Re: The Official Malkoff Junkie thread - Part 2
Hi Gene,
In a helpful way, without being presumptuous, I'd like to make a few suggestions for your consideration.
I personally find the switching method on your Wildcat and Hound Dog to be PERFECT, because we can turn on the light from the Off condition to whatever brightness we want to, by "pre-selecting" the mode at the head with a twist. This prevents having to cycle thru unwanted modes to get where we want, and allows the most direct access to the mode we want. It also allows High to be the Primary mode if we want, and we can pre-set it that way with a head-twist, and it gives full Tactical momentary functions with as many momentary presses as needed, WITHOUT changing modes like other EDC lights would do.
IMO, if you carry this over to the MDC, it will be a perfect user interface with a Low and a High, and that's all that's needed.
If you feel that it's best to have it all done at the tail, the Elzetta Hi/Lo tailcap switching gives an excellent example for putting all the control on the tail. And that's really just a tailcap version of what you already use, as you know.
IMO, creating a user interface that forces cycling from High first, or Low first, has a high probability of coming on in a mode that we don't want, and we must cycle thru that mode, which is a step backward. I think you already have the best user interface in the business, and all you need to do is apply it to this smaller package. And "muscle memory" of having the same "manual of arms" for the big flashlights and the MDC means remembering only one set of control functions for all, which can be beneficial under high-stress conditions where your training "instincts" take over.
Strobe is not considered a good feature by most people here on CPF, and is generally derisively called "disco modes". Unless there is some over-riding factor to have Strobe, I'd say it would be better to not have any Strobe function. If we need to signal anything, we can use the momentary button presses on High mode to do that manually. If you must include Strobe, please hide it somewhere away from the normal user interface so that we never have to know it is there, and never have to see it or use it ever.
My 2 cents as a certified Malkoff junkie that has every Wildcat and Hound Dog version that you have ever made, and an Elzetta too.
Merry Christmas
Thanks!