The Surefire L1 Evolution

[Size15's]

Note that SureFire do not use the term "TIROS" - "TIROS" is an Inova brand name.
SureFire uses TIR optics.

Note that the new L1 (with shorter body, new bezel with Cree XR-E LED features a new TIR optic and it does not have a hole through the middle. At least the ones at SHOT Show 2007 didn't.

Did any of the "Gen 1" L1's ever come with the old style TailCap?
(none of the L1's photo'd above show it. Perhaps it was just the A2...)

Nice work showing the evolution in photos btw!

Al :)

 

[milkyspit]

Note that SureFire do not use the term "TIROS" - "TIROS" is an Inova brand name.
SureFire uses TIR optics.

Note that the new L1 (with shorter body, new bezel with Cree XR-E LED features a new TIR optic and it does not have a hole through the middle. At least the ones at SHOT Show 2007 didn't.

Did any of the "Gen 1" L1's ever come with the old style TailCap?
(none of the L1's photo'd above show it. Perhaps it was just the A2...)

Nice work showing the evolution in photos btw!

Al :)

Al, made a couple edits to my post above in light of your comments, thanks. :)

What is this old style tailcap you mention? Not sure that I've ever seen one.

 

[Size15's]

 

[JNewell]

Interesting. I just acquired a Milky-modded L1 that is #01576 and it doesn't have the A2-type tailcap. (That's assuming it still has its original tailcap, of course, which I can't prove.)

 

[milkyspit]

Interesting. I just acquired a Milky-modded L1 that is #01576 and it doesn't have the A2-type tailcap. (That's assuming it still has its original tailcap, of course, which I can't prove.)

What's it got on it? Any chance you could share a photo? :thinking:

 

[JNewell]

Yes, but you've already seen this L1 - it's the ML1 you modified for Skalomax! :D The tailcap on it is the same as the other two in my pics above. I'll do a family portrait soon. This one is obviously one of the first, and the HA one in my pics above is one of the last, of the old 4-sqare/non-TIR L1 lights.

 

[milkyspit]

Yes, but you've already seen this L1 - it's the ML1 you modified for Skalomax! :D The tailcap on it is the same as the other two in my pics above. I'll do a family portrait soon. This one is obviously one of the first, and the HA one in my pics above is one of the last, of the old 4-sqare/non-TIR L1 lights.

Hope you like it! I kinda liked that one myself. :)

It is the original tailcap on that one, I am absolutely sure of that.

 

[benchmade_boy]

Milky- what do you do with all the old L1 boxes that you mod? i didnt think you send them with the light, but maybe you do, or do you have a room in your house filled with them boxes?:drool:

 

[milkyspit]

Milky- what do you do with all the old L1 boxes that you mod? i didnt think you send them with the light, but maybe you do, or do you have a room in your house filled with them boxes?:drool:

BB, actually I do send 'em with the factory boxes! The box fits just about perfectly inside one of the post office's Priority Mail cardboard boxes.

But I do have a walk-in closet in our guest bedroom that's, er... well, let's just say it's not so walk-in anymore! :ohgeez:

 

[JNewell]

Scott, thanks for the info on Skalo's ML1. Question on the bezel - with a number that low, I think it should have been non-scalloped, but this one has the scallops, so I would guess it's not the original bezel?

Another question: is there a primer or treatise :D somewhere on the McR reflectors?

 

[milkyspit]

Scott, thanks for the info on Skalo's ML1. Question on the bezel - with a number that low, I think it should have been non-scalloped, but this one has the scallops, so I would guess it's not the original bezel?

Another question: is there a primer or treatise :D somewhere on the McR reflectors?

Question on the bezel - with a number that low, I think it should have been non-scalloped, but this one has the scallops, so I would guess it's not the original bezel?

No, that's the bezel which came with the light, unless I somehow mixed them up while cleaning (which is always possible). My understanding is that SureFire serial numbers aren't necessarily sequential... so it's entirely possible that something with a lower number could in fact have been manufactured AFTER something with a higher number. I think they do this so competitors don't know exactly how many of a given item SureFire has sold.
:shrug:

Another question: is there a primer or treatise :D somewhere on the McR reflectors?

If memory serves, Kiessling maintains a FAQ thread on the McR series reflectors. (Bernie, you lurking out there? Anything to add?)

You also might find some information over here...

