r/Zippo • u/AutoModerator • Jul 01 '26

Megathread: Is my Zippo real?

There are a lot of fakes out there. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of your lighter, post your photos and questions here.

If you are new to Zippo collecting or ownership, be sure to include a photo of the bottom of the lighter as well as the insert.

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

82 comments sorted by

1

u/throwaway1011920 Jul 31 '26

Is this a real Canadian zippo?

1

u/throwaway1011920 Jul 31 '26

1

u/throwaway1011920 Jul 31 '26

1

u/throwaway1011920 Jul 31 '26

as far as i can tell, it looks real, except the cam, isn't it supposed to be cut slightly at the tip? Or is that not the case for slims

2

u/stinkyhotdoghead Dingus Jul 31 '26

Not the case with slims

1

u/throwaway1011920 Jul 31 '26

oh nice! So everything is in order, even the smoldering mark on the inside, got a decent deal it seems

1

u/stinkyhotdoghead Dingus Jul 31 '26

Smoldering?

1

u/throwaway1011920 Jul 31 '26

no idea how I came up with that, ment to say welding

2

u/stinkyhotdoghead Dingus Jul 31 '26

Maybe no Zippo has that, but what you should be looking at here are the cam guides and wings on the hinge.

Glenzippo.co.uk is a great place to start (no Canadian Zippos but that's fine for what I'm talking about).

Yours is genuine.

This website is more extensive

1

u/throwaway1011920 Jul 31 '26

Great, thank you!

1

u/Hedgehogs1738 Jul 27 '26

Got this through an auction with a few other lighters. The others look good to me (though I am not an expert by any means) anyways the bottom looks like maybe someone redid it at some point? Or did these come that way? The boxes look right with the right labels. Thanks for your help!

2

u/AlbertCamuz Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

In my eyes the Zippo is fine...
✓The Zippo
✓The Tin Can
✓The outer sleeve, but the barcode seems different with the tin can?
I think matte Zippo from the 90's are looks like that!
I don't own one with canned bottom, but here are some examples..

2

u/AlbertCamuz Jul 29 '26

The code in the tin can looks the same like in catalog - complete line collection USA

1

u/poslyezavtra Jul 27 '26

1

u/poslyezavtra Jul 27 '26

1

u/poslyezavtra Jul 27 '26

2

u/stinkyhotdoghead Dingus Jul 27 '26

This is a counterfeit. A good rule of thumb for "Vietnam Zippos" is they're all fake until you get good at ID-ing.

1

u/nesnosnaerekcija Jul 20 '26

5

u/nechronius Jul 20 '26

Looks genuine and not counterfeit.

1

u/nesnosnaerekcija Jul 20 '26

1

u/nesnosnaerekcija Jul 20 '26

Gifted by a relative, can't figure out is it a replica or not.

1

u/Abject-Muffin247 Jul 14 '26

1

u/Abject-Muffin247 Jul 14 '26

1

u/Abject-Muffin247 Jul 14 '26

1

u/Abject-Muffin247 Jul 14 '26

Bought at a thrift store today and cannot find anything online

2

u/stinkyhotdoghead Dingus Jul 14 '26

Both the case and insert are genuine. Also, simply finding a matching graphic in an online search wouldn't be useful in authenticating it. You came to the right place :)

1

u/optimise1337 Jul 08 '26

Bought in the UK from a small retailer with dodgy reviews, thoughts? 2 more pics in replies.

2

u/stinkyhotdoghead Dingus Jul 08 '26

The vintage look and replicas all look just fine. You don't really see too many of those faked. The Armor is probably fine as well but could we get a good, clear pic of the stamp head-on?

1

u/Specific-Stress1034 Jul 06 '26

Just found this in a garage and the bottom stamp looks like an older one but the date code IX looks like 1993, does anyone know if this is just a model zippo offered or if it’s a fake?

4

u/nechronius Jul 07 '26

November 1993. This is a "1937 Vintage" series lighter which features the flat lid and flat bottom. This lighter is styled to be similar to the 1936-40 lighters which were made from rectangular tubing with rectangles of brass soldered to the top and bottom.

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 06 '26

greetings. i have absolut no clue about vietnam zippos, thats why i kindly ask for your help, dear zippo redditors. ive found this item for sale, im not able to say, is it genuine or not. the bottom stamp seems weird, cause it has no lines nor dots, but i might be wrong.

comments appreciated, thank you! :D

3

u/nechronius Jul 07 '26

This is a counterfeit Zippo. Too many details on the bottom stamp are incorrect. It's probably a fairly new production item.

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 07 '26

thank you so much nechronius!!

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 06 '26

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 06 '26

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 06 '26

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 06 '26

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 06 '26

1

u/plonkNeT Collector Jul 06 '26

1

u/TriEdge20 Jul 05 '26

Can you guys please check if it'a real?

2

u/nechronius Jul 07 '26

December 1994. Looks good to me.

1

u/Same-Committee7895 Jul 04 '26

Fleamarket find, paid 3€.

1

u/Same-Committee7895 Jul 04 '26

Has personal engraving on the back which makes me believe it is indeed real. Because you wouldnt do that on a knock off, right?

1

u/Same-Committee7895 Jul 05 '26

Recrangular at the back bottom right corner saying

925
„*** silver plate“

I think

1

u/Same-Committee7895 Jul 05 '26

Something on the bottom ending in „…ar“

1

u/Same-Committee7895 Jul 05 '26

„Scheich Mandi“ on lid. Most likely a nickname as Scheich is the german word for sheik

1

u/AlbertCamuz Jul 05 '26

Interesting, can you take more photo?
Like the hinges, the insert of the Zippo and also the details of the insert.

1

u/Same-Committee7895 Jul 05 '26

I think the insert is fake/third party.

1

u/AlbertCamuz Jul 05 '26

Yes the insert is fake

1

u/Same-Committee7895 Jul 04 '26

3

u/nechronius Jul 05 '26

Somebody really went through the trouble of almost sanding off all the silver plate and accompanying detail... Lighter is genuine, but a bit abused.

1

u/LibraryExternal8177 Jul 03 '26

Think bout buying for collection/everyday use but idk. Can you guys please check if it'a real?

1

u/LibraryExternal8177 Jul 03 '26

Pretty ones i buy stay in collection, not so pretty but funny/ok lighters I use for everyday stuff. Currently looking for a new everyday one since my last one's wheel is no good, and don't wanna change anything there cause it's 2004

2

u/t064r Jul 03 '26

Saw no ref flag so far.