Night Ops Gladius / Typhoon

[sween1911]

Re: Night Ops Gladius / Insight Typhoon

Just scored another Maximus, ebay rescue. Just dropped a dedomed XP-L HI in it tonight...

The tint is an almost incan level 3k. Stock Gladius on the right...

Updated family shot...

 

[Nitroz]

Re: Night Ops Gladius / Insight Typhoon

I liked the one I had with the exception on the battery drain if not locked out

 

[ShortRound]

For Sween1911 - I have a Gladius that needs some work. Others have said that you are the man and it is good to find a resource like CPF! My Gladius is older (S/N #00800!) and I love it and need to keep it working. It did have a mod done back around 2009, but that is it. Can you help me?

ShortRound

 

[sween1911]

Hey buddy, I sent you a PM but it looks like you're only a few posts in and can't PM yet. What are you looking to do with your light?

 

[ResidentWeevil]

@Sween1911
I still have my lovely old Blackhawk Nigh-ops Gladius #25674. It is just lying on a shelf here, shadowed by a Eagletach T20 which took over and has not given me a need to change.

Would you consider upgrading the gladius for me - I am in the UK, I hope that doesnt make it too much of a PITA?

Hoping for a conversion to accept a larger rechargeable battery (18650?) and a bit more light and time?
I think that lovely rear rotary controlled may have being playing up too (I do not recall) - are there replacements for there?

Warmest Regards
Udhi

 

[sween1911]

I had one of the tailcaps go south a few years ago and I reached out to Blackhawk. With no fanfare, they sent me a replacement! For a light they haven't made in years. Very impressed.

PM'ed for upgrade options!

 

[ResidentWeevil]

Ah, so there are no aftermarket replacements or repairs?

Bummer

 

[sween1911]

Blackhawk sent me a replacement! It was great customer service! Dunno if you being overseas will affect it, but you can certainly ask.

 

[ResidentWeevil]

Blackhawk sent me a replacement! It was great customer service! Dunno if you being overseas will affect it, but you can certainly ask.

Ok, I have sent BH a message. I am more than happy to pay for parts and S&H provided the costs are reasonable enough to keep the Gladius running.

Thanks again

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[Nicodimas]

For Sween1911 - I have a Gladius that needs some work. Others have said that you are the man and it is good to find a resource like CPF! My Gladius is older (S/N #00800!) and I love it and need to keep it working. It did have a mod done back around 2009, but that is it. Can you help me?

ShortRound

I broke out my gladius and got to admit none of the current UI interfaces compare.

how do I upgrade this?

 

[Nicodimas]

I'm definitely going to find a way to make this relevant again , they were too nice and reached out to sween1911 for help. My flashlight still works, but only when very tight it seems so there's that.


As I look at it though it doesn't look like 18650 would fit? Any luck with any rechargeables.

Its a shame Blackhawk didn't keep upgrading these flashlights with newer bulbs.

 

[sween1911]

16650's fit but the voltage kicks off the low batt blinking every 15 seconds. 3.0v Tenergy batts are what I use for these.

 

[Nicodimas]

Have to say I got the SweenMod and it is sweet, definitely amazing. Fits somewhere between my olight warrior pro and M1x searchlight in terms of practical settings.

The olight is really close, but damn does it get hot on its highest settings quickly

https://ibb.co/6ss7Syy
https://ibb.co/Fg7q2BN

 

[sween1911]

Sweet! Glad you like it brother.

 

[whitten1855]

Re: Night Ops Gladius / Insight Typhoon

Are you still modifying these lights?

I have a problem...

Always been intrigued by the ability to add multi-levels to a light and still maintain tactical momentary. A lot of different designs have addressed it, and when the Gladius came along it seemed to be an ingenius solution. A multi-level rotary UI with constant on simulated "clicky" and a channel with momentary high output, and a strobe. When the Gladius came out, it was outrageously expensive for my meager budget (around $190 IIRC) Back when I saved up my pennies to buy a Surefire G2 for $60 and that was insane! Recently, Gladius and Typhoon examples have popped up on the 'bay and in forums here and there. Since the output leaves something to be desired in relation to today's new offerings, their budget friendly prices and user condition make them prime specimens for modding. I've accumulated a nice bunch of spare parts.

The Gladius Maximus is still stock. Looks like an SSC-P4. The Gladius at the top and the Typhoon third from the top have XM-L2's that I put in. Using LED's on Noctigons and the reflector from the P60-drop in kit, both from mtnelectronics, it works well. The Typhoon has an orange peel and a more neutral tint. The Gladius at the top with the GG&G T.I.D. has a cooler tint and a smooth reflector. Using Tenergy 3.0v rechargeable batts. Stock functionality is preserved but much brighter. Planning on an XHP35 for the Maximus.

Anybody else have a soft spot for these innovative bad boys?

 

[Rhul7]

Are you still modding the gladius? I'd love to upgrade mine.

 

[sween1911]

Hey guys,

I would suggest participating in any of the many discussions on the forum until you accumulate enough posts to private message, then PM me if you have any questions about upgrades.

(mods: Please keep me honest if this crosses any lines.)

 

[sween1911]

Been awhile since I updated...

This is a Husky-brand case from Home Depot. Full disclosure, two of these are empty shells with the guts removed during various mod experiments. The one lying across the top is usually in my EDC bag or at my bedside.

 

[Monocrom]

I'd happily give you mine if I knew which storage bin it was in.

Took it out literally one night for use at work, had a small emergency with the patrol vehicle. It failed so miserably on me. (The light, not the vehicle.) Thankfully, had my Fenix L0D Rebel 80 on me to get out of that situation. Tossed the Gladius into a storage bin. Never touched it again. That was nearly 20 years ago. I'm honestly not surprised that a few years later, Night-Ops replaced the Gladius with a cheap, generic, Made in China model with their company name simply plastered onto it.

 

[sween1911]

Hey brother, I've read your story a couple times. It comes up everytime I do a search for Gladius info on the forum. That sucks. The design is not without it's failure points. I know the battery discharge was an issue. The plastic control ring on the tailcap has also been known to break upon severe impact.