Excellent!
How wonderful you shared these images. Interesting story.
Please describe anything else you remember.
How wonderful you shared these images. Interesting story.
Please describe anything else you remember.
DARPA Surefire Collection
- Thread starter graybeard50
- Start date
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FPSRelic
Enlightened
Did a quick google search and found this old thread regarding them. It looks like you have 5 of the 6 DARPA lights that Rat mentioned in his post. He also mentions there were only 50 DEF-3D’s made.
www.candlepowerforums.com
These are apparently that rare that to have just one of these used would be a grail light for the Surefire collector. To have 5 of the 6 NIB is unheard of. I couldn’t put a price on these. But to the right buyer this collection would be worth a lot.
Surefire Darpa Def2
A while back I came across a Surefire Darpa Def2. Any idea what they are worth? I have several other lights that have a much smaller head and are much easier to carry. Aaron
www.candlepowerforums.com
These are apparently that rare that to have just one of these used would be a grail light for the Surefire collector. To have 5 of the 6 NIB is unheard of. I couldn’t put a price on these. But to the right buyer this collection would be worth a lot.
3_gun
Enlightened
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2021
- Messages
- 690
You might be in that rare spot where they'll have to pay whatever you ask. Maybe eBay with a 10 day auction starting at 500'ish with a BIN of 2K for the least rare of the bunch. Seeing that more common vintage lights get 300+ it could be a good starting point
importculture
Newly Enlightened
I second keeping them. If you were to sell them since you have 5 of the 6 known DARPA lights (hurts me to say) but I’d sell them as a set at a greater price than you would if they were sold individually. Extremely nice collection by the way. You have my compliments and envy.
Since the are no longer new in the box upon opening, I’ll offer $10 each…PayPal ready
They’re serious history you have there. I remember a member who was selling one at a time until all were sold off. They were getting top dollar and it took less than a few weeks. Not saying you should sell. How did you get them?
They’re serious history you have there. I remember a member who was selling one at a time until all were sold off. They were getting top dollar and it took less than a few weeks. Not saying you should sell. How did you get them?
I bet they didn’t see them as a viable lighting solution so they tossed them in a dumpster. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a bunch like this
Can it be assumed that these rarities will almost certainly increase in desirability? Antique /vintage items can fluctuate due to collector interest and fashion.
Wondering if there are people out there that would like to use one of these, in addition to having it as part of a collection. Giving someone else the thrill of acquisition is something to be considered.
Wondering if there are people out there that would like to use one of these, in addition to having it as part of a collection. Giving someone else the thrill of acquisition is something to be considered.
graybeard50
Newly Enlightened
When the contract ended for these, there were a few hundred leftover sitting in a warehouse. When the warehouse lease ended, no one wanted to claim these so I grabbed some and handed out the rest to colleagues, friends, vendors and veterans. If I knew they would amount to the value and rarity I would have certainly snagged a few more. 😁
Same thing happened to me. I fixed the computers for a printing company. They called to tell me that they were going out of business and needed help breaking down the system. I got there, took apart the computers and watched them load notebooks in a dumpster. They said help yourself. I’m willing to trade tubs full of blank notebooks for some of your stuff. I guess it’s all about being in the right place…
graybeard50
Newly Enlightened
Bringing this back up…Where would be the best place to sell this collection to target the right audience?
You could start here, become a supporter and you can post in the for sale section. I am sure there are serious buyers here, like myself.
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IMA SOL MAN
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hmmm. Hard to say. Maybe Sothebys or Christies, maybe eBay. Wherever you go, start the bidding very, very high--I think you will get it--you can always go down.
IMA SOL MAN
Flashlight Enthusiast
"The flashlights will be supplied to U.S. forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq for in-the-field experimental evaluation and feedback."
https://www.militaryaerospace.com/home/article/16712436/darpa-buys-flashlights-from-saic
HERE!
Seriously, you think randos on eBay are going to massively overspend on those?
Actually, yeah. There are people spending absolute lunatic money on Surefires on eBay. Anything I can't find a CPF buyer for I double the price and put it on eBay. But you gotta keep in mind you can lose almost 20% in fees.
graybeard50
Newly Enlightened
I really have no idea what they are worth since there is very little info on sales/costs from previous ones. Suggestions? I was thinking around $5k for the collection. Am I off? I had someone tell me once they could go for about $10k, but that seems steep even for these rarities.
For the rarest of them you can knock 4-5 thousand and take a look. Here I watched several
Well you can also visit the gun show in Tulsa
Well you can also visit the gun show in Tulsa
Oklahoma Gun Shows Tulsa OK
918-955-1092 Oklahoma Gun Shows - See our schedules.
oklahomagunshows.com
