Art Flashlights: The Next Niche?

[Otokoyama]

If you're familiar with knives, "art knives" and "gentleman's knives" (no offense, ladies) are quite popular, and every bit as functional as their less attractive cousins.

My own EDC knife is the inexpensive Kershaw Rainbow Leek, with a scratch resistant rainbow titanium oxide coating.

If you look at knifemakers catalog, such as here, for example, you'll find a wide range of interesting materials--though mostly non-conductive--that might be utilized in flashlights. Unfortunately, most of the materials are offered in a flat, thin shapes, though some can be had in cylinders up to 1.5" in diameter.

[Simulated] mother of pearl MicroIlluminator with red emitter to navigate to your opera seat, for example? [Simulated] ivory Arc? Scrimshawed SpaceNeedle?

Just wondering if this isn't a possible direction for some of the more artistically inclined (not including myself) to move in, and possibly open up flashlight market in another direction.

 

[Entropy]

McGizmo has already started down this route - Try to find threads about his TiNi plated McLux.

 

[McGizmo]

Otokoyama,

I think this area will be explored more as the "general" population starts to accept a lumination tool as part of their EDC. I agree with your analogy on knives and suspect that there will be some "upper end" demand for the real exotic. For some, the fact that it's Art will give them justification for carry, not the fact that it's a functional tool. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I can see an analogy in the use of quality writing tools extending to small pen lights. With lights using 5 mm LED's or underdriven Luxeons where thermal relief isn't a demanding design consideration, material selection will be more open. I have intended to make a Koa battery tube for some time now but haven't found the misplaced roundtoit. I love combining wood, leather and metal.

I think you are correct in looking forward to some MonteBlanc and Tiffiny pocket lights. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A while back, a friend wanted a personalized "unique" McLux 5W and I wanted to be sure he got a stupid as well as unique part. I figured that setting a flawless man made ruby in the bezel would likely fit the requirement. The other side of the bezel is engraved with the universal " :-P " :

For the life of me, I can't figure out why this piece hasn't become his EDC. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif


- Don

 

[Stainless]

Maybe a limited edition Surefire M3 with an image of our resident "serving wench" or "terminatrix" on the bezel? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif I bet that would be a successfull fundraiser. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Eric_M]

How about "pen blanks":

Woodcraft pen blanks

All types of woods and colorful resins.

Eric

 

[kakster]

I think the McLux falls into this catergory. Its one of the nicest things i own.

 

[sloegin]

I belive this one is considered art.

 

[LEDmodMan]

sloegin,
That one, if seen on a different webpage, might be thought by some to be something entirely different... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

bzzz... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif

 

[Otokoyama]

By the way, I had no intent to imply that HA on knurled aluminum is not beautiful.

McGizmo's point about some people carrying a beautiful object that just happens to provide light is well taken.

Thanks for the pen blanks link, Eric. Many of the blanks are large enough for an AAA light, some for an AA or 123 sized light.

sloegin's Apollo flashlight certainly qualifies, though I was thinking more of materials that weren't normally associated with flashlight.

 

[paulr]

I lobbied for a while for Arc to offer an Arc AAA in sterling silver, but Peter wasn't having any. I guess it would weigh a lot more than the aluminum version too--not so great.

Don's TiNi McLux is completely stunning. I won't look for the jpg since I presume you've seen it already.

 

[sloegin]

One made of sterling silver. Prada made a flashlight a couple years ago.

 

[Stainless]

Gee:
I wonder why H.M. the Queen didn't want it.

 

[Icebreak]

Now that is a $1,000.00 flashlight.

Too bad Mr. Hirsch didn't know about CandlePowerForums. He would have made his money back and more.

 

[Rothrandir]

holy hell!
that would make an amazing luxeon mod! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(can you saw 5watter driven at 20watts? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif