For two years, I've relied on a Kiribi Kabuto lighter for my pipesmoking needs. I appreciate the simple, classic presentation of the Kabuto, its chic finish, Old Boy-style striking wheel, and sound reliability. It's been a mainstay within my coterie of accessories, and I've traveled with it to pipe shows and camp sites alike, always grateful for its dependability.

Recently, however, I've wanted a pipe lighter to carry on my person all day, everyday — an everyday-carry lighter, like an EDC pocket knife. While my Kabuto could certainly have filled the role, I was uncomfortable pocketing it 24/7, knowing my penchant for misplacing items and the unfortunate reality that some things simply long to be lost. It being my only pipe lighter, I deemed it best to keep the Kabuto secure with my other accessories and find a different lighter to fulfill my everyday carrying needs.

Such a lighter needed to fit certain criteria:

1. It should have a durable fuselage, a construction that won't fail and dent if dropped or sat upon;
2. I like the Old Boy-style striking wheel and desired an angled flame for better pipe-lighting, so that engineering was preferred;
3. It needed to be small of profile so as not to be cumbersome when pocketed, yet substantial enough not to feel lost in hand;
4. It ought to properly perform the duties of any lighter, namely lighting consistently;
5. and I needed to attain it at a reasonable enough price point that I wouldn't cry myself to sleep were I to inadvertently leave it resting on a random park bench.

I found each criterion met by Kiribi's newest lighter, the Kenshi.

Being a fan of the Kabuto, my search for a suitable EDC lighter started with Kiribi, and it never left. The Kenshi offers exactly what one could want in a reliable, daily pipe lighter.

Kenshi means "sword wielder" in Japanese — a fitting name for an EDC lighter, in my opinion. It features the same angled, double soft flame, minimalist style, and Old Boy-style hinged cap and striking wheel as many of Kiribi's other lighters, for an aesthetic that's classically timely and efficiently utilitarian but in a decidedly more compact overall package.

The Kenshi's design is sleek, simple, and practical. When you purchase a Kenshi, you aren't paying for precious metals, extravagant designs, or extra features; you're investing in a no-nonsense pipe lighter that does what it's designed to do: light pipes. At $68 and $76, depending on the finish, (Black Matte and Black Nickel, respectively), it's one of the most budget-friendly, Old Boy-style pipe lighters on the market, and while it would be a shame to lose it, replacing the Kenshi is much more manageable than, say, your prized Dunhill or IM Corona lighter.

My favorite features are the size and construction. The Kenshi is the same height as the Kabuto, ensuring a steady grip in hand, but is half as wide, fitting perfectly into the watch pocket of most 5-pocket trousers. Tucked away in that watch pocket, the Kenshi leaves the other pockets free for more necessities — a phone, wallet, car keys, pocket knife, pack of gum, box of crayons, gold bullion, pet rocks, whatever you're into — yet the lighter remains secure, without risk of falling out. Even at such a compact size, the Kenshi still has an impressive fuel capacity of 2.8g, just over half what the Kabuto holds, ensuring plenty of time spent between refillings.

It features the same angled, double soft flame, minimalist style, and Old Boy-style hinged cap and striking wheel as many of Kiribi's other lighters, for an aesthetic that's classically timely and efficiently utilitarian but in a decidedly more compact overall package.

Making a habit out of always carrying the Kenshi guarantees that I'm never without a light. If I'm working outside or am on a walk, I don't have to worry about slipping a lighter in my pocket — it's already there. If I'm at pipe club and a friend forgets their lighter, now I have an extra. While I may not use the Kenshi every single day, it's noticeably inconvenient when I don't have it. Similar to a pocket knife, you may not need it everyday, but when you do, you're forever grateful you have it. Nothing's worse than trying to open a box without scissors or a knife on-hand. In the same way, few things are more frustrating than needing to relight your pipe only to realize you left your lighter in the car. The Kenshi is the perfect everyday companion.

When you purchase a Kenshi, you aren't paying for precious metals, extravagant designs, or extra features; you're investing in a no-nonsense pipe lighter that does what it's designed to do: light pipes.

Having the Kenshi on my person at all times has benefits outside of pipesmoking, too, coming in handy even more often than I previously expected: lighting candles, illuminating a dark room, keeping nylon string from fraying, crowd participation at an Oasis concert, starting a campfire after losing track of time in the woods while smoking — the uses are virtually endless, and the Kenshi delivers on all fronts.