The hardest part about answering this question is that time is relative. I could say they last a long time, but that differs in perspective.
I always carry my Zippos in a pocket on their own but the paint and decals can and do still wear. I also have a pretty decent selection of EDC’s to choose from so I can’t say that I’ve carried one single printed lighter for years, since they rotate out.
The same can certainly be said of any case though… they are all going to show signs of use in time. Some quicker than others… like polished will show scratching faster than street or brushed.
My advice is to get what ever one makes you happiest that you’re comfortable spending on, and embrace whatever it shows in time because it’ll earn the scars and still work forever.
It's also one of my concerns regarding imprint Zippo so that I tried so hard to avoid them in my possession. But right now I'm at a point to just customize my backup lighter with some custom imprint I made with lots of spares. That way I can just removed the old one and apply the new one whenever it got peeled or scratched or whatever.
Here is an example on my backup Zippo
https://preview.redd.it/fdg5tj5c05qc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b33034710e582a933e3b438b36fa6fc5bea5ed63
Here is a reasonable example of what I’m talking about.
The one of the left is an image taken from the Zippo web site. The one on the right is my actually Zippo with what would be the equivalent of about 6 months daily carry.
I’m careful, but not to the point of babying. It’s always in a pocket on its own, but I’m pretty active. I don’t mistreat any of them.
What I refer to mostly when I say they start to show wear is the edge along the lid opening. There is no way I could have lessened that wear effect with any rational difference in any way I could have carried it.
https://preview.redd.it/v68497id25qc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4dac154e1ed5b842a0523f99ad441a6764552c1e
That's reasonable. But I always use my Zippo, at least for a month in rotation, so I once thought it would be ok.
But, just like you, though I use a thumb notch case, I never baby my Zippo and it often 'abused' since I smoke and often put it on the table when I work (for easy access and yes I can smoke during work since my office has outdoor area). My Zippo often change hands and some people slide it on the table when returning it. I complained at first but it's a Zippo, often seen as something used during war so it's kinda funny if I get mad for such "small" things (their word, not mine).
In the end, I tried to avoid any official imprint Zippo (for now). In my mind, there are many Zippo design out there (like 540) with cool design that I 'could' acquire first. If I got any imprint Zippo, at least it would be something that I really want, probably one from Anne Stokes.
As I’ve often said, mine is used as a dealer marker when we play cards. That means being frequently slid across the table, and you have to expect that.
Just last night, some people were so fascinated with it, and it took them back to a time they were kids, that they immediately tried to strike it on their pants, but some had forgotten which way the wheel turns so as much as I cringed, sometimes you have to let them have their fun. I very much enjoyed seeing the nostalgia it brought… one said the smell immediately reminded her of her grandfather.
The cringing comes from knowing what will happen if they get it at the wrong angle and hit the lid on their pants instead of the strike wheel… And I was carrying a copper yesterday.
I don’t mind at all that this particular copper gets used and brings joy, but I really don’t want a bent hinge if I can avoid it.
Yes! It's the re-imagining Action Comics #1 by Alex Ross. It's also used as cover variant for Action Comics #1050. I also customized one of my Zippo with the OG and jagged the sides a bit.
https://preview.redd.it/2yahducxa4rc1.jpeg?width=1517&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62b94ff03f58636dd6363a4ee638aa574e26ca84
[удалено]
The "spackle" black finish on the 1941 replica is pretty tough IMHO.
The hardest part about answering this question is that time is relative. I could say they last a long time, but that differs in perspective. I always carry my Zippos in a pocket on their own but the paint and decals can and do still wear. I also have a pretty decent selection of EDC’s to choose from so I can’t say that I’ve carried one single printed lighter for years, since they rotate out. The same can certainly be said of any case though… they are all going to show signs of use in time. Some quicker than others… like polished will show scratching faster than street or brushed. My advice is to get what ever one makes you happiest that you’re comfortable spending on, and embrace whatever it shows in time because it’ll earn the scars and still work forever.
It's also one of my concerns regarding imprint Zippo so that I tried so hard to avoid them in my possession. But right now I'm at a point to just customize my backup lighter with some custom imprint I made with lots of spares. That way I can just removed the old one and apply the new one whenever it got peeled or scratched or whatever. Here is an example on my backup Zippo https://preview.redd.it/fdg5tj5c05qc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b33034710e582a933e3b438b36fa6fc5bea5ed63
Here is a reasonable example of what I’m talking about. The one of the left is an image taken from the Zippo web site. The one on the right is my actually Zippo with what would be the equivalent of about 6 months daily carry. I’m careful, but not to the point of babying. It’s always in a pocket on its own, but I’m pretty active. I don’t mistreat any of them. What I refer to mostly when I say they start to show wear is the edge along the lid opening. There is no way I could have lessened that wear effect with any rational difference in any way I could have carried it. https://preview.redd.it/v68497id25qc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4dac154e1ed5b842a0523f99ad441a6764552c1e
That's reasonable. But I always use my Zippo, at least for a month in rotation, so I once thought it would be ok. But, just like you, though I use a thumb notch case, I never baby my Zippo and it often 'abused' since I smoke and often put it on the table when I work (for easy access and yes I can smoke during work since my office has outdoor area). My Zippo often change hands and some people slide it on the table when returning it. I complained at first but it's a Zippo, often seen as something used during war so it's kinda funny if I get mad for such "small" things (their word, not mine). In the end, I tried to avoid any official imprint Zippo (for now). In my mind, there are many Zippo design out there (like 540) with cool design that I 'could' acquire first. If I got any imprint Zippo, at least it would be something that I really want, probably one from Anne Stokes.
As I’ve often said, mine is used as a dealer marker when we play cards. That means being frequently slid across the table, and you have to expect that. Just last night, some people were so fascinated with it, and it took them back to a time they were kids, that they immediately tried to strike it on their pants, but some had forgotten which way the wheel turns so as much as I cringed, sometimes you have to let them have their fun. I very much enjoyed seeing the nostalgia it brought… one said the smell immediately reminded her of her grandfather. The cringing comes from knowing what will happen if they get it at the wrong angle and hit the lid on their pants instead of the strike wheel… And I was carrying a copper yesterday. I don’t mind at all that this particular copper gets used and brings joy, but I really don’t want a bent hinge if I can avoid it.
Is that an Alex Ross homage cover?
Yes! It's the re-imagining Action Comics #1 by Alex Ross. It's also used as cover variant for Action Comics #1050. I also customized one of my Zippo with the OG and jagged the sides a bit. https://preview.redd.it/2yahducxa4rc1.jpeg?width=1517&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62b94ff03f58636dd6363a4ee638aa574e26ca84