The term "line drawn" Zippos usually refers to simple line drawings engraved into the Zippo case or lid in various motifs. A number of line drawn motifs were featured in the Sports Series produced by Zippo from 1939 to 1951. The Sports Series motifs included the Golfer, Dog, Sailfish, Shooter, Fisherman, Skier , Bowler, Horse, Sloop, Baseball Player and Basketball Player. Other less often seen line-drawn Sports Series motifs included the Elephant, Hockey Player, Football, Bowling Balls and Pins, Tennis Racket, Bucking Bronco and Woman Bowler. There are several variations of some of the motifs, and prototype designs exist which never went into production.

This 1941 Zippo, while not from the Sports Series, has a line drawing of "Kelsey The Clown" as a Keystone cop with a halo and trident of Saints & Sinners Circus .