What is a 1946 zippo worth?
Is it a 1946 only, a 1946/1947 or a possible 1946 only transitional lighter? Look at the bottom of the case. Does the z and o of zippo start and end at the two f s of mfg and bradford at the top? Does the z and o go from the middle of the 3 and just inside the e of the patent no. and ‘made’ on the bottom? If so it is a 1946 only, possibly transitional. Also does the striker have horizontal grooves? The later 1946 has the z and o of zippo from the g to the d above and from the 2 to just inside the the e of ‘made’ below and is still nickle silver. The 1946/1947 has the z and o from the g to the f above and from the middle of the 2 to just inside the i of ‘in’below. These all should have a 14 hole chimmney. The 46/47 was chrome plated. In 1947 zippo went to a 16 hole chimmney. There may have been some overlap in the case and insert changes. Part of the problem of value is that many collectors are not aware of the variations just after the war, and it seems that no one I have found has def
