Swingtop Lighter

First impressions of the Craighill Swingtop Lighter are excellent. This is a beautifully made little piece of kit with a wonderfully smooth, satisfying mechanism. The swing-top action feels precise and substantial, and the whole lighter has that rare combination of clever engineering and simple, timeless design. I especially like the fueling system. It uses standard naphtha lighter fluid, much like a Zippo, but the fuel port has a threaded plug that screws securely into place—a thoughtful detail that makes the lighter feel particularly well designed. It has a reassuring weight without being bulky, feels great in the hand, and easily slips into a pocket. Even the operation has a certain mechanical charm to it that makes you want to pick it up and use it. Obviously, these are initial impressions and I can’t speak to long-term durability yet, but straight out of the box, I’m thoroughly impressed. Functional, distinctive, beautifully executed, and just plain fun to operate.

I’m a fan of Craighill, its mission, and its design philosophy. But this product was a big miss for me. First, there’s too much lever tension for easy one-handed use. Second, it’s awkward — the lever travels too far to operate easily. Third, that tension forces you to grip it tightly so it doesn’t fly out of your hand. Fourth, a side lever isn’t ideal; a front button is simply better. Fifth, performance is mediocre — it often takes 4-5 flicks to light. Sixth, it feels heavier than my daily-driver Zippo. Seventh, the inner part was surprisingly hard to remove for refueling, easier on a Zippo. Finally, the screw-down gas cover is efficient, but you can only see a small circle of the fuel pad, making it hard to tell when it’s full. What did I like? Not much — it looks well made. Overall, Craighill over-engineered this piece, resulting in a lighter I don’t want to carry, much less use. Follow up: I expect other lefties to feel the same way. Much easier to use with the right hand.

Classy fire! 🔥

I ordered the lighter based off of the working prototype which was a large plastic printed item and I thought it was so cool the way it worked and how everything came together. I didn't really need another lighter. I don't even smoke. I do have a cigar every now and then. This lighter just looked like it was something cool to own and keep forever. I have yet to put lighter fluid in it but I played with it several times and really loving the way it came together.