I've been searching (seemingly endlessly) for a small lighter. Smaller than a Bic Mini, I mean. I'm looking for something an inch long and if it was piezoelectric ignition and maybe 5mm thick (and up to an inch wide would be fine. I'll take longer than an inch as I'm most interested in thin, but whatever you guys can find would be great.

So far, I've only found a lighter that was made back in World War II. The World's Smallest Lighter is the closest thing I've found for size and something like this would be nice to add in a small PSK. Maybe DR can get them made again! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

If anyone wants to go in on this, I'd cough up the $20 (for a lighter + shipping) or so just for the novelty of having one, but I would imagine this is worth more as a single item/collectible, and I KNOW I can't justify the cost of the whole thing. Well, I can justify it to myself, just not the wife....

If anyone has a modern equivalent, please post a link or search parameters.... much appreciated! If there are enough people who want to split this up, we can work out the details! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Those things are almost certainly liquid fuel lighters. The fuel evaporation probably defeats your purpose in wanting such a tiny lighter, namely that you're hoping to stash it someplace where it won't need any space or attention. There are some butane lighters that are the same size as a standard cigarette (intended to carry in a cig pack along with your smokes) and those aren't so hard to find. That might be a better bet.

If you're completely insane it might even be possible to cut one of them down to a smaller length (or similarly with a Bic Mini), re-sealing and re-filling it somehow.

Hehe... yeah, I've thought about getting a mini-bic and taking off the bottom and refilling. It's likely harder than it sounds, but I'm thinking a soldering iron with an x-acto attachment for the cutting and either re-melting or epoxying a new end on, and it would need to have a fill port. I would, of course, empty the fuel before attempting to insert a 400 deg knife into a butane reservoir. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But I'm holding out hope for a modern piezoelectric start and a metal casing! in a 2.5x2.5x0.5cm package (or thereabouts with the 0.5cm or even 0.75cm width being the most important measurement).

*sigh* I fear it is not to be.

Well, lets see,

When I lived in Kyrgyzstan, it was possible to fit refilling valves on disposable lighters. And it was very cheap. I guess, it should be still possible. I see how you can make a similar lighter - use a lighter with transparate gas container to see what is inside, cut some part out of it, glue plastic bottom and then fit the valve. I do not know if my father be ready to make a lighter for $20 for you, but I can certainly ask him, he has plenty of time to make knives (He recently made me and my brother knives based on Ray Mear's knife, http://www.raymears.com/shop_item_desc.cfm?id=72&itemType=Cutting%20Tools, but with thinner blade for convenient cutting, a bit different but very convenient grip and longer cutting edge, extremely sharp, though the steel is the problem - even though it is sharper than my Busse, unfortunately it is very brittle).
What do you think about these lighters? I was looking for a low-cost lighter which I could put on my keychain. Finally, I found these two lighters:

http://www.everyonedoesit.co.uk/online_headshop/Blue_Karabiner_Lighter.cfm?iProductID=2775
http://www.everyonedoesit.co.uk/online_headshop/Turbo_Flame_Lighte_Stick.cfm?iProductID=2363

I ordered myself Blue Karabiner lighter - it looks more solid though not that hot.

Why are you sold on piezo?

In my experience, piezo lighers die if the piezo elements get wet. Tough outdoor lighters may have some waterproofing in them to a degree to combat this, though, but that increases size/weight.

Flint lighers seem a lot more bullet-proof. If they get wet, flick them a few times until they spark. And if they fuel runs out, they may still be used to light dry tinder.

Even if you found a small lighter like that one, you'd have to carry lighter fluid with you, and with the two of them, I suspect you'd be oversize by then. So, what would be the point?

Sue

I think Ranger Rick ? has something like this in a gas model that is for the survival necklace.

http://equipped.org/rangerrick_necklace.htm#photo

Check out Casey's, from time to time, they have butanes that are the size of a cigarette... marketed at smokers I'd guess, to fit into a cigarette pack.

Troy

In no particular order:

Those two lighters (the tube and carabiner) are still a bit thick. But if you could get a lighter made out of metal for $20, I might be down. Maybe a sketch of how it would look/dimensions? Otherwise, I'll try to do a conversion job for a $1. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm not completely sold on Piezo. A flint is fine, and I agree that it gives multiple uses since it could be used to light tinder. I would take whatever I could get, to be honest.

The Ranger Rick thing is just a sparker isn't it?

I'm not concerned with carrying fuel for this. As long as it's not liquid fuel that can evaporate (like a Zippo), I'm good with ignition sources and the small size, as it's JUST for a PSK or even FAK (heating needles, blades, melting rope, starting a fire, etc.). I'm fine with carrying another full-size lighter for EDC.

I TOTALLY forgot about Caseys. I've seen that very lighter you mention and that would be near-perfect! I'll have to do some looking at the local gas stations for novelty lighters. I'm not sure that one was refillable, but it shouldn't matter if it's cheap enough.

Thanks to all for your responses for this newbie. Hopefully I clarified my original post, so if anyone finds a source, please post it!

Hey! Thanks for the suggestion... searching on "novelty" has churned up some possibilities!

http://www.zodiacgift.com/rp-baoli-8036-l.htm
http://www.zodiacgift.com/rp-flag3-l.htm
http://shop.vendio.com/lyang57734/item/813454561/index.html
http://shop.vendio.com/lyang57734/item/813454558/index.html

This thing might make an interesting minimalist PSK container: http://shop.vendio.com/lyang57734/item/812928436/index.html

Okay... that broke open the floodgates... now I have to find some good ones to test out.