Elzetta- The industry's best kept secret.

[Fuzzywuzzies]

Elzetta

Who hadn't seen the Yellow Charlie for $300+, I got out my own Charlie and looked at the turn cap and pointy bezel and could just imagine replacing two sets of parts here in a month or so. Instead I go for something Spanish instead....

I thought I saved a bundle buying this from that shoddy supplier only to realise I should have bought what I wanted from those Kentucky boys from the start. I don't even know what gen tail cap I need.

Anyways it starts to rain and I look for a light to use. Something I don't really care about if it gets wet or even damaged. Oh yeah that Elzetta. that light anyways sure it is made in USA and 3 x CR123 which is hard to find nowadays because Inova outsourced and Sure isn't making any at the moment.

I turn it on and am annoyed at how it is brighter than the Surefire 9P I have and has the beam of my Maglite Spectrum. Luckily I can't find a belt pouch for it or I would end up carrying it daily. Streamlight may have them beat there at least with the most pouch options.

Well anyways I go and use it in teh rain and it works. I even see a frog with it. Then I use it again to assist a disabled man get from his vehicle to his residence and once more on to take some trash out.

I guess it is time to put a blue bones and yellow C with accessories on the shopping list.

@letschat7 - I have carried and used my Elzetta far more times than I could count every single day for years, and been through quite a few belt holsters and pouches. I have landed up on a very nice leather one made by L. James Thieman and highly recommend it. Very comfortable to carry, use and draw, and I don't think I'll ever wear it out. The 'canted carry' construction adds a tiny bit of tension to the light once in the holster, due to the curvature of your belt / waist, and it is nice and secure.

Link:

Flashlight Holster for 1 Diameter Flashlights Canted - Etsy New Zealand

This Holsters item by LJamesThieman has 162 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from United States. Listed on 14 Aug, 2023

www.etsy.com

 

[Fuzzywuzzies]

You lot are a bad influence on me. Just bored another Bravo this arvo (see what I did there) gratis for a mate. Thyrm switchbacks go great on these lights.

Photos or it didn't happen: (I had to check all of these before uploading, as his name and tags are engraved on the far side!)

 

[sween1911]

Whoa, THAT is a workbench! All steel top! Very cool.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

@Fuzzywuzzies Looks like sickle bar blades there on your bench--do you farm, or run a repair shop?

 

[Fuzzywuzzies]

@Fuzzywuzzies Looks like sickle bar blades there on your bench--do you farm, or run a repair shop?

It’s a long story. My daily bread is earned as specialist equipment engineer; which grew out of several generations of farming, agricultural repair, and general engineering. We have some acreage and do farm, but don’t have to rely on farming for income. It’s hard work, but a very versatile place to be, and a great place to raise a family. I’m very grateful for it.

Edit: The sickle bar blades are the old ones from a hay cutter we recently rebuilt for the hay season just gone - it goes better than new, you should see it! Beats the tar out of all the circular mowers used these days.

 

[Fuzzywuzzies]

Whoa, THAT is a workbench! All steel top! Very cool.

Thanks! That workbench is a thing of legend round here. It has a 10mm thick steel plate top, is 40+ years old and built by my dad.

 

[Megalamuffin]

I ran mine on high for over 10 hours on 2 eneloop pros. Started around 75-100 lumens and ended around 5-10. I ended the test but it would have gone longer.

This is one of the reasons why I like the 3x cr123 size lights best. Great performance with intended batteries and very useable in an emergency measure with the ubiquitous aa’s.

For those of you who have malkoff m91b’s and elzetta charlie’s with AVS head, how do the two compare on output and beam type? I definitely want a charlie but am leaning towards the high candela head so it won’t be too similar to the malkoff. Unless the AVS head also brings a different thing to the table than the m91b.

 

[scalpel_ninja]

This is one of the reasons why I like the 3x cr123 size lights best. Great performance with intended batteries and very useable in an emergency measure with the ubiquitous aa’s.

For those of you who have malkoff m91b’s and elzetta charlie’s with AVS head, how do the two compare on output and beam type? I definitely want a charlie but am leaning towards the high candela head so it won’t be too similar to the malkoff. Unless the AVS head also brings a different thing to the table than the m91b.

I have the Bravo and Charlie bodies. Also Malkoff M61N and older gen AVS head with standard optic. I also had the current gen HC head. Unfortunately I don’t have the M91B, only an M91T. Is there a comparison you’d like me to make?

 

[Megalamuffin]

I have the Bravo and Charlie bodies. Also Malkoff M61N and older gen AVS head with standard optic. I also had the current gen HC head. Unfortunately I don’t have the M91B, only an M91T. Is there a comparison you’d like me to make?

