I Kinda Still Want That 6-D Light. But Why?

[lampeDépêche]

When I was a young punk in my teens and twenties, there was no internet, there were no LED flashlights, and I had no money to spare.

And the best, coolest, and (so far as I knew) brightest flashlight in the whole world was a certain 6-D cell behemoth that could also double as a baseball bat. You know, that black anodized thing with the focusing reflector.

I wanted one--hell, I also wanted the 5-D, the 4-D, and on down--but I couldn't afford any of them. No money.

Nowadays, there's an internet, there are a zillion lights that are brighter, and I have a little money to spend--not enough for my wife to take up dressage, mind you, but enough to buy a light now and then.

And it turns out that the 6-D behemoth is cheap! Less than $30.00 on a famous internet retailer!

I feel so conflicted.

I wanted it so much back then, when I couldn't get it. Now, it's so attainable: but do I still want it?

I did just buy a 3-D version to host a new Malkoff XML drop-in. But Malkoff says that more than 4 cells don't make it run any brighter, and 5 or 6 cells are strictly verboten.

So I've got the 3-D that I always wanted, and with that Malkoff it will be my best thrower.

But what about the 5-D? What about the 6-D?

Tell me that I need them, and tell me why. Or tell me to get over it.

 

[välineurheilija]

I have a stock 6d maglite.oops not stock i put a glass lense in it.anyway its cheap and quite bright for an incan light.I say buy one you can build it custom or get a "dropin" for it or you can just keep it laying around the house for fun 😗

 

[Tegan's Dad]

How well do you like the 3D version? If it is everything you ever hoped it would be, then maybe get the 6D to see if you get the same results. If you are disappointed that you had to spend more on the Malkoff than the original light to make it a good one when you could have spent the same for a nicer light, then get over the 6D.

I had a 3D that suffered the infamous battery leak, and not knowing at the time that Mag will replace it for me, I tossed it and bought the 4D I always wanted. That was before I found CPF and modern LED lights. Now I never use the 4D (It's mounted to the wall in my pantry as an emergency power out light). That big of a light is hard to carry, and positioning it to do any work with it can be tough too. It's great for looking for something in the back yard, but I'd rather have a pocket-able light for that too. Just my preference though.

I wonder if you could find a big mag even cheaper on various used sights like craigslist or something. Maybe that would make it more worth it?

If you are a mag enthusiast, check out the custom modding section too. People have done some interesting things cosmetically in addition to the drop-ins.

I'm not knocking mag, I do have several. I personally just don't go for that big of a light. If I were to buy another "D" mag, it would probably be the 2D.

My intent for a flashlight is to illuminate things, not beat them down. If you need a club or a baseball bat, buy a club or bat.

 

[StarHalo]

We have 1xAA lights that are brighter than the 6D Mag, that don't dim over the runtime, that have better reflectors/beam profiles, better anodizing that doesn't scratch as easily, multiple output levels, etc.

If you had some task to complete and the modern 1xAA and Mag 6D were before you, which one would you choose?

 

[AnAppleSnail]

If you had some task to complete and the modern 1xAA and Mag 6D were before you, which one would you choose?

I sometimes put my 3D MagLED on its end for ceiling bounce light. It performs better for this task than most 1xAA lights, as long as I accept the Mag's brightness level. I am strongly considering doing a tailcap mod to my mag lite like so:

This will let me dim the mag lite to much lower levels. But do I really want a 3D-size object that can emit 0.01 to ~100 lumens (For 80 hours, constantly dimming)? I could take the CPF mantra and get a second Mag tailcap...

 

[Evltcat]

When I was a young punk in my teens and twenties, there was no internet, there were no LED flashlights, and I had no money to spare.

And the best, coolest, and (so far as I knew) brightest flashlight in the whole world was a certain 6-D cell behemoth that could also double as a baseball bat. You know, that black anodized thing with the focusing reflector.

I wanted one--hell, I also wanted the 5-D, the 4-D, and on down--but I couldn't afford any of them. No money.

Nowadays, there's an internet, there are a zillion lights that are brighter, and I have a little money to spend--not enough for my wife to take up dressage, mind you, but enough to buy a light now and then.

And it turns out that the 6-D behemoth is cheap! Less than $30.00 on a famous internet retailer!

