Some thoughts regarding Surefire

[Reaper]

In all the years that I have been using lights for work or otherwise, my number of Surefires only number ---- 2. A Surefire 6R (now a 6P) and most recently a L1 that was sent to Milkyspit for modding. My son has the L1 but the 6P is mine and still mine. Even though it sports a Malkoff and a McClicky at this time, it is still a Surefire which means it'll last longer than I will. 20 years and the only problems I've had is a cracked lens plus a broken tailcap in the 6P.

I have other lights but the 6P is what you will always find on me no matter the length or weight. I have just bought another 6P and though it's not the round body of my original, it's still a Surefire and will also sport a Malkoff and McClicky.

Like a 1911, a Surefire works no matter what and that's what counts for me.

 

[Colorblinded]

I've had a Surefire E series for years. In fact had it long before I started getting more interesting in having better flashlights to use. To be honest as nice as it is, I don't see the value in it or many of the other Surefires I've tried.

I treat my flashlights as tools and as such don't care for high priced boutique brands. I also don't get too thrilled about paying more for "made in USA" when I can get a more versatile and more suitable product for my needs even if it isn't from the USA. Sometimes you pay more and you get more, but not always, and at times I find Surefire falls in the "not always" category.

Of course that's not to say they don't make great products that aren't very reliable and don't perform well. I just don't find them to be a particularly good value as the tools I treat my lights to be.

 

[leon2245]

Well, I have been going against the stream and not buying any LED's for myself - only incans - and they have all been SureFires. 2 E2E's, E2O, M3, G2, Z2, 9AN.....all incans. All old style. I do not like the new MELT, A2Z, etc, and in general the direction SureFire is heading. The interchangeable P60 design was a big plus for them IMHO. Their new designs are no longer legos in the bulb/led department which IMHO, is a big mistake.

Me, I am saving up for an M6, incan, and it will stay incan.

I regret having bought so many LED s.f.'s myself. Wish I'd have gone with more incans. bought based on paper specs, & have since found i prefer incans better in practical use. & now hate seeing led's get passed up like obsolete computer technology.

re: different anodization colors, it depends. some look better than others. L5 looks great, like it was intentionally two-tone corresponding to it's different shapes. L1, brown + grey over a more consistent shape, never liked the look of that one. though once they start wearing off, it hardly matters.

 

[Xacto]

Have you handled a 6P and then an E2E? Or a 6P and a C2? [...]
-Trevor

Unfortunately no, because Fenix somehow took over the shelve space in the shops in my region. Except for one 6P and 9P and of course my first 6PLED (the one bought in the States), all of my Surefires 6Ps have been bought through an online shop.

The Executive series is smaller, sleeker and more compact, making it easier to slip into a briefcase or pocket - something the slightly larger 6P doesn't accomplish well.
-Trevor

Okay, that is a point I forgot to add in my post - I mainly thought about flashlights the size of the 6P series since I personally consider their effectiveness as an impact weapon one of the main reasons why I carry one (living in germany there aren't many options when it comes to effective self defense tools) For anything small, I on the other hand would too go another route - like my iTP Eluma SA-1 etc.

P60L had a Seoul but is discontinued
[...]

What is currently in their 6P LEDs?
TIA

[....]20 years and the only problems I've had is a cracked lens plus a broken tailcap in the 6P.
[....]

What typ of tailcap and how did it break?

Thanks in advance

Thorsten

 

[Sgt. LED]

KX4 sealed LED heads are to be used from now on in anything that used to come with the P60L.

 

[chef4850]

For the last several months I have been EDCing a L1 with TIR and F04 diffuser. Great combination for overall general tasks. Throw is pretty much non existent but if I need throw off comes the F04 and it's back to the TIR for throw.

Although the ano is the oddest I have seen (but I like it). Light OD bezel, red/grey body, black tail cap.

Chef

 

[chef4850]

Oh YA! I did want someone to confirm something for me if you can.

I was cleanning my E2DL and noticed that the serial number starts with "B" and I have read other posts that most SF SN's start with an "A". I do not have a doubt that it the real deal but would ask that is someone has the E2DL could confirm this for me.

Chef

 

[Xacto]

KX4 sealed LED heads are to be used from now on in anything that used to come with the P60L.

Thanks for the information (I am still in the learning phase when it comes to Surefire and flashlights in general). So this means that the LEGO aspect, the option of disassembling a Surefire and adding other components, is slightly limited once you have the KX4 head since any emitter change would required an additional bezel/head assembly. :shakehead Although I am pretty new in this hobby, I somehow do not like that thought/fact.


