Black Crackle Models

When America entered World War II, materials like brass and chrome were reserved for military use. Zippo adapted by producing lighters from steel, coating them with black paint. The paint was baked, creating a distinctive textured surface known as "Black Crackle".

Key Details of Black Crackle Models:

Black Crackle lighters retained the patent number 2032695 on the bottom, but the stamp is often only visible after significant wear.
Some lighters during this period were incorrectly stamped with PAT. #203695, omitting the second "2" in error. This stamping mistake adds to their rarity.
A few models were double-stamped on both the top and bottom of the lighter, with reports of mismatched patent numbers.

3. Transition Period (1951–1957)

During this period, Zippos have a patent number of 2517191 stamped on the bottom. Between 1955 and 1957, the Zippo script logo began appearing alongside the BLOCK LETTER logo, creating an overlap. Exact dating is challenging during these years due to a gradual transition.

Zippo Logo Transition from Block to Script

4. Date Codes (1958–1986)

Starting in 1958, Zippo implemented a precise system of date codes using symbols to represent specific years:

1958 - **** [logo] ****
1959 - **** [logo] ***
1960 - *** [logo] ***
1961 - *** [logo] **
1962 - ** [logo] **
1963 - ** [logo] *
1964 - * [logo] *
1965 - * [logo]
1966 - |||| [logo] ||||
1967 - |||| [logo] |||
1968 - ||| [logo] |||
1969 - ||| [logo] ||
1970 - || [logo] ||
1971 - || [logo] |
1972 - | [logo] |
1973 - | [logo]
1974 - //// [logo] ////
1975 - //// [logo] ///
1976 - /// [logo] ///
1977 - /// [logo] //
1978 - // [logo] //
1979 - / [logo] // OR // [logo] / (both exist)
1980 - / [logo] /
1981 - / [logo]
1982 - \\\\ [logo] \\\\
1983 - \\\\ [logo] \\\
1984 - \\\ [logo] \\\
1985 - \\\ [logo] \\
1986 - \\ [logo] \\

Post 1978 Zippo Logo

5. Modern Date Codes (1986–2000)

Beginning in 1986, Zippo implemented a coding system using Roman numerals to indicate the year of manufacture, alongside a letter for the month. The letter A to L represents the month (A = January, B = February, etc.). Roman numerals are used for the year as follows:

1986 - II
1987 - III
1988 - IV
1989 - V
1990 - VI
1991 - VII
1992 - VIII
1993 - IX
1994 - X
1995 - XI
1996 - XII
1997 - XIII
1998 - XIV
1999 - XV
2000 - XVI

Important Side Note: According to the National Archive, fluid lighters were required to have orange security seals starting in July, 1993.


6. Current Date Codes (2001–Present)

Since 2001, Zippo has used a two-digit number to represent the year of manufacture, along with the same month-coding letters. For example, a lighter with “01” was made in 2001. This system continues today.

2001 -- 01
2002 -- 02
2003 -- 03
2004 -- 04
2005 -- 05
2006 -- 06
2007 -- 07
2008 -- 08
2009 -- 09
2010 -- 10

Additional Clues and Unique Markings

Special editions, commemorative models, or unique design features can help further identify Zippo lighters:

Patent Numbers: Early models display patent numbers correlating to specific years. For example, “2032695” was used pre-1954, while “2517191” appeared post-1951.
Bottom Stamps for Special Editions: Anniversary models and event-specific Zippos often have unique stamps.

Care Tips for Collectible Zippos

To preserve your Zippo’s value, avoid polishing, store it properly, and limit fuel exposure for vintage models.

In Summary

Dating a Zippo lighter requires careful attention to detail and familiarity with changing codes. Using this guide, along with Zippo’s official resources, can help you accurately date and appreciate your collectible Zippo.

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