I've sold most of my Surefires.
But I'm still collecting Foursevens & 4Sevens lights.
But I'm still collecting Foursevens & 4Sevens lights.
Old timers.. what are you down to in the flashlight department?
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MidnightDistortions
Flashlight Enthusiast
I joined in 2014 but I've been sticking with flashlights using NiMH battery format AA, AAA and others. Still have 20+ year old NiMH cells that work good enough in some lights.
I'm sure some of you are in the same boat. I've been around the forum since the beginning of time. I see old names still posting and some might recognize my name. I've been through a lot of lights over the years, Was an A2 whore..lol Probably been through over 100 Surefires over the years but they come and go. A2,M3,M4 being the favorites there but I'm at the point, have been for a bit, I'm down to what I need. Some have stories...and all of these have never failed me. The Petzl Taktikka, probably 20 years old. Does it's job every time I gotta use it, love the spot to flood lens slider... That Olight I3eos packs a punch, my bedroom dresser light for the mornings when I get up for work. Use it every day. That ARC-P rode on my work keychain for over 15 years. Finally had to retire it because the ringhole is breaking through and didn't wanna lose it. The Olight S1 batons, black being 1st gen non rechargeable, great pocket lights to grab and go. Always been an Olight fan since I bought an M30 Triton when they first came out! Olight is 3rd in my manufacturer choices. Random Mag AA, got a couple more floating around. They are cheap..lol That Surefire A2-YG. That is the most sentimental to me. My wife bought me that for my birthday one year when we first met. Circa 2006... She actually bought me every LED color because she knew I loved the A2 at the time. Like a fool, I sold them but held onto the YG the longest because it was rare but eventually sold it to a fella I believe on here. Chevyboy or something was the dudes name. Quite a few years later I come across it on eBay from a similar sellers name. I asked for a pic of the serial number and sure enough, it was it so snatched it immediately and got that one back! This comes to the grave with me. The 2C Mag was my father's work light in his work truck. I had the pleasure of working with him for 15 years until he retired in 2015. He passed in 2021. That one comes to the grave as well. It has his stories... The Ultra Stinger... Hands down my favorite light of all time. This has been my truck/ off road light for 20 years at least. I just love the feel every time I pick it up. Finally had to get a new battery for it. And a fella selling bulbs cheap on eBay so got 2 extra bulbs. Should last until I die. Finally The Stinger LED. Well always been a fan of SL and I just bought this one. Disappointed it's made in China! But it looks and feels damn good! Ohhhh, last but not least .. The Surefire X300 I bought at a 100 off discount to slap on my Beretta M4 for giggles. I choose to hold a light in the hand old school instead of weapon mount. But what I find is this X300 makes an awesome pocket light, easily hand manipulated.... whats your callsign? I spy a ft-60 and a baofeng. Kc8adu here
Unfortunately, I'm not "down to" anything, because I'm still going 'up'. That's a personal issue I need to work on:-(
Lumen83
Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2017
- Messages
- 553
Great thread!
I was just thinking about what I'd pass down. And I've been thinking about thinning the herd to get down to just what I really like and need. Honestly I'm mostly down to 6Ps, Kromas, U2s, A2s, and a few other odd balls. I've been reading this forum for about 20 years and love classic surefires. Nothing new interests me too much. I love LEDs for reliability in extreme conditions, but I'm an Incan guy for pleasure. That reminds me, I think I'll take a walk outside and look at my flower garden with one of my old Incans now.
I was just thinking about what I'd pass down. And I've been thinking about thinning the herd to get down to just what I really like and need. Honestly I'm mostly down to 6Ps, Kromas, U2s, A2s, and a few other odd balls. I've been reading this forum for about 20 years and love classic surefires. Nothing new interests me too much. I love LEDs for reliability in extreme conditions, but I'm an Incan guy for pleasure. That reminds me, I think I'll take a walk outside and look at my flower garden with one of my old Incans now.
tonkem
Flashlight Enthusiast
Mostly Zebralight for me, always carrying my Sc63. Perfect size for EDC and enough power from the 18650. I went thru the Polarion (brightest light at the time and expensive), to Lupine lights (expensive but compact and powerful, at the time), Starting my journey with a Surefire E2E Incan, to Led modules for it, then moving on to the dominator, then LED's took off and I tend to lean on smaller size single cell lights, even for non EDC lights. I had a few high powered multicell lights and they never hung around (Zebralight S6330, Noctigon Meteor M43, Manker M38), but always thin out to a few Zebralights. Namely, H600, Sc63, SC600 Mk III, SC52 L2, (2 other SC52's), SC700d and considering the SC65cHI as another EDC option to my SC63. I just got into Olights but don't really like the proprietary batteries, so that may be short-lived. I have the Seeker 4 Pro and the Marauder Mini. Both cool lights, but they are not the first light I grab. I also enjoy the Niecore MH12s and MH25s for longer run times and higher throw and output. Also picked up a Foursevens Mini MKIII Turbo, pretty cool little light. Long of the story, Zebralight.
