What is the origin of the "Lucky Cigarette" or turning one upside down?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 03:22:42 -0400

I have heard references to WWII but those make no sense because smokes didn't have filters. I have heard it was the one you asked for when you knew injuries were severe. I have heard Vietnam references that if you lived long enough to smoke it you could count yourself "lucky". Does anyone know the true origin, or have any speculations?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 9 at 2016 3:24 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 03:24:12 -0400

I thought they were just Lucky Strike brand smokes.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Sep 9 at 2016 3:24 AM

SFC William Farrell — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 03:24:17 -0400

No but they should do away with them SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 4:54 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 04:54:51 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - Named after people who secured a lucky strike during the gold rush. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Strike

Lucky Strike - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lucky Strike is an American brand of cigarettes owned by the British American Tobacco groups. Often referred to as "Luckies", Lucky Strike was the top-selling cigarette brand in the United States during the 1930s.[1]

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 9 at 2016 4:18 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:18:47 -0400

Most interesting...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2017 3:40 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 03:40:56 -0500

Hey, SGT. I noticed you said something about WWII and it not making sense because they weren't filtered. Did some digging, and saw someone said this in a forum: "I've heard that soldiers would smoke unfiltered cigarettes backwards so that the label identifying the cigarette (and thus, the smoker's country of origin) would burn off first in case they came across the enemy. Perhaps it stems from that? I don't know, just a thought." That got me thinking, maybe there's some correlation. Maybe the lucky is the one they would flip, and once they were in a situation they knew it was going to end, it didn't matter if the enemy knew your country of origin if you were going to die anyway. I've also heard where they would save that one and smoke it once they came back from war to celebrate their survival. Not sure on the original origin, though (I've also heard that it comes from the rumor that Lucky Strikes used to come with a joint in the pack that was marked by a different colored filter, thus that was the "lucky" in the Lucky Strike). I just know it's something I do with my packs, SGT. For me, it's not a matter of luck, but, in case the war idea is true, a matter of remembering those who have fallen, and smoking one for them in their memory every time I get to that one. That may seem a little silly to some, but that's what it is for me. Hope that helped some, SGT.