DUNHILL SERVICE Series Sterling Silver Trench Lighter

In 1893, Alfred Dunhill took over the family saddlery business. In 1904, he expanded into automotive accessories. In 1914, during World War I, the brand launched its first Trench Lighter, leveraging British military supply orders to establish the technical foundation for this iconic model. In 1926, the signature Unique one-handed lift-arm lighter was introduced, becoming the brand's flagship product line. After the outbreak of World War II, Dunhill established a wholly owned subsidiary in the United States (Dunhill USA Corp.) to fulfill U.S. military supply contracts. American designer Irving Florman was commissioned to refine the design, leading to the production of the Service series of military trench kerosene lighters specifically for U.S. Navy and Army personnel. Positioned as rugged, field-ready lighters, these models differed from the luxurious silver-cased Unique series produced in the UK. Following the war, the U.S. factory closed in 1947, and the Service line was discontinued. Today, this model is recognized as a classic WWII military collectible.