RARE MAGLITES

[willrx]

I'll start with a 3D Mag made in March 1981. Notice "PATEN PENDING" stamped on the barrel.

[will]

Interesting - I wonder if anyone out there collects 'rare' Maglites. The 2AA group tends to be mostly color, and color variations, collectors. There are a few who go after the old Ontario stamp on the bezel. Maglite does not keep records of all the variations they have manufactured over the years.

[swampgator]

One of these came up for sale on the 'bay recently, no bids with a $19.99 BIN. I saw the old box in the picture and emailed the seller regarding the serial number. The said it was a no "D" serial number. Mysteriously the price jumped up to a $29.99 BIN. While it would have been nice to have a pre-D, I just couldn't justify that much for another 3D Mag.

Interestingly, that a 3/81 3D is marked "PATENT PENDING". My 2C manufactured in July 81, according to Maglite, is stamped "PATENTED MADE IN THE U.S.A." I wonder when that changed? The bezel is stamped identically to the 3D you posted.

[ABTOMAT]

The non-D models were from before 1990.

The "Paten pending" models were from before early 1981.

I have one of the very first designs from January of 1980, with a large bulbous switch cover. You don't see many of those.

Also have a 7D from the mid '80s, and a couple of Vari-Beams (sold to auto garages and inustrial outlets) from the mid '80s.

[willrx]

That's the kind of interesting information that makes these threads fun.

swampgator, let's see your 2C. Maybe the cutoff was between March and July '81. Or maybe the C and D cell lights were issued patents at different times?

ABTOMAT, a fresh set of pictures of your bulbous Mag would suit this thread well. I received a new Vari-Beam bezel recently. Now to search for the rest of it.

Mag doesn't have as extensive a line up or as many variations as Surefire for example, but enough to make it interesting. Keep 'em coming folks. All Mag products welcome.

[ABTOMAT]

I don't know about the actual patent times/dates, but the C and D cell lights used different tooling for the markings. I have a 3C from February 1981 that says "PATENTED MADE IN THE U.S.A."

[willrx]

Is it possible that Mag had several hundred or thousands pre-stamped with paten pending and used them up before stamping the new ones? Hopefully someone can find the actual patent dates and share that here? I'd also love to know how many were stamped with the incorrect spelling before it was caught.

[donn_]

[willrx]

Now those are certainly RARE. Thanks for posting those Donn.

[rockz4532]

Interesting - I wonder if anyone out there collects 'rare' Maglites. The 2AA group tends to be mostly color, and color variations, collectors. There are a few who go after the old Ontario stamp on the bezel. Maglite does not keep records of all the variations they have manufactured over the years.

the ontario stamp is rare? all three of my mags have them

[donn_]

Here's another very rare finish on a Mag:



It's called "Merlot!"

[willrx]

Great, I remember that one from a while back. HA right?

[donn_]

Yep. Mil-Spec HAIII.

[swampgator]

swampgator, let's see your 2C. Maybe the cutoff was between March and July '81. Or maybe the C and D cell lights were issued patents at different times?

As soon as I get time to take some!

[willrx]

C'mon, how about some 6 and 7 cell C's and D's. I know someone has an HA 6C w/2" deep reflector.

[donn_]

Top to bottom:

6D, 3" FM head, 64633.

6C Stretch, 64623.

6C HAIII-BK host.

I have a 2" deep dish in HAIII-BK coming, and it may well go on this host.

[willrx]

Dueling 7D's....

[toby_pra]

Crazy how long these are...

[CdBoy]

you can just imagine....PRE-surefire...its the Mag-Lite that reigned supreme. even until now it is still a hot item. i got 6D cell type i bought from a store in california.

[willrx]

Certainly the shiniest in my collection. Heavy too-6.5 oz with no batteries. 24K Gold Plated Mini-Mag (brass underneath).

[Guy's Dropper]

Where did you get a 24k gold plated Mag?

[american lockpicker]

Is a 7 cell C and D krypton bulb rare? Also its not like the normal ones it looks like the Maglite xenon ones. Also the package was marked 1985, came with a spacer and is made in Mexico.

[willrx]

With regard to the gold Mini-Mag they were put out by Mag Instruments in the early to mid 80's. Possibly as a promotion for the now ubiquitous Mini-Mag that is found just about anywhere. Notice the patent information on the brochure. One rep with Mag remembers them being sold to Neiman Marcus stores among others. There is surely a wealth of information here at CPF somewhere about them-likely in the Mini-Mag collecting forum.

7 cell bulbs are harder to find than others due to the lights being produced in smaller numbers. The early Magnumstar bulbs being referred to are interesting to say the least, I haven't been able to get a decent beam from them. The standard Krypton bulbs or the newer Magnumstar bulbs are a definite improvement. 6 cell bulbs are much easier to find-and brighter.

[Pontiaker]

Here's one I got from our shop back in the late 80's sometime. Its was my ridealong for many years, mainly for protection if I ever needed it. I was already carrying SF's by then but I always had a big Mag around to.I kept the paper insert inside to keep the batteries quite.
Matt

[Pontiaker]

Here's another very rare finish on a Mag:



It's called "Merlot!"

That looks like a csrewed up black coating:~) All my old Streamlights used to look like that!

[willrx]

Matt,
Thanks for sharing the old 4D. There are some stories engraved in that one I can tell.

[Toohotruk]

Cool thread! Interesting that there was a typo in the stamping of some of the early Mags.

[Haz]

nice maglites!

[austin mahler]

wow very nice need some more picks

[ElectronGuru]

Here's a 6C

A 5C

And a few other C's