I feel so conflicted.

I wanted it so much back then, when I couldn't get it. Now, it's so attainable: but do I still want it?

I did just buy a 3-D version to host a new Malkoff XML drop-in. But Malkoff says that more than 4 cells don't make it run any brighter, and 5 or 6 cells are strictly verboten.

So I've got the 3-D that I always wanted, and with that Malkoff it will be my best thrower.

But what about the 5-D? What about the 6-D?

Tell me that I need them, and tell me why. Or tell me to get over it.

After finding CPF and new generation LED lights, all my Mags went into the "Loan/Gift/Trade" box. Including an original 6D Incan. I was feeling kinda bummed about shelving all these lights, so I decide to try out a TeraLux 3 mode drop-in module that puts out 1000 lumens. I put that into a 4D mag, and it makes for a respectable, but still pretty heavy light (using NimH cells). I can put the TeraLux into the 6D for more run time, but I honestly think the 6D is just too heavy and clunky. I may buy another TeraLux later to upgrade another 4D, for backup purposes, but I don't think its worth upgrading them all. There are better, smaller options I like better.

IMHO, I think if you've upgraded your 3D Mag to a Malkoff, unless you are really feeling nostalgic, you'll never be happy with the old Incan 6D without upgrading it too.

 

[DaveG]

I picked up a 6-D Mag a few months back, a close out price,under $20. Stood in the store for 15 min talking myself into buying it.The logical side says what the hell am I going to do with this thing.The flashlight side says you need it,what if you can not find another one at this price. Still glad I got it.

 

[CMAG]

aspearic, sst 90, dw driver, 5S lipo and a bi pod so it will tail stand

 

[Sarmajor]

I have one that rides in the door pocket of my Landcruiser. I fed it with Rechargeable batteries every now and then and it goes when I need it out in the bush. And I can use it as a hammer if required.
Cheers

Hedley

A Flashlight is not a weapon, post edited - Norm

 

[Gunner12]

If you want to spend a bit of money, you can modify a 6D so the output matches the size of the light 😛

Something like a high power incan will do well.

 

[jmpaul320]

If you want to spend a bit of money, you can modify a 6D so the output matches the size of the light 😛

Something like a high power incan will do well.

how about an osram 64656? :rock:

 

[CMAG]

how about an osram 64656? :rock:

And a power port in the tail cap so you can jump start your car😀 or better yet a a usb power port to charge your other torch/cell phone
O yea now I'm thinking

 

[Up All Night]

Ahh........The 6D Behem-lite! I've had mine for twenty some odd years, still going strong. Used to walk my bull terrier with it, I held the leash and he carried the light. Good times and I miss him terribly, but I digress. Apologies!

The fact that you're posting tells me you really want it, so I say get it. Mine still gets used. If I'm checking on a noise out back I just pop it on my shoulder while holding it right behind the head and if need be just bring your arm forward, let the head slide into your palm and you have a very useful(your word here).😀
Oh yeah, it has that lovely warm tint all the led guys are chasing too!

 

[fyrstormer]

Just buy the damn thing. It's only 30 bucks, and it will get rid of that annoying itch you have. What are you going to spend that 30 bucks on that's more important? The electric bill? Come on, the whole point of having a flashlight in the first place is so you don't need to rely on overhead lighting.

 

[fyrstormer]

If I'm checking on a noise out back I just pop it on my shoulder while holding it right behind the head and if need be just bring your arm forward, let the head slide into your palm and you have a very useful(your word here).😀

While you're at it, mount a riot grip on it so it looks like a bazooka.

 

[Up All Night]

While you're at it, mount a riot grip on it so it looks like a bazooka.

Mockery!......I love it! Lol!

Riot grip, really? That would be over the top!!

 

[bstrickler]

how about an osram 64656? :rock:

Like these:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?341157-Anyone-use-a-hotwire-as-a-headlight
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?278201-17-000-lumens-of-incan-domination!-Mag-6D-64656-64657-*Beamshots-added*

400 yards easy with the 64656!
Keep in mind, with mine, I had to have a 4" extension made for it! (because it's impossible to find 26500 IMR's anymore, only 26650's). Next is to get the Feilong 32650's!