HDS Natural HA

[InvisibleFrodo]

anyway ya all Aluminium lights are out there of corse. But they don't say HDS on them do they.

They could. Just a magic marker or stencil and spray...
I just realized I've got several lights I can "convert" into HDS lights... Would you excuse me.

 

[thermal guy]

Wait I'm sorry if you think you hit a nerve with me. You didn't. I meant what I said - you're entitled to your opinion. I don't have to agree with it. I was just offering a counter-viewpoint -- having a discussion. I'm sorry if I came across....aggressively? or whatever it may have seemed. That was not my intention, just good-natured friendly discussion, I hope

Since we're reminiscing now, has Henry ever done one of the full-size fatty bezels in aluminum? I know on the old legacy lights, with the small bezels and thinner crystals, the bezel was seen as a weak point. But as I recall it, and in all the Henry-lights I've ever had, when he went mega-bezel on the Ra lights (those were the first redesigned ones, yes?) they were steel. So I don't think these aluminum ones are quite the same thing as the "old stuff" that was seen as weak. A fat, thick chunk of aluminum is still a damn tough piece of metal.

BUT AS ALWAYS you're free to think whatever you want, for whatever reason you want.

PS: I carry an HDS with me almost every day. I won't try and say that none of mine are babied, I do take care of them. But I use them too. #noshelfqueens

Sure all is good if I came off harshly I am sorry. I'm sure you use your flashlights in your line of work to there maximum.Henry's old Legacy Stuff and to me that will always be u60 b42 etc did have a problem with the head end yes. The new style head he put on them changed all that and yes if he makes it out of aluminum will it protect the lens? Yes it will but you have to understand and if you get bored go back about 10-12 years and read what these light were used for. Read what Henry's goals were. It really is surprising that he would even consider this.and IMO it's the consumer of his lights now that are enabling This.look I have owned and used HDS lights before many here have even heard of them.im no expert. Never claimed to be but those that have been here basically from the start seem to be of a different mold then users of today. NOT A BAD THING! Just different.

 

[thermal guy]

They could. Just a magic marker or stencil and spray...
I just realized I've got several lights I can "convert" into HDS lights... Would you excuse me.

You are excused 😁

 

[thermal guy]

But yes enough of this before we get yelled at. I think we all can agree that HDS lights are some of the best or we wouldn't be here.How you choose to use or not use them is completely up to you.

 

[thermal guy]

From my reading of thermal's posts, my take is that his gear sees reasonably rough use. And I still read his post as hyperbole

Thanks arch. We all here use lights different and have different opinions as well.Guess I'm just old school HDS😁😁

 

[emarkd]

Yeah I really do get where you're coming from. You see the aluminum as making the light "less" of a tool, and maybe it does. I think it brings some benefits to the table that more than offset the decreased strength, but you don't value those things. Nothing at a wrong with that, diff'rent strokes and all.

But there really is precedent for this, if you go back into the brand history. I don't think anyone thinks cerakote is a stronger coating than HA3, but HDS tried it. What exactly does a brass body bring to the table that's "better" than aluminum? Functionally, I mean? I'm not sure, but they tried it. For that matter HDS still offers both glass and sapphire crystals. One's clearly stronger than the other, so why the choice? This release just...may not be for you, and that's fine. Doesn't mean HDS has strayed from it's path.

To draw an analogy from a different market -- CRK has been big talk in a different thread. Those guys make tons of crazy strong, working knives...flat titanium slabs with S35vn steel in between. Nothing fancy, but built to take a beating. They also make inlaid and engraved scales with Damascus in between. Those are objectively "weaker", the handles show wear faster and the steel isn't as good functionally. But folks eat them up and don't hold it against the company that they make such concessions for limited release items. This is HDS doing the same thing -- it's not for every HDS customer, but they still offer the same bulletproof "working" lights they always have if that's more your speed.

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[thermal guy]

Oh no this run IS for me! I have wanted a natural anodizing for years. I'm just not fond of the bezel. Really no big deal as it can be exchanged for a steel one. That's all. It was just more of a shock that he would do it. And yes I'm sure HOGO will jump in sooner or later and state that the aluminum will be just fine and I'm sure he's right. We tend to get heated on here a little fast😂 guess that shows how much we all love these damn things. But absolutely different strokes for different folks.And in the end guess it really doesn't matter as I'll be running it like this anyway 😂😂😂😂

 

[emarkd]

Oh no this run IS for me!