leukos
Flashlight Enthusiast
After collecting for 10 years and losing my job in 2012, I went through a major sell off in 2012 and really found it liberating to get rid of most of it. What I kept was my Surefire incans: M6 (x1), G2z (x4), G2 (x2) and A2 (x2). Also kept various drop-in modules and other accessories. Kept two AAA key chain lights: Peak stainless mule and a Fenix Ti. Kept a couple Zebralight headlamps. Kept two modded Bitz Ti ( best form factor for any pocket light I have ever held). Also kept a few antique lights for later modding. I sold off my bored M4 and M3T, 4 modded A2s, all my E series stuff, HDS lights (rotary and custom), various other LED lights, FM customs, McGizmo stuff, Streamlight stuff, all my Maglite stuff, and various other custom and modified stuff. Didn't miss any of it. Took a break from CPF for a while until finances recovered but noticed the forum transitioning from a modders forum to more of a "look what shiny new thing I just bought" forum and lost interest, especially as the emphasis became more focused on the bling factor for flashlights. Wandered over to BLF in 2015 and built a 2x 18350 XHP.50 Convoy light that outperformed just about anything on the market at the time and really didn't feel I needed anything else for my outdoor adventures for several more years. In 2019 I popped back in to CPF and grabbed up some great package deals on an M6 and C2 and some TAD bulbs. This year, I started checking in more frequently and definitely notice less activity here than in previous years, but still a great community. I picked up some Malkoff items and quite a few Reylights, and will be placing a large order with LF soon. Also pleased to see the increased battery capacities from the AW days, and have stocked up plenty for my incans. Also found some Willie Hunt LVRs super cheap on Ebay and will finally get around to adding regulation circuits to some of my antique lights. Anyways, I have enjoyed the journey and figuring out what I like and at this point can usually tell at a glance at a light and it's specs whether it is something I would keep without having to "try" it first. It's a fun hobby with practical applications and a lot of great and creative folks as well. Thanks, CPF!
Dave D
Flashlight Enthusiast
I've gone around full circle, I came to this forum 11 years ago as a Surefire P/G series users and have bought quite a few of the newer Surefire's but I prefer the older ones with Malkoff drop-ins.
The older ones are still upgradable, parts are still being made by other sources and the newer versions are not upgradeable or even repairable by the average user.
The older ones are still upgradable, parts are still being made by other sources and the newer versions are not upgradeable or even repairable by the average user.
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I've been picking up Surefire hosts, mostly plastic, and long since settled on CR123/16340, 16650, and 18650 battery form factors, typically keeping with compatible voltage levels, too. If I have to swap something out, that makes it a lot easier, since there will be high compatibility with what I have spare/charged. CR123s go in lights stashed in tool boxes and bags, and a new box of 12 of them will get me through a few years of power outages and other replacements. Currently I have 6 G2Zs, 3 black and 3 tan, plus a G2ZL in OD. Then for G2s, 3 in black, 1 or 2 in tan, 1 in yellow, and one in OD. The G2Z has great ergonomics, with the flat rings removed, and stays grippy even when greasy and grimy. Also, I must admit, I prefer the look of the beat up plastic over beat up anodized or painted aluminum. With recent LEDs and drivers, the 1800-2200mAh of 16650s vs 3200+ mAh of 18650s isn't that big of a deal, nor is heat (at least for practical uses and runtimes).
Aside from HDS, I've pretty much sworn off e-switch lights. But, an HDS EDC is my EDC (purple CR123 tube 4000K 219B Executive w/ flood reflector), and a High Noon Tactical 18650 is my walking and hiking light.
Not carried, but never to be gotten rid of, I still have my Arc AAA-P, the first serious flashlight I ever got.
While their current status is wrapped up in a drawer, I have grown to have two, "shelf queens," in my middle age: an Oveready orange C2, and a pink HDS. Up until that last rotary Cerakote color was calling my name on HDS' website, I had a rule for myself of only users, no collectibles or shelf queens. It was good while it lasted.
On the plus side for communities, there used to just be CPF. Then there was CPF and BLF. Of course, some others, that came and went, too, but these two have really held on. Now, there also subforums on most gun, knife, or outdoors forums, Reddit, Facebook, and more.
