end a loOdd question

nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
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503
126
Many years ago I was hanging out with my neighbor and I lit a cigarette. I had a silver zippo and he commented how unique it was and asked to look at it. I gifted to him on the spot and told him if I ever asked for a light he better give me a light with that lighter. It was a very expensive lighter. He never carried it, eve,r and always still used a bic.

He and his wife divorced and he passed on. I still talk to his wife, she lives across the street.

Would I be out of line asking to have the lighter back? It isn't a money thing. I regretted giving it away as soon as I gave it to the guy.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,804
19,001
136
Go for it. She may not know where it is.
Seems weird though, if it's not a money thing. Is this just because you're annoyed you never saw him use it?
 

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,550
3,544
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Old Zippos can be beautiful lighters - not to mention being possible collectors' bait. But they're not all that practical. I mean if you like hudding with friends in an exterior crevice of some sort while trying to light a smoke, well, diff strokes for diff folks I suppose. But if your primary objective is to get that butt or blunt lit, the mini blow torch lighters are w/o parallel.

There's also the stinky lighter fluid that seems to get all over hands regardless of how careful you are. And don't forget some flints. Trying to use the flint's spring to like your "tobacco" only serves to make you less of a man. ;)

I did recently (several years ago) discover these however - dual arc plasma lighters.

2024-01-12 19_39_50-Amazon.com_ LcFun Waterproof Lighter Outdoor Windproof Dual Arc Electric L...png

Still not as good as the torch lighters but quite respectable.

Of course unless I can get some serious, buku cash money for mine, they'll stay right in the drawer where they are.

edit - oh, to answer the OP's ? - yes
 
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nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
6,824
503
126
Go for it. She may not know where it is.
Seems weird though, if it's not a money thing. Is this just because you're annoyed you never saw him use it?
It actually is. I collect the stupid things. I told him it was rare and I never saw it again. I mean he may have sold it. I would like it back in my collection though.
 

nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
6,824
503
126
Old Zippos can be beautiful lighters - not to mention being possible collectors' bait. But they're not all that practical. I mean if you like hudding with friends in an exterior crevice of some sort while trying to light a smoke, well, diff strokes for diff folks I suppose. But if your primary objective is to get that butt or blunt lit, the mini blow torch lighters are w/o parallel.

There's also the stinky lighter fluid that seems to get all over hands regardless of how careful you are. And don't forget some flints. Trying to use the flint's spring to like your "tobacco" only serves to make you less of a man. ;)

I did recently (several years ago) discover these however - dual arc plasma lighters.

View attachment 91817

Still not as good as the torch lighters but quite respectable.

Of course unless I can get some serious, buku cash money for mine, they'll stay right in the drawer where they are.

edit - oh, to answer the OP's ? - yes
Meh. I play records...
 
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nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,804
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It actually is. I collect the stupid things. I told him it was rare and I never saw it again. I mean he may have sold it. I would like it back in my collection though.
That's a good reason in itself then. I've still got a couple left myself that I never used, one of the multi-color rainbowy deals and a midnight sun.
 

bbhaag

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2011
7,337
2,926
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You gave it to this guy as a gift so it seems kind of weird to me to ask his ex wife for it back after he passed away. I suppose as long as you do it with some tact the worst she can say is no just don't get upset if she does. Take it in stride and let it go.
 

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,550
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burn the house down. then find the lighter among the ruins and ashes later.
Ooo, bad move. One of the nicest old lighters I have is a very old Camel promo lighter with painted and enameled exterior. It's quite worn so probably isn't worth much but I used to like to use it when I smoked. The heat of a house fire doesn't do those sorts of finishing touches any good.

Oh, you were kidding? Huh. I try not to judge. ;)
 

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,550
3,544
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It's rare that I check things on fleabay - unless I'm feeling motivated to try to list something. But I was curious about the camel lighter and I actually found one - 7 bucks, and in much better condition than mine.

So if you decide not to ask, or you do but w/o success, try using google to do a "site:" search of ebay.

You'll need to do a preliminary search to get an idea of what terminology to use. For example, in my case, the narrowest search that screened out most of the irrelevant listings was "flat camel promo lighter."

edit - BTW, I didn't mean "yes you should not ask," but rather, the precise opposite. Just fyi.
 
Jul 27, 2020
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She might think that you've been talking to her just to get cozy with her so you can get the lighter back. And there is no proof that the lighter really is yours. She wouldn't be wrong to wonder how rare or precious it might be for you to risk alienating her. It really depends on her. Some people don't care about materialistic stuff and would give almost anything away if they don't want it. Others are hoarders. At any rate, there is a risk that you might make things very awkward by asking to have it back.
 

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,641
3,010
136
ok so i googled it and it seems a Armor (thicker ... ermm ... very slightly thicker, than a normal zippo) Sterling Silver Zippo is about four-hunner buxx. Not entirely something you'd want to throw away, but then again, WHY THE HELL did you just casually give away a $400 lighter on a whim?

just take the loss, man.
 
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nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,804
19,001
136
Now this thread, this is what ATOT is all about. Ask a simple question, get calls for arson, graverobbing (well, not TECHNICALLY robbing, he's, uh... this lighter was a treasured possession, man, it really tied the collection together, did it not?), suggestions of sexual intercourse with the deceased's former spouse...