i've posted elsewhere on my early experience with the Muyshondt Nautilus (mine is the natural hardkote purchased from Greg over at Brightguy.com). just click on my screen-name or avatar and then click the appropriate link to see all Posts by user. it shouldn't be too difficult to find my Nautilus related Posts.
it is one of my EDC lights on my keychain in my right front pocket.
for a custom light, IMO, it's a good value. the HIGH mode is plenty bright and the LOW mode runs a long time.
as one has already posted, it takes a bit of twisting to actuate HIGH from the point at which LOW mode is first activated from the OFF position.
mine is moderately "stiff" (*NOT* tight or difficult to turn) and also SMOOTH - no grinding when twisting and no tendency to bind up when twisting, so no thread galling at all, IME (in my experience).
it cuts a sleeker "figure", so to speak than my Fenix P1-CE twisty (replaced on my keyring by the Nautilus), but is just a tad longer than the P1-CE. it feels much more robust than the Fenix though - high quality, robust construction, IMO.
beam pattern is very nice, IMO. no complaints at all in this regard.
so, what are the reasons, IMO, that someone would NOT want to purchase one?
1. price (please, don't confuse PRICE with the term VALUE). i personally feel that it is a VALUE among custom lights. however, $185 is a week's worth of groceries for a small family. only you can decide if your personal budget can spare $185.
2. if you want a small twisty light that very quickly goes from OFF to HIGH, then the Nautilus will, in this regard, be a bit of a disappointment. as another has said, and i +1, it takes some twisting (2 additional full range of motion for thumb and index finger while the other three fingers of the same hand grip the barrel of the light, or 3 additional partial twisting movements) to get the light to go from LOW to HIGH. this can be mitigated somewhat by twisting well past the initial LOW turn-on point when turning the light ON. i only make a point of this because i often have my other hand occupied and so can only use one hand to retrieve and turn-on a flashlight.
if you want "instant-HIGH", so to speak, and want the smallest possible CR123A package, go with a twisty, like the Fenix models P1-CE or P1D-CE or P1D-Q5. if you want a clicky, buy one of those Fenix lights and purchase from Lighthound.com the McClickey body+switch. i have a P1D-Q5 head with that McClickey which i EDC loose (i.e. NOT on a key ring or fob) in my left front pocket. it is quite a bit longer than the Nautilus though. for instant HIGH, i reach for the Fenix in my left front pocket. for lower initial turn-on output, i grab the Nautilus (on key-ring) in my right front pocket.
i also EDC a NovaTac 120P clipped to the entry of my left front pocket. while a significantly physically larger light than the Nautilus, it is a bit cheaper, and programmable. i have mine turn on at a very low level, but it is oh so simple to get it to the MAX [programmed] level that i could use it as a sole EDC if i so desired. if the 120P is NOT too large for your likes, then add it to your "short-list".
my two shekels.
