IM Corona Old Boy Lighter

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So, I decided to go ahead and "invest" in an Old Boy lighter. It was really hard for me to justify spending that much for a lighter but I have read so much good about it. After anxiously awaiting it's arrival from Amazon, I hastily opened it to see what $100 worth of lighter looks and feels like. It came in a very nice, blue, leatherette looking box. Opening the box revealed a nice velour interior and a white felt pouch that contained the lighter. Upon picking up the pouch, the weight of the lighter was pleasantly surprising! This thing was heavy! I pulled the lighter out of the pouch and inspected the intricacies that it featured. The function, feel, build quality, weight, all felt well worth the $100 price tag.

I unscrewed the bottom of the fill hole and filled it up with some Dunhill butane. I excitedly gave it it's first strike and she fired right up. The factory setting on the flame was quite high so I adjusted it to a medium sized flame. The softness of the flame was very apparent and its control was phenomenal! With my Zippo lighter, I didn't have much control on where the flame went when lighting so I would end up with tobacco in certain areas of the bowl not being burnt or being lightly burnt. With the Old Boy, I was able to direct the flame exactly where I wanted so as to light the entire top layer of tobacco for a nice, even burn.

Yesterday, I did find a weakness in this lighter. It was quite windy and dreary when I went outside for a smoke after lunch at work. This lighter does not like wind at all. I ended up having to pull out my old Zippo pipe lighter to get my tobacco burning.

I have had this lighter for about a month and it has lit up on the first strike every time and with the exemption of not working in a windy situation, I have not found a single fault or dislike on this lighter. So, the big question must be asked: Was it worth the $100 price? Simply put, YES. As I have read from many different sources, there is a reason that this lighter sometimes becomes a heirloom that gets passed on from parents and grandparents to kids and grand-kids. I would wager that this lighter will stand the test of time and continue to function for long after I have passed on. After owning one myself, I can see why.
Cheers,

Jared

 

[Chasing Embers]

Had one, and dropped it once. Never worked again.

 

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Had one, and dropped it once. Never worked again.

Thanks for the input. I would hope this would be a good thread for someone to read who is considering this purchase, to read both the good and the bad so as to be able to make a more informed decision.
Cheers,

Jared

 

[Chasing Embers]

I did like the angled flame, but take extremely good care of it. :wink:

 

[tarheel1]

I have dropped mine countless times over the past many years I have had one. No issues.

 

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Forgot to add a photo!
Cheers,

Jared

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I've had an IM Corona old boy for 4 years now and have never had an issue. They are great lighters. I hope you enjoy yours.

 

[mcitinner1]

I have a new IM Corona in the chrome finish and I like it fine...but not $105 worth of like. I would let it go to a new home to anyone interested.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have two Old Boys, one is the briar wood one that I purchased somewhere around 1998, the other I just bought a week or so ago and has the silver lines. The 1998 one has stood the test of time brilliantly,I have dropped it too many times to even count. The only times I have sent it in to get it fixed was when I wanted to have the seals replaced. I usually have the seals done once every 5 years or so whether it needs it or not. The patina on the wood has darkened very nicely. It has turned a nice burgundy color. In this pic, the Old Boy is the last lighter on the right. That picture is from around 2005 I believe.
I believe there is no better pipe lighter then the Old Boy. I have more expensive pipe lighters, but the Old Boy rules.

 

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http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e250/cigrmaster/flintlighters.jpg

That is a nice collection of lighters you have there! I really debated on the briar Old Boy or the Matte Black. Maybe my second one will be a briar :mrgreen:
Cheers,

Jared

 

[stvalentine]

Because I had lots of bad luck with more expensive butane lighters I couldn't get myself to spend more than Euro 100,00 for the original Old Boy. Instead (and after reading some reviews) I went for a VERY cheap knock-off. In fact I had to part with the princely sum of Euro 15,00 for this chinese Old Boy copy. Well, it is cheaply made which you find with the flint carrying mechanism for a start. But apart from this it works flawlessly for month now. I am sure that I will go for the original one day anyhow.

 

[fafnir]

Congratulations on your purchase man, when I am big and grown up that's the lighter I will have one day...

 

[cigrmaster]

jared, thanks. Most of those lighters are for cigars. The only other pipe lighter is the Davidoff( got that one in Paris when I was there in 2000, the franc was 7.5 to a dollar so I got a great deal) to the left of the Old Boy. I am going to have one of my Duponts fitted with the pipe lighter nozzle fairly soon. No sense in having that many cigar lighters when I no longer smoke them. I was going to have the 3rd from the left converted.

 

[jaygreen55]

I prefer the pipemaster to the old boy. I had one for 20 years that I regrettably lost a couple of months ago. Unfortunately its $136 retail to replace so I'm making do with a few Djeeps that I got for $4 each. They do the job just as well and I'd rather buy a pipe for the money
http://www.imcoronalighters.com/im-corona-pipemaster-lighter/

 

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I prefer the pipemaster to the old boy. I had one for 20 years that I regrettably lost a couple of months ago. Unfortunately its $136 retail to replace so I'm making do with a few Djeeps that I got for $4 each. They do the job just as well and I'd rather buy a pipe for the money
http://www.imcoronalighters.com/im-corona-pipemaster-lighter/

When I was considering the Old Boy, I did do some extensive reading on the Pipemaster but after going over all the details on both, I liked the complex looks of the Old Boy. I imagine that one day I may buy the matte black version of the Pipemaster.
Cheers,

Jared

 

[mikestanley]

My only regret about buying an Old Boy is that I didn't spend the extra money and get the pewter model. I have the chrome with lines. Nice, but it isn't one I wish I had gotten.
Mike S.

 

[jefff]

Not to be a buzz kill...but Marty Pulver sent a Linse lighter in the box when I bought a pipe from him. Since I seem to be genetically unable to post a pic here you'll have to go to his site to see it.
2.00 each. I am ordering 10. It maybe be a false economy, but it feels right to me.

 

[phil67]

Had one, but didn't really care for it and sold it. A bird fart from a sparrow would quickly put out the flame. Great for indoors but other than that.... ? I have a Corona Pipemaster which I like much better. No need for a flint and seems to be a real work horse to the point that I ended up buying two. Granted, the Corona Pipemaster can also be a tad finicky outside but seems to hold up a tad better and I also found the Old Boy to be a PITA to use but that's just my personal opinion.

 

[cigrmaster]

sarge,

When I was considering the Old Boy, I did do some extensive reading on the Pipemaster but after going over all the details on both, I liked the complex looks of the Old Boy. I imagine that one day I may buy the matte black version of the Pipemaster.

What are you waiting for, go ahead and order this one. You know you want to, give in to the dark side Luke.

The pipe chart is pretty cool. Whenever I can't forget a shape of one of my pipes, I can just look at my lighter.

 

[jefff]

$20.00?