IMCO Lighters
This Austrian manufacturer is probably the oldest maker of lighters in existence. Originally a maker of metal buttons, mostly for the various militaries, they switched to making lighters in 1918 after the war-to-end-all-wars, from spent ammo shells. Hell, I remember buying my first one back in 1957 while at boarding school in Kempten, at a nearby kiosk. The cheapie cost 95 Pfennigs. That and a 4-pack of XY-Chesters started me on my smoking career… Better than a Zippo, because they don’t leak, and you don’t tear up your thumb on the flint-wheel, and you get a no-fail windproof flame. Military issue to both the Bundeswehr and the Austrian army. A fabulous example of a manufactured item, so good in its design and execution, that no changes have ever been necessary. Witnessed by more than half-a-billion made and sold! Truly a piece of history.

We refer to this one as the “officer’s” model, because it is slightly smaller and much slimmer than the Triplex. Has all the same features except for the adjustable wind-ring. Same push-button opening for flint loading. Here, too, you pull out the fuel container to light pipes, storm lanterns and campfires. Has a blank on the side for engraving. Just more, well, elegant. 2.125” tall x .5 thick, weighs 1.2 oz