Understanding Zippo date codes
New collectors often struggle with Zippo dating. Here's a quick guide:
Pre-1957: No date codes
1957-1985: Dots and slashes
1986-2000: Roman numerals
2001+: Month and year letters
The date is on the bottom, left side is month, right is year.
Jan 13, 2026 20:47
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5 Replies
The transition years are interesting. Some Zippos from late 1957 might not have codes yet.
Jan 15, 2026 11:31
Pro tip: there are specific charts online for exact dot/slash combinations. Worth bookmarking.
Jan 15, 2026 21:16
The Zippo website has the official date code guide. But this summary is great for quick reference!
Jan 16, 2026 06:08
Also note that replacement inserts won't match the case date. Look at both for complete picture.
Jan 16, 2026 18:58
This is super helpful! I always had to look this up. The pre-1957 ones are trickiest to date.
Jan 17, 2026 02:13
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