Aside from HDS, I've pretty much sworn off e-switch lights. But, an HDS EDC is my EDC (purple CR123 tube 4000K 219B Executive w/ flood reflector), and a High Noon Tactical 18650 is my walking and hiking light.
Not carried, but never to be gotten rid of, I still have my Arc AAA-P, the first serious flashlight I ever got.
While their current status is wrapped up in a drawer, I have grown to have two, "shelf queens," in my middle age: an Oveready orange C2, and a pink HDS. Up until that last rotary Cerakote color was calling my name on HDS' website, I had a rule for myself of only users, no collectibles or shelf queens. It was good while it lasted.
I'm partly guilty, as there's just not as much new and interesting. I lurk a bit, post like this every now and then, but haven't been regularly active for years. What's new and interesting? To me, not too much, going on out there. I'm playing around with drivers, and seeing if I can't scratch an itch or two that way, but that's mostly a passive endeavor, until I have my own board design I'm happy with.
On the plus side for communities, there used to just be CPF. Then there was CPF and BLF. Of course, some others, that came and went, too, but these two have really held on. Now, there also subforums on most gun, knife, or outdoors forums, Reddit, Facebook, and more.
Just for the heck of it, I got what I had nearby, for a little family photo. As you can tell, I have a bright future in photography
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Left to right: 3 Z70s, G2, G2ZL (Z44 style aluminum bezel, not KX4), HDS Clicky (EDC, 219B 4000K, flood reflector), E2E, HDS Clicky (18650, 219B 4000K, flood reflector), 4 G2Zs, HDS High Noon Tactical, and of course, the Arc AAA-P (first EDC flashlight, long retired). The E2E, and all the P60 hosts are sad, and feel empty inside (because they are).
Notice, too, the 9-12yr old 16340s (can't find the order in my emails, so don't know for sure). As of a few months ago, they tested out at 454 and 490mAh, on my VC4S, and hold a charge as well as ever. My normal chemistry AWs have failed like most others, in 5-7 years, but the AW IMRs just keep on going. I also still have some AW IMR 18650s in rotation.
.Left to right: 3 Z70s, G2, G2ZL (Z44 style aluminum bezel, not KX4), HDS Clicky (EDC, 219B 4000K, flood reflector), E2E, HDS Clicky (18650, 219B 4000K, flood reflector), 4 G2Zs, HDS High Noon Tactical, and of course, the Arc AAA-P (first EDC flashlight, long retired). The E2E, and all the P60 hosts are sad, and feel empty inside (because they are).
Notice, too, the 9-12yr old 16340s (can't find the order in my emails, so don't know for sure). As of a few months ago, they tested out at 454 and 490mAh, on my VC4S, and hold a charge as well as ever. My normal chemistry AWs have failed like most others, in 5-7 years, but the AW IMRs just keep on going. I also still have some AW IMR 18650s in rotation.
ASheep
Enlightened
Wow I can't believe it's been 10 years since I last logged in here! Loads have changed in my life but my flashlights are basically the same as back then.
I still have my two A2 Aviators safely stashed in a Pelican case, a YG in mint condition (I think I still have the original packaging somewhere) and one with a Lumens Factory bulb and a custom LED ring dropin that I got here foggy memory but I want to say it was made by a guy called Koala? I occasionally use my E2e with a lumens factory bulb, just for some old-timey incan goodness!
One light I really regret selling is my Surefire M6, I still have the M4 but it misses its big brother.
My EDC is still a 1st gen 4Sevens titanium Quark tactical AA from the first Ti run David ever did, with a 1st gen hi-cri XP-G swap, and my nightstand light is still my old Quark AA2 with the limited run Neutral XP-G (back before they had neutral options by default). A Fenix TK20 still lives in my glovebox, it's put in loads of reliable service over the years.
I use a generic red P60 dropin in a solarforce body on my airgun, and a Lumapower D65 with the huge turbohead for chasing animals around my back paddocks at night, that old SST-50 LED still puts out a great beam in that mirror turbohead.
I also still have my two all time favourite lights: a HDS Clicky with the limited run Hi-CRI SSC P4 in blaze orange cerakote, and a Ra Twisty 85TR with the ultra-rare 18650 body (I love that absolutely awesome red light low mode). I very rarely use them, but I don't think I will ever sell them either.
Good to see some of the old familiar names in this thread, it's been a real trip down memory lane.
I still have my two A2 Aviators safely stashed in a Pelican case, a YG in mint condition (I think I still have the original packaging somewhere) and one with a Lumens Factory bulb and a custom LED ring dropin that I got here foggy memory but I want to say it was made by a guy called Koala? I occasionally use my E2e with a lumens factory bulb, just for some old-timey incan goodness!
