A sterling silver, two-piece, hand made lighter.  A superb quality hand made lighter that is very rudimentary in its construction, but beautiful to have in the hand.  It is very clean in design with a body made of soft rounded edges and free of adornment.  It is a two piece construction with no hinge on the lid, meaning it simply pulls off to reveal the flint wheel and the wick.  It is a simple to use, and easy to maintain.  The flint and wick portion pull out from the bottom of the body and reveals the screw for the flint wheel and the wool wadding for the lighter fluid.  Both flints and fluid are readily available today, meaning it can be continued to be used, an enjoyed.  

Given that the lighter was made during the peak of the Second World War there is more than a good chance that this would have been made as a gift for a serviceman either leaving for front line duty, or to be sent out as a gift from loved ones missing them from back home.  This too would account for its quite simple and damage resistant design.  Easy to use, maintain and service when on front lines

The body and lid are made in sterling silver.  Both pieces feature English control marks on them.  The base of the lighter has a full set of english assay marks for having been made in London, England, in 1943.  The lighter also has its makers mark for John Bull & Co. Limited.  John Bull is a proud English silversmiths, watch and clock maker founded in 1817.  They are currently closing their doors for the last time, such is the way with a large number of traditional businesses in the U.K.  This lighter really represents a time when the company was a fantastic producer of fine items.  It is a very thick gauge of silver, partly why it is likely to have survived in such wonderful condition.  Celebrating its eightieth birthday next year, it is very much a piece that will bring joy and use for the next eighty years, at least.