I paid $3 for one of these monsters at the Pilot truck stop on clearence:






It takes alot of fluid(about5oz),but works pretty good.
Matt

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thats great matt, Nice buy. Zippos that we have had , had worked for a long time. Depending on if something was bad in the zippo Handload, it might have just been old and the inside needs to be replaced. Id buy a newer one, or like you said .

I have to chime in on this. I am a smoker and I've had the same zippo for the last 12yrs. I use it everyday and many many times a day. It uses about 6oz of fluid a yr and 2 flints. A zippo is like any other tool if you don't keep up it's mantiance or don't use it regularly it won't be there when you need it. I have mine on me always I've gotten so use to having it on me if I missplace it I freak out and do nothing else till I find it. Here's a hint too always keep it upright and dry and it works better if it's not cold. That's what that little pocket in your jeans is there for, keeps it upright and keeps it close to your body so it doesn't get super cold. I love my zippo how many other lighters for 20 bucks has a real life time warranty and works like new after 12 yrs I already told my wife when she burys me it better be in my pocket. 

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Oh I have to jump in on this one too! I have gotten several Zippo's over the years at garage sales. I think they are so cool and they have that unique sound as you open it and light it. I had the same problem with after it is filled and come back to it and I need to refill it again. So I keep it in a little zip lock bag and that keeps the lighter fluid from evaporating. I like it as a survival tool because of the flint and the spark it gives off.
I was in an antique store and bought 12 packages of flints in the yellow card. I think I paid 50 cents each. What was different was it had more flints on the card than the newer ones that you can get at Wall Mart. I have kept the lighter around because it is just cool.
Now that it has come up I think I have it in my bug out bag and I will check to see if it is there and see if it will light. So that will be interesting to see!

As a non-smoker I kept a Zippo lighter just to light cigarettes for girls. Sometimes they worked and sometimes not. Also found out that if overfilled they leak and can give ya one heck of a leg burn, so for SHTF I disregarded the idea of carrying one. Butane lighters also are out for me. Saw a good friend of mine back up to a fire on a cold night trying to keep warm. Next thing, Kaboom. Ended that camping/hunting trip.