After a two-year hiatus from the market, Vector-KGM has released a new and improved version of its Duke lighter, a compact pocket lighter that offers both a soft flame and a jet torch.

While the body of the lighter looks the same as its predecessor and features the same textured grip, James Park of Vector-KGM told halfwheel that both flames have been upgraded by way of a better ignition mechanism. He called it “the fine-tuning of the ignition system, like a software upgrade for an electric vehicle.”

The Duke offers a side-squeeze ignition for the soft flame that comes out of the side of the lighter, while the torch comes from the top of the lighter and is ignited by a rock-back lever ignition.

It also offers a fuel window on the side of the body, and a large flame adjuster wheel on the base of the body.

The Duke measures 1.42 x 0.52 x 2.9 inches and weighs 2.6 ounces. The company says that it will work at elevations up to 14,000 feet.

The revamped Vector Duke is available in seven colors—gunmetal satin, chrome satin, rose gold satin, black matte, black crackle matte, sparkle blue, and Prizm—each having an MSRP of $45.

Images via Vector-KGM.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.