Zippo Norman Rockwell A Pictorial History of the U.S. Army Color Image Lighter, Navy Matte (48698)

The Zippo Norman Rockwell Army Lighter (model 48698) is a genuine windproof Zippo that turns Norman Rockwell’s wartime tribute to American soldiers into a pocket-sized collectible. The full-color artwork, ‘A Pictorial History of the United States Army,’ is printed across a navy blue matte case using Zippo’s 540 Color Image process, and the lighter ships as a refillable, all-metal Zippo made in Bradford, Pennsylvania and backed by Zippo’s lifetime guarantee. It arrives empty, so plan to add lighter fluid before the first light. Below, our Hosts break down the artwork, the finish, the windproof build, the guarantee, and day-to-day care so you know exactly what you are getting.

The Norman Rockwell Army Artwork

This design reproduces Norman Rockwell’s ‘A Pictorial History of the United States Army,’ also titled ‘To Make Men Free,’ which Rockwell painted in the early 1940s. The illustration traces the American soldier from the Revolutionary War through World War II in a single layered composition, lining up uniforms and figures from across the Army’s history. Rockwell, then in his early 40s and too old to enlist, created Army artwork as his own contribution to the war effort, and his work focused on the spirit of the citizen-soldier rather than combat scenes. That heritage is what makes the 48698 a popular keepsake for Army veterans, service families, and Rockwell collectors. Note that this is a decorative reproduction of a published Rockwell work, not an original or numbered art piece.

540 Color Image, Wrapped All the Way Around

The artwork is applied with Zippo’s 540 Color Image process, the brand’s high-resolution full-wrap printing method developed by Zippo’s in-house decoration team. Unlike a single front stamp, the 540 process covers the case on multiple surfaces so the illustration continues around the lighter, set against a navy blue matte background that keeps the colors reading clearly. Zippo describes the 540 coating as a resilient finish that holds up better than many older printed embellishments, though like any printed surface it is a cosmetic layer and can show wear with heavy handling. To keep the image sharp, treat the printed case gently and avoid abrasive cleaners.

Built Windproof in Bradford, Pennsylvania

Underneath the artwork is a standard-size genuine Zippo: a brass case with the signature flip-top lid, that familiar Zippo click, and the windproof chimney that lets the flame hold up in wind where an open flame would blow out. It is all-metal and refillable, so it is engineered to be used and refilled for years rather than thrown away. Every Zippo windproof lighter is manufactured in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and the underside carries a bottom-stamp date code (a letter for the month plus digits for the year) that collectors use to identify when a Zippo was made.

Zippo's Lifetime Guarantee

Every genuine Zippo windproof lighter carries Zippo’s famous lifetime guarantee: it works or Zippo fixes it free. If the mechanism ever fails, you send the lighter to the Zippo Repair Clinic in Bradford, Pennsylvania and they repair the working parts at no charge, no matter how old the lighter is. To be clear about what that covers: the guarantee is Zippo’s and Zippo performs the repair, and it applies to the mechanical function, not to cosmetic wear or to the printed Norman Rockwell artwork. We sell the lighter here in El Paso; Zippo honors the guarantee.

Filling, Flints, and Wick Care

Because it ships empty, fill the lighter before first use: lift the insert out of the case, raise the felt pad, and slowly saturate the packing with genuine lighter fluid until it reaches the top of the packing, then wipe everything dry before sparking. The flint is a wear part that an everyday user replaces roughly every couple of weeks, and we stock replacement flints to keep it sparking. Over the long haul the wick eventually chars down and stops drawing fluid; when that happens you can fit a replacement wick. Keep the lid closed between uses, since lighter fluid evaporates even when the lighter is idle.

The Zippo 48698 pairs a meaningful piece of Norman Rockwell Army artwork with a windproof Zippo that is built to be refilled and used for a lifetime. It is a standout gift for an Army veteran, a service member, or anyone who appreciates Rockwell's Americana. El Paso Smoke Shops operates 10 ubicaciones por El Paso, TX, but this lighter is carried at only some of them, so check the live availability on this page to see which El Paso store has it in stock before you head over. Ages 21+ with valid ID.