Rare WWII Trench Art Solid Silver Map Lighter-CBI Theater India Burma w/Rubies

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Rare WWII Trench Art Solid Silver Map Lighter-CBI Theater India Burma w/Rubies:
$595.00

Rare WWII Trench Art Solid Silver Map Lighter-CBI Theater India Burma w/Rubies (A11.4)

Time Period: Manufactured around (circa1943-1945)
Historical Character Preserved - \"Survivor\" -shows a rich, authentic natural silver patina that has developed over decades on the lighter\'s custom case.
This item is a highly collectible piece of WWII Trench Art from the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. Locally crafted souvenirs
of this caliber—featuring hand-engraved maps, solid silver construction, andinset ruby gemstones (4 out of 5 original gemstones remain) - were typically commissioned by or made for Allied military personnel (such as the US Army Air Forces or engineers) stationed in India or Burma between 1942 and 1945.
- The CBI Map: The hand-engraved map on the front depicts pre-Partition BritishIndia and Burma, highlighting major Allied operational hubs: Delhi,Karachi, Bombay, Calcutta, and Burma. During WWII, Karachi served as amajor port of entry for American troops, Calcutta was a critical supplyhub, and the Burma region was a heavy combat zone.
- The small red stones embedded directly into the major city coordinates(Delhi, Karachi, Bombay, and Calcutta) are small rubies, which local Indian silversmiths frequently used to embellish these custom military souvenirs. Personalization: The initials \"D.W.S.\"engraved across the top lid represent the original initials of the serviceman who purchased or was gifted the lighter.
- The stamp on the spine explicitly reads \"SILVER\".These covers were traditionally handcrafted out of high-grade local silver (often .950 sterling or solid silver).The simple \"SILVER\" stamp broadly covered this high-grade purity without
  committing to a rigid western decimal like \".925\".During WWII, local metalsmiths and jewelers in major Indian military hubs—such as the Churinghee lane bazaars in Calcutta, or markets in Karachi and Bombay—hand-crafted thousands of souvenirs for Western GIs. Because they were targeting American and British troops, local artisans used a simple, block-letter English word \"SILVER\" steel stamp to instantly assure the soldier that they were buying high-value, precious metal rather than cheap brass or plated base metal. (Actual Silver content -Unknown)
- This is an external sleeve or decorative \"wrap.\" Inside, it was built to perfectly house a standard removable Zippo fluid insert, which soldiers would slide into the custom silver shell.
Authentic Zippo Steel Insert manufactured 1943-45 Patent # 2032695 -exact, period-correct match - Cam Spring needs Repair (Lid has no tension)
Flint Tube is Clear - Fresh Flint installed - Working
Condition: Original Patina (Undisturbed Oxidation) - Scratching/Scuffing - 1 Missing Ruby Located near Burma - Hinge is Good - Cam Spring needs Repair - Flint Wheel Turns Freely/Sparks/Ignites - see photos
Dimensions: Approximate 2-3/16\" height x 1-1/2\" width x 1/2\" depth
Weight: Lighter Case only - 45 grams (excludes insert)
Background:BecauseJapan invaded Burma in 1942 and cut off the \"Burma Road\" (China\'slast land-based supply line), the CBI became a theater defined by legendarylogistical feats:\"Flying theHump\": The U.S. Army AirForces established the world\'s first massive military airlift, flying cargoplanes over the treacherous, unmapped Himalayan Mountains from Assam, India,into Kunming, China. Hundreds of planes crashed due to severe weather and highaltitudes.The Flying Tigers: The famous 1st AmericanVolunteer Group (AVG) flew P-40 fighter jets painted with shark faces,defending Chinese cities and airfields from Japanese bombers.The Ledo Road: U.S. Army Engineers, workingalongside local laborers, carved a brand new 465-mile supply road directlythrough the jagged mountains and malaria-ridden jungles of northern India andBurma to reconnect the supply route to China.Merrill\'s Marauders: A specialized, volunteerlong-range jungle penetration infantry unit that fought guerrilla style deepbehind enemy lines in Burma to capture critical airfields. -The map on your lighter traces the exact logistical spine ofthis theater. Supplies arrived by ship at the ports of Karachi,Bombay, or Calcutta,traveled across Delhi via rail, and were finallyflown over the mountains or driven through Burmainto China. Servicemen bought these lighters as badges of honor to prove theyhad survived deployment to one of the most remote and inhospitable frontiers ofWWII.
Please review all photos, as they are part of the description, (enlarge for detail) (reflection in photos)

Rare WWII Trench Art Solid Silver Map Lighter-CBI Theater India Burma w/Rubies For Sale

Rare WWII Trench Art Solid Silver Map Lighter-CBI Theater India Burma w/Rubies: $595.00

Rare WWII Trench Art Solid Silver Map Lighter-CBI Theater India Burma w/Rubies:
$595.00