One light I really regret selling is my Surefire M6, I still have the M4 but it misses its big brother.
My EDC is still a 1st gen 4Sevens titanium Quark tactical AA from the first Ti run David ever did, with a 1st gen hi-cri XP-G swap, and my nightstand light is still my old Quark AA2 with the limited run Neutral XP-G (back before they had neutral options by default). A Fenix TK20 still lives in my glovebox, it's put in loads of reliable service over the years.
I use a generic red P60 dropin in a solarforce body on my airgun, and a Lumapower D65 with the huge turbohead for chasing animals around my back paddocks at night, that old SST-50 LED still puts out a great beam in that mirror turbohead.
I also still have my two all time favourite lights: a HDS Clicky with the limited run Hi-CRI SSC P4 in blaze orange cerakote, and a Ra Twisty 85TR with the ultra-rare 18650 body (I love that absolutely awesome red light low mode). I very rarely use them, but I don't think I will ever sell them either.
Good to see some of the old familiar names in this thread, it's been a real trip down memory lane.
Unicorn
Flashlight Enthusiast
I almost always have a Fenix UC35 on me, or an Acebeam H16 (I totally forgot it came with a headstrap). I have a Streamlight Stinger 2020 in my work bag. I'll carry either the Stinger or the Magcharger LED if I'm walking my dog at night. The Magcharger has less output, but is great for distance so it's also in my car on trips to the beach or woods. Along with a discontinued Fenix that I can not remember the model of. Used 4 rechargeable D cells, I think only a 1000 lumen output, but a tight beam for very long range.
I have a mix of Streamlight TLR-1S, TLR1-HL, and a couple Surefire weapons lights.
I keep a Mini Maglight AA with LED conversion in each car as a backup, and my wife has her dad's old Maglight 4D with an LED conversion I put in. The thing is like 30 years old and still works.
I have a Streamlight Strion LED on the wall by the back door.
I have a few other lights lying around here and there but these are the ones I use the most.
I have a mix of Streamlight TLR-1S, TLR1-HL, and a couple Surefire weapons lights.
I keep a Mini Maglight AA with LED conversion in each car as a backup, and my wife has her dad's old Maglight 4D with an LED conversion I put in. The thing is like 30 years old and still works.
I have a Streamlight Strion LED on the wall by the back door.
I have a few other lights lying around here and there but these are the ones I use the most.
ChrisGarrett
Flashlight Enthusiast
Right now, it's an Olight Baton 4 in olive green and gold trim, but I have about 60 lights on hand, 20 of them at immediate reach.
Chris
Chris
wjv
Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2012
- Messages
- 972
Us old timers have old flashlights. . . .
Eveready 2xC Vulcanite Baby Flashlight with Walleye Lens (1914)
Eveready - Chrome & Black Art Deco 2xD (1952)
EVEREADY CAPTAIN / Union Carbide - Small 2xC 6" Chrome USA (1963)
Eveready Commander w/ red head 2xD (1976)
My first LED light
Eveready 2xC Vulcanite Baby Flashlight with Walleye Lens (1914)
Eveready - Chrome & Black Art Deco 2xD (1952)
EVEREADY CAPTAIN / Union Carbide - Small 2xC 6" Chrome USA (1963)
Eveready Commander w/ red head 2xD (1976)
My first LED light
Kestrel
Flashaholic
Haven't really downsized (I did make an effort to not go too crazy with purchases back in the day), but a valid point in that the most useful lights will be the ones that are used the most often.
I have a wide variety of choices to pick from, but it's these lights that are still getting used all the time:
I have a wide variety of choices to pick from, but it's these lights that are still getting used all the time:
- Boss70: pocket EDC for the past half-dozen years; nothing else even comes close, as far as performance.
- Pelican 1920: vest pocket penlight
- SureFire L1: bedstand light - still using CR123 primaries !
- SureFire U2: shelf light in storage room
- Headlamp: Sofirn D25L
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A few years ago, I "downsized" all the doubles from my 4Sevens polished unobtanium lights. Didn't think it was proper to have two when others had none, especially when so many were generous to share their's with me. Other than those, I'm a collector. Check back in a decade. 
My Better 3/4s and I started downsizing pretty-much every thing else back during COVID. If we hadn't used in a while it was given or thrown away. Our oldest son has thanked us a time or two for relieving some of the burden that is sure to come.
Meanwhile, please check out my signature.
My Better 3/4s and I started downsizing pretty-much every thing else back during COVID. If we hadn't used in a while it was given or thrown away. Our oldest son has thanked us a time or two for relieving some of the burden that is sure to come.
Meanwhile, please check out my signature.