Well crap!! I was hoping you would be one less person I had to compete with in the drop race. [emoji23]

Man it really is crazy how passionate we get about a damn flashlight, isn't it? Most of the world would think we've lost our minds. Maybe we have....

Good luck in the drop, I hope we both get one. [emoji16]

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[thermal guy]

You as well my friend.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Well, it's 36 degrees here... might as well be on the back side of the moon as a Tucsonian. If I hadn't spent my youth in Minnesota, I would think nothing could survive this cold. Give me 110 any day.
Got my JetBoil going and made some coffee in the back of the Jeep (Coffee is life), and open up the forum to see what is up (good cell reception here) and the tussle gave me a chuckle! LOL!
Nope. The aluminum bezel is, in any sense, is going a little backward... so was brass lights and I got emails about it... not as strong, too heavy, going backward in HDS philosophy... and my response was simply "Don't buy one."

But "the brand! The HDS brand will suffer!"

Doubt it. I doubt it very much. It's just a special run for those who want one. People asked for it, and Hogo being a crotchety old cuss still likes to get Henry to give the folks what they ask for... even if it is in very limited quantities.

The bezel is about the easiest thing to change on the lights, so we are not overly concerned about it. Being natural HA, it is a bit "retro" and so folks just have the option of keeping it on or replacing it with steel as some did on their Cerakote lights.

 

[indigon]

...And in the end guess it really doesn't matter as I'll be running it like this anyway 😂😂😂😂

Me too..

 

[thermal guy]

Atta boy! With those covers on you basically have a bombproof light. See that dent on the body of my light? That was a 10 foot fall from the top of my spray booth. Still not sure what it hit as I found it flat on the cement floor.Pretty sure without the covers it would of been worse.

 

[Lithium466]

Since we're reminiscing now, has Henry ever done one of the full-size fatty bezels in aluminum? I know on the old legacy lights, with the small bezels and thinner crystals, the bezel was seen as a weak point. But as I recall it, and in all the Henry-lights I've ever had, when he went mega-bezel on the Ra lights (those were the first redesigned ones, yes?) they were steel. So I don't think these aluminum ones are quite the same thing as the "old stuff" that was seen as weak. A fat, thick chunk of aluminum is still a damn tough piece of metal.

he did :

https://uniquetitanium.com/collections/lights/products/edc-legacy-bezel


edit : don't know if direct link is ok here, Unique Titanium is a forum supporter but I'll delete if unacceptable.

 

[archimedes]

Looks like a good option for all those here who keep talking about wanting a guaranteed anodize-color mismatch for the upcoming run

 

[Lithium466]

Haha, these are with V-threads so only for legacy lights

 

[archimedes]

Haha, these are with V-threads so only for legacy lights

Good point. Makes the joke a little less funny, but still ....

Your link is fine by the way unless Hogo ( or Hogo's Evil Twin ? ) objects.

 

[Lithium466]

Still a good one.
Choices are fun and I would love to see a permanent natural HA offering in the HDS lineup - I do understand the manufacturing and part stocking nightmare associated though, and why it will probably never happen.

I have stainless, Ti and Al bezels for my Ra Twisty - each have a different balance in hand, if you. I like the idea of the natural run having Al bezels for a full matched look, like the good old cerakote runs. Albeit adding extra costs, you can still add a stainless bezel to your purchase of the special Run.
I'm all for it cause this extra step will make the 30s run into a 45s run

I too see bezels as maintenance/replaceable, even if I never replaced one in the last oversize version...have unused spare one somewhere.

 

[emarkd]

Oh neat, I didn't know. Were those ever offered direct? At some point could you order an HDS directly from Henry and spec one of those? Was steel offered simultaneously, like we have glass or sapphire now?

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[Modernflame]

I'm all for it cause this extra step will make the 30s run into a 45s run

Nah. Ya just add the bezel to your cart before the sale time.

 

[peter yetman]

I think if I were the get an HDS with an aluminium bezel, I'd have to replace it with a S/S one. I would cringe every time I drop the thing, which I don't do with a hard bezel - I don't even think about it. I've done so much damage to regular Z44 heads before I discovered Xeno bezel rings. I've even treated myself to a Ti bezel for my Twisty, might have to get another.........
P