Historical dating note
January-February use XVI-only layout; from March a 2000 + XVI layout is used.
Historical year lookup
Zippo 2000
Historical Zippo references associated with 2000: 9 consolidated case/bottom stamp entries, 2 consolidated insert entries, and 44 individual photographic source records. Date codes, materials and insert construction should be assessed together, especially for transitional years.
Historical context and cautions
Slim manufacturing note
Moonlight documents two different Slim bottom stamps for 2000. From 2000 onward the year is shown in Arabic numerals.
Canadian production note
Canadian insert imprinting turns upright again around 2000.
Bottom stamps and cases
1998–2001 · 1933 Replica First Release · Bradford
Case / bottom stamp · 1998–2001
2000 · Regular · Bradford
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
2000 · Regular · Bradford · 18K Gold
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
2000 · Regular · Bradford · Silver Plate
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
2000 · Regular · Bradford · Sterling Silver
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
2000 · Regular · Niagara Falls
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
2000 · Slim · Bradford
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
2000 · Slim · Plant not specified
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
2000 · Vintage (1937 Style) · Bradford
Case / bottom stamp · 2000
Insert references and construction
2000 · Regular · Bradford
Insert reference · 2000
2000 · Regular · Niagara Falls
Insert reference · 2000
Construction features documented for 2000
Typical US regular-production chronology from independent collector research by Hardi Döhler. The ranges overlap, and Canada, Slim, Replica, Sterling, Japan-market and special editions may differ. These are supporting observations, not a definitive date determination.
Case shapes
- Postwar recessed-bottom profile 1947–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
The familiar recessed-bottom case profile develops in the postwar years; this alone cannot distinguish later decades.
Present-day cases, replicas and special lines can depart from the usual form.
Case metals and finishes
- Brass as common regular-case substrate 1954–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Chrome-plated brass becomes typical again in the mid-1950s; special materials and later editions are exceptions.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Hinge development
- Five-barrel hinge with unequal widths 1956–2005 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Later five-barrel hinges generally have an uneven barrel-width pattern. This broad clue cannot determine a precise year.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Insert materials
- Chrome-plated sheet-steel insert 1953–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Chrome-plated steel construction with a seam is typical of later regular inserts, but special and premium variants differ.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Insert lettering
- Both insert faces carry text 1976–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Two-sided marking layouts appear through later insert generations, alongside evolving date-code placements.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Chimney construction
- Open-sided 16-hole chimney 1947–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Sixteen holes and an open wheel-side chimney wall become typical from the late 1940s onward.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Cam springs
- Wide cam spring with tapered wheel-side end 1988–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Later springs show wheel-side shaping/tapering; date the insert using inscriptions and other details as well.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Flint-wheel cuts
- Cross-cut flint-wheel teeth 1946–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Cross-cut flint-wheel pattern becomes typical after the war, with possible overlap and replacements.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Flint-wheel rivets
- Solid flint-wheel rivet 1964–2026 · broad · Source: Hardi Döhler
Solid rivets become typical from the mid-1960s onward.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Felt pads
- Black LIFT TO FILL print without spare-flint hole 1993–2001 · transitional · Source: Hardi Döhler
The black printed LIFT TO FILL pad without an extra hole is a useful transitional clue.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Wicks and packing
- Copper-wire-interwoven wick 1980–2026 · transitional · Source: Hardi Döhler
Copper-wire reinforcement becomes common around 1980; wicks are consumables and cannot reliably date a case.
Typical Bradford-made regular lighter; exceptions and overlapping production runs exist.
Known period variants
- 2000 January-February layout — January-February 2000 show XVI without the separate 2000 marking. Known period: 2000. Dating evidence: Primary dating clue (An established factory date code or a directly relevant stamp system. Check the complete marking and model type; it is not a certificate of authenticity.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
2000 January-February layout · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page - 2000 March-December layout — From March 2000 the bottom stamp shows 2000 together with XVI. Known period: 2000. Dating evidence: Primary dating clue (An established factory date code or a directly relevant stamp system. Check the complete marking and model type; it is not a certificate of authenticity.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
2000 March-December layout · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page
Insert construction evidence
- 16-hole chimney — Introduced during 1946; not useful as a precise clue on later inserts. Known period: 1946–9999. Dating evidence: Secondary dating clue (Construction or material information that may narrow a period. Repairs, replacement parts and production overlaps can change the interpretation.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
16-hole chimney · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page - Tapered cam-spring end — Minor cam-spring alteration reported around 1988/89. Known period: 1988–9999. Dating evidence: Supporting comparison (A useful illustrated or photographed comparison. The feature alone does not establish a unique production date.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
Tapered cam-spring end · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page - Solid flint-wheel rivet — Introduced around 1961; overlaps hollow rivets for several years. Known period: 1961–9999. Dating evidence: Supporting comparison (A useful illustrated or photographed comparison. The feature alone does not establish a unique production date.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
Solid flint-wheel rivet · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page - Additional reverse-side text — Additional reverse text appears around 1975/76. Known period: 1975–9999. Dating evidence: Secondary dating clue (Construction or material information that may narrow a period. Repairs, replacement parts and production overlaps can change the interpretation.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
- Copper-wire wick — Wick design changed around 1980 to include intertwined copper wire. Known period: 1980–9999. Dating evidence: Secondary dating clue (Construction or material information that may narrow a period. Repairs, replacement parts and production overlaps can change the interpretation.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
- Regular insert date code use — Date codes are reported as fully in use by 1984. Known period: 1984–9999. Dating evidence: Primary dating clue (An established factory date code or a directly relevant stamp system. Check the complete marking and model type; it is not a certificate of authenticity.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
- LIFT TO FILL felt without small hole — Known period: 1992–2001. Dating evidence: Secondary dating clue (Construction or material information that may narrow a period. Repairs, replacement parts and production overlaps can change the interpretation.). Sources: Glen's Zippo Page.
LIFT TO FILL felt without small hole · Historical reference illustration · Source: Glen's Zippo Page
Similar years
Interpretation: References may cover multiple years. A documented insert date is not proof of its case production date, and special Replica stamps require separate interpretation.