Trench Lighter

[oregon]

Bot this Trench Lighter off the popular auction site for less than $6 delivered.

The metal bullet, hollow top, pulls off to reveal the lighter which is inserted, with a false bottom, into a 50 caliber shell.

It uses old school flint, fluid and wick to make fire.

I had to soak the business end in rubbing alcohol to loosen the cap. I was able to pull out the lighter insert after about ten minutes (my Kungfu grip is mighty). I removed & discarded the old cotton, which holds the liquid fuel, cleaned out the inside with metal polish and Qtips, packed the fuel resevoir with fresh cotton (used cotton balls from Kmart, $0.99 for a bag the size of your head), fueled with Rosonol and inserted a fresh flint into the flint channel.

It fired right up with a long hot flame.





oregon

[Chucula]

One thing scarier than bullets is flaming bullets being fired from flaming guns wielded by flaming ninjas

Neato, thanks for the pics

[oregon]

There is a long rich history of lighters disquised and as everything under the sun, like cigarettes, animals and guns for examples. I had been wanting a bullet lighter for a while and was happy to find a good vintage one.

The manufacturer credited with the first successful fueled lighter, IMCO of Austria, began making fueled lighters from shell casings during WWI (long before Zippo). There was a scarcity of other metals and, as you might guess, there were alot of shell casings available. http://www.imco.at/

IMCO lighters are still manufactured today. I like the old school flint, fluid and wick approach to pocket lighters.

Here is a pic of an IMCO Junior in nickel plated steel:

The flame can be removed, with the fuel resevoir, from the lighter. And, the flint loads the same way a cartridge chambers into a gun breach.





oregon

[oregon]

Here is a link to John Flores lighter collection, fascinating and lots of pics: http://www.johnfloresgraphics.com/hobbies2.html

oregon

[The Deacon]

Neat, only problem with that design is that it might be rather uncomfortable to put the cap back on it unless you blow it out first.

Somewhere tucked away in a box or drawer, I have a trench lighter which belonged to my dad that looks like the chrome one in the second row of page 1 of Mr. Flores' web site.

[oregon]

Neat, only problem with that design is that it might be rather uncomfortable to put the cap back on it unless you blow it out first.

Somewhere tucked away in a box or drawer, I have a trench lighter which belonged to my dad that looks like the chrome one in the second row of page 1 of Mr. Flores' web site.

Tell me about it. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am surprised, but you are right. The first time you watch someone new to capsule type lighters put the flame out they always try to replace the cap. And, of course, "ouch" is the result. The .50 cap is so large that your can sneak in from the side and you get a "pop" noise as cap settles onto the lighter.

Stop teasing me. I would really enjoy a pic of your father's chrome trench lighter. Thank you kindly.

oregon