Maybe it's from being a kid and having the big Energizer 3D lights near the back door and in the garage, then in the 90's when we bought ourselves 3D Maglites and were on top of the world, but I always liked 3-cell lights. These days with lithium ions and LED's, it's more an aesthetic thing since we don't need additional voltage to get high output, but I still treasure the longer lights and love the form factor.
Left to right, Malkoff Hound Dog 18650 on an MD3 body, Surefire M3, Olight M30.
Hound Dog 18650: Running it with a single 18650 and a spacer in an MD3 body. I realize it's ridiculous to have the 3-cell body just to run an 18650 and a spacer, but it's leftover from running my original Hound Dog head with two 18500's. I scored the 18650 head, just have to get my hands on an MD2. Still, the body length reminds me of my Z3. I have a Surefire tailcap with a McClicky, a thick O-ring and an old spare rubber combat ring. Helps keep the light oriented in the hand. The original Malkoff tailcaps have the button a little too recessed for me. This light reminds me of reading the old Lagger-Pro website and drooling over the classic 3-cell D3, 9P, C3 Surefires equipped with the mythical SRTH turbohead.
Surefire M3: Got this treasured light in trade from firearms author, fellow USN member, and all-around tough guy Mike Searson. It came with the old school bezel and a GG&G T.I.D. and an eyebrow scorching high-output MN11. I've disassembled the bezel and it has a Nailbender low voltage XM-L2, McClicky tailcap, a 16650 and single-cell spacer. This bad boy pulls nightstand duty.
Olight M30: After handling one a friend of mine had, I knew I eventually wanted one of these. MC-E led still gets the job done, 3-modes are PWM-disco-tastic so I always leave it on high, but it's still versatile enough for whatever I throw at it. Since this guy is in my car 24/7, I keep three CR123's in it.
Left to right, Malkoff Hound Dog 18650 on an MD3 body, Surefire M3, Olight M30.
Hound Dog 18650: Running it with a single 18650 and a spacer in an MD3 body. I realize it's ridiculous to have the 3-cell body just to run an 18650 and a spacer, but it's leftover from running my original Hound Dog head with two 18500's. I scored the 18650 head, just have to get my hands on an MD2. Still, the body length reminds me of my Z3. I have a Surefire tailcap with a McClicky, a thick O-ring and an old spare rubber combat ring. Helps keep the light oriented in the hand. The original Malkoff tailcaps have the button a little too recessed for me. This light reminds me of reading the old Lagger-Pro website and drooling over the classic 3-cell D3, 9P, C3 Surefires equipped with the mythical SRTH turbohead.
Surefire M3: Got this treasured light in trade from firearms author, fellow USN member, and all-around tough guy Mike Searson. It came with the old school bezel and a GG&G T.I.D. and an eyebrow scorching high-output MN11. I've disassembled the bezel and it has a Nailbender low voltage XM-L2, McClicky tailcap, a 16650 and single-cell spacer. This bad boy pulls nightstand duty.
Olight M30: After handling one a friend of mine had, I knew I eventually wanted one of these. MC-E led still gets the job done, 3-modes are PWM-disco-tastic so I always leave it on high, but it's still versatile enough for whatever I throw at it. Since this guy is in my car 24/7, I keep three CR123's in it.
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