Re: Inherited CampingGaz Backpack Stove - Fuel Canisters??

The 206 canister is still being imported. Camping Gaz (aka Bleuet) is a division of Coleman. The 206 puncture-style canister is also produced by companies like Primus, a Slovenian company whose name I forget, and several SE Asian companies. You can buy the canisters at REI, EMS, and a number of other outdoor companies. Several of these will send them to you via UPS or FedEx (they have the facilities for the required packaging). Locally, here in the SFBay area, Redwood Trading Post carries a couple of the other companies' canisters in addition to the official Gaz 206.

The main thing to keep in mind is that the grommet that seals the stove and canister connection gets hard with age and will no longer seal after a few years. This leaking butane is obviously very inflammable (potentially explosive), so check the sealing grommet and replace it if needed.

The canister, once attached, cannot be removed until it is exhausted (unless you don't mind a very cold stream of butane flying out, potentially catching fire or exploding). To attach the canister, in an extremely well-ventilated location outdoors, first remove the burner top from the canister holder, place the canister in the holder and move the hoop-shaped retainers into place, then (with the fuel valve shut off), screw the burner into the stove (do this fairly rapidly to minimize leakage). The sharp point on the bottom of the burner will puncture the canister.

Once the canister is attached, operation is as trivially simple as any compressed gas stove - open the valve while holding a lit match next to the burner. That's it. Nothing really to "figure out". Shut off when done.

The 100 series (100, 106) is the one which is no longer available in the US. The OP is talking about the 206, the larger size puncture canister. The 270 and 470 are a push-on coupling that is similar in size to the industry standard threaded connector, but without the threads.