Milky L1 Info Thread

 

[greenLED]

Looks like mine's a Gen 5, soon to get a Gen 6. :D

Still debating whether I should do a SSC mod to that Gen 5... :thinking:

 

[DM51]

Good thread - interesting info, nice pics. I didn't know there had been that many changes. No doubt the later versions are improved, but the Gen 1 was by far the nicest looking.

 

[Nathan]

This is by no means an exhaustive list... and I don't have photos, sorry... but here's a start!

SureFire L1 Evolution

Gen1: Body has four flats. Head is short and tapered. Lens is flat. Bezel is plain (NOT scalloped). Optic is NX05. Emitter is Luxeon low dome.

Gen2: Like gen1 but bezel is scalloped. I believe some of these came with the SureFire lanyard and attachment in the box. Somewhere along the way the box style changed from cardboard box with lid to cardboard one-piece box with top and bottom flats, internal plastic tray, and clear plastic window through which the L1 is visible.

Gen3: Like gen2 but emitter is Luxeon high dome. Note that optic is still NX05.

Gen4: Head switched to larger, KL4-like head with TIR optic, domed lens, and Luxeon (III?) emitter. Body is still the four flats version. These seem to be relatively rare! Probably a short production run before switching to the newer, rounded body.

Gen5: Like gen4 but body is rounded (no flats).

Gen6: (shown at SHOT 2007) Body seems to be 25% shorter than gen5. Head seems to be a little shorter than gen5 head, with emitter switched to Cree XR-E and optic switched to something similar in appearance to a Fraen LP optic... it appears to have a hole in the center that goes all the way through, although that may not in fact be the case (looked like it did to me, but Size15s reports not)... one can look directly at the emitter dome through this apparent hole.

I never knew there were this many variations. Mine seems to be a Gen4.

Based on Milky's excellent info above, I believe this is how the output/runtimes match up:

Gen 1-3 (info from 2005 catalog)
Low: 0.7 lumen 50 hours
High: 15 lumens 2 hours

Gen 4-5 (2006?)
Low: 1.1 lumen 90 hours
High: 22 lumens 4 hours

Gen 6 (2007)
Low: 10 lumens 16 hours
High: 65 lumens 1.5 hours

Does this look right?

 

[milkyspit]

Here's a photo I'd snapped recently of various L1 bodies, along with a couple friends...

Note the gen6 (L1 Cree, #5) host and how it relates sizewise to its peers: it's essentially the same length as the gen1 host (#4), and markedly shorter than the gen5 host (#3).

 

[milkyspit]

Based on Milky's excellent info above, I believe this is how the output/runtimes match up:

Gen 1-3 (info from 2005 catalog)
Low: 0.7 lumen 50 hours
High: 15 lumens 2 hours

Gen 4-5 (2006?)
Low: 1.1 lumen 90 hours
High: 22 lumens 4 hours

Gen 6 (2007)
Low: 10 lumens 16 hours
High: 65 lumens 1.5 hours

Does this look right?

Nathan, the curious thing is I recently measured current draw from the gen6 body vs. gen5 body, and they both behave identically. In other words, a gen6 head on a gen5 host should work exactly the same as a gen6 head on a gen6 host, just in a longer physical package. I think the SureFire numbers are to be taken with a grain of salt... they're mainly the result of marketing and other non-authoritative influences within SureFire, at least that's how it seems from my vantage point.

 

[SunnyQueensland]

Hi,

anyone want to have a stab at what this is?

It seems like a gen5 but it has the longer clip. Or did I miss something? :thinking:

Regards

 

[Size15's]

SunnyQueensland,
Do you have permission to hotlink that image?

Regarding that L1 - I guess SureFire experimented with putting the long clip on it... since the body is just about long enough

 

[SunnyQueensland]

SunnyQueensland,
Do you have permission to hotlink that image?

Regarding that L1 - I guess SureFire experimented with putting the long clip on it... since the body is just about long enough

Thanks for the info regarding my L1. :thumbsup:

I'm not sure about the whole permission thing though, it is my image, my flashlight and it is hosted by me. If I did something wrong though let me know so that I can fix it? :shrug:

 

[Size15's]

Thanks for the info regarding my L1. :thumbsup:

I'm not sure about the whole permission thing though, it is my image, my flashlight and it is hosted by me. If I did something wrong though let me know so that I can fix it? :shrug:

Sorry, I didn't recognise the host as either a generic photo hosting site or a genuine flashlight manufacturer/dealer etc site so I thought it best to check.
Hotlinking images without permission of the host is bad form, and against the rules since it sucks bandwidth.