The following discussion is meant for educational purposes only. Bypassing the safety features of liquefied gas lighters could cause grave bodily injury or even death. This information is not to be shared with children too young to read it, and is intended only for mature audiences.

Some adults have problems with these "child proofing devices" that were designed based on the idea that children do not have strong tough fingers, the same thing that many adults do not have.
number one. I am using a pair of strong scissors to grasp the narrow part of the metal band right above the level of the "push down gas controller". Slightly open the end of the scissors and insert it under the metal edge.


push up with your thumb and pry the metal up with the scissors


Pull out scissors and use the tip to slide between the striker and the loosened piece of metal and pry up.


finally pull the piece of metal away from the lighter.

Having peered intently at your t-shirt and finally figured out what it is, I commend it to the attention of the forum. It repays the effort.

You should see my 12 yr old boy scouts try and light lighters. I guess all the 12 yr old boys that know how to don't join boy scouts.

Once you mentioned the child proof feature I knew what it had to be - always thought that band was structural. Lighter works now. Even for girly fingers....

oddly coincidental, this was me last night. I went out and bought a new mini-bic for my trip this weekend, and this was the first thing I did with it when I got home...only I generally just use the needle nose pliers in my kitchen junk drawer.

edit: forgot to add that doing this probably saves a gram or so!