Sure, if you don’t mind. Thank you. How is the HC head on the charlie body compared to the m91t?

Also for anyone who has the old ZFL-m60 heads, will those fit on any charlie/bravo body including current ones? I’d like to acquire a zfl-m60 charlie, but if those heads will fit on any charlie body I could just buy a complete new charlie and find a zfl head separately.

 

[scalpel_ninja]

Sure, if you don’t mind. Thank you. How is the HC head on the charlie body compared to the m91t?

Also for anyone who has the old ZFL-m60 heads, will those fit on any charlie/bravo body including current ones? I’d like to acquire a zfl-m60 charlie, but if those heads will fit on any charlie body I could just buy a complete new charlie and find a zfl head separately.

I’ll get some beamshots tonight.

The Bravo and Charlie bodies are unchanged since the ZFL days. It‘s the head that changed and now has the entire driver, emitter, and lens built together.

I’ve done exactly what you’re planning and it works. I bought a complete Charlie with HC head. When I want, I remove the HC head, put in an M61 module and ZFL head. However, you will need a lens and O-ring to seal the module as the front is open. I remember reading on the Malkoff site that a VME lens kit will do the trick.

 

[Megalamuffin]

I’ll get some beamshots tonight.

The Bravo and Charlie bodies are unchanged since the ZFL days. It‘s the head that changed and now has the entire driver, emitter, and lens built together.

I’ve done exactly what you’re planning and it works. I bought a complete Charlie with HC head. When I want, I remove the HC head, put in an M61 module and ZFL head. However, you will need a lens and O-ring to seal the module as the front is open. I remember reading on the Malkoff site that a VME lens kit will do the trick.

That’s perfect, thank you.

 

[scalpel_ninja]

Sure, if you don’t mind. Thank you. How is the HC head on the charlie body compared to the m91t?

About 150 feet to the tree.

M91T on three CR123s

Charlie with HC head on three CR123s

The tint on the M91T is cooler, around 6000K. Even beam with lots of useful spill. More compact head for easier carry.

The tint on the HC head is warmer, around 4500K. Tighter hot spot with less spill, more visible tint shift at the edge at ranges closer than 20 feet. Smooth reflector is larger but could be carried reasonably well.

Size comparison (MD4 has a dummy cell):

WB locked at 4000K, shutter at 1/45s, ISO 1000

 

[Megalamuffin]

Thanks so much for the comparison, very helpful.

 

[Megalamuffin]

I’ve got another question for you elzetta folks.

When you’re using a thyrm switchback in a handgun grip with a clicky tailcap (either the hi/low or regular clicky), is it easy to accidentally click the tailcap on?

The hi/low would make the light more versatile, but if it made the switchback grip less reliable/repeatable then I’d rather go with the rotary tailcap.

 

[muichimon]

About 150 feet to the tree.

M91T on three CR123s
View attachment 49029

Charlie with HC head on three CR123s
View attachment 49030


The tint on the M91T is cooler, around 6000K. Even beam with lots of useful spill. More compact head for easier carry.

The tint on the HC head is warmer, around 4500K. Tighter hot spot with less spill, more visible tint shift at the edge at ranges closer than 20 feet. Smooth reflector is larger but could be carried reasonably well.

Size comparison (MD4 has a dummy cell):
View attachment 49031

WB locked at 4000K, shutter at 1/45s, ISO 1000

I was considering HC head for my old Charlie but ended up not buying it because of the difference in surface finish. But from what I see in this image, it doesn't look that different.

 

[Fuzzywuzzies]

More gratuitously boring photos. I’ve got to give this up.
Maybe tomorrow.

 

[thermal guy]

That HC head beats the M91T easily.

 

[Dicaeopolis]

Just wondering if anyone has tried 2 14500s in an Elzetta 3 cell and what kind of results they got. I was thinking about trying that with a couple of sleeves to keep rattle down. I have one with the old Malkoff drop in head that I rarely use. I could also buy an M61LLL if the runtimes aren't reasonable with a higher lumen head. That Elzetta throw head has always looked cool to me though.

 

[thermal guy]

I think I have tried 17500’s. I believe they worked just fine.

 

[Megalamuffin]

I think I have tried 17500’s. I believe they worked just fine.

The only good 17500’s currently available that I know of are the keeppower 1200 mah, which are great cells but unfortunately are protected. When used in a 3x cr123 light they will shut off with no warning which is not a good thing.

There are now unprotected 1250 mah 14500’s available from vapcell, which should give around the same runtime as the KP 17500’s without the abrupt shut off. Combined with a 17mm AA sleeve I think this is a better option than the 17500’s.