Cheers
Thorsten

 

[NightKids]

Actually, that is the reason why I started my small Surefire 6P Collection. Even if the unthinkable happens and they stop producing the 6P family, I still have a chance of keeping my lights working for the coming decades.

My other EDC light, a iTP SA-1 Eluma, can not be disassembled, meaning that a cracked lense means the end (for a 50% cheaper) flashlight. With a 6P, I can get an replacement head for 25€.




Correct me if I am wrong, but is the Surefire not made in the USA vs. the Fenix being made in China? Judging from my experience with the Converse "Chucks" Chuck Taylor Allstars, the +/- 20 year old ones, "Made in USA" stayed much better in shape then the +/- 4 years old ones "Made in China" (I think the ones destined for the US market are made in Vietnam).

So I prefere to pay a little bit more and support the US economy while getting a better product.... but of course this is purely a theoretical idea of mine.




Cheers
Thorsten

I really don't have a preference when it comes to supporting the US or China economy since i'm from AUS. Fenix has provided a quality product at an excellent price.

 

[Sgt. LED]

I think the B serials are usually for the newer updated version. May not always be the case but it usually is.

Xacto
If you get a light with one of those heads and you want to experiment the just get the matching incandescent head and you can be back into the drop-in game. Somebody on the marketplace would but it I am sure. OR just skip the L version of the light you want and start with the cheaper Incan version.

OR be an addict and buy everything!

 

[chef4850]

Thanks Sgt. LED I appriciate you comforming that for me. I was pretty sure that it was a "real" Surefire light but it felt good to hear!

Chef

 

[Mikey V]

KX4 sealed LED heads are to be used from now on in anything that used to come with the P60L.

So basically, if you want a new SF host for say, a Malkoff drop-in, you must buy the incan version of the 6P/9P, Z2 or C2/C3. And if you have the newest version of the C2L or Z2L or 6P LED, you lose the option of having both P60L LED module and P60/P61 incan module with swap-ability for one in your spares carrier. One must now swap the entire head. Retrograde loss of flexibility, IMHO. The SF site still lists the discontinued P60L module on the option list for the newer Z2L, however, the Z2L is not listed, only the basic incan versions of the P/Z/C series. The new photo for the basic Z2L has what looks like the regular old head, but the bezel ring is the new multi-tooth one that looks like a gear. Lumens are 120, not the old 80 of the P60L version. I think sales of incan P, Z and C series will suddenly go up.

 

[Size15's]

You can get the current version and if you want to get an aftermarket drop-in you could get either a SureFire or aftermarket bezel.

 

[chef4850]

From the way I am understanding it. A Malkoff M61 will NOT fit into a c2 led version? Man I really hope this is not the case! I just purchased a M61 and it has been shipped. I guess if it doesn't fit I will be off to purchase a ican version of the C2.

Anyone let me know if it will work in the LED version of the C2.

Chef

 

[Size15's]

Current (new/latest) version of the 6PL, G2L, Z2L etc feature the KX4 LED bezel.

 

[KeyGrip]

1). the ano. - I have read all the posts with the "why can't they get the ano the same color?".

The mismatch is not intentional. Individual parts (heads, bodies, tailcaps, etc) are anodized in large batches. Even within a batch it is not guaranteed that every part will look the same. Since the color does not affect the performance at all, SureFire generally doesn't care.

 

[TMedina]

From the way I am understanding it. A Malkoff M61 will NOT fit into a c2 led version? Man I really hope this is not the case! I just purchased a M61 and it has been shipped. I guess if it doesn't fit I will be off to purchase a ican version of the C2.

Anyone let me know if it will work in the LED version of the C2.

Chef

What Size15 said - depending on what version of the C2L you have, it may (or may not) work.

The older C2L models came with a P60 style drop-in that could be pulled out and swapped for the Malkoff (great choice, by the way).

The newer C2Ls have a self-contained KX4 bezel that can't be upgraded - at least, it isn't intended to be upgraded. :whistle:

-Trevor

 

[NightKids]

Yeap I bought the incan C2 and the malkoff M61 dropped in perfectly

 

[Xacto]

[...]
OR be an addict and buy everything!

You got me! :D

[....]One must now swap the entire head. Retrograde loss of flexibility, IMHO. The SF site still lists the discontinued P60L module [...] I think sales of incan P, Z and C series will suddenly go up.

The loss of flexibility is something I do see (and probably goind to miss in the future) too. But I think not only sales of the incan versions will go up, but for P60L modules too, just to have spares (for those that do care about using original parts).

Current (new/latest) version of the 6PL, G2L, Z2L etc feature the KX4 LED bezel.

And yet another thing to put on the shopping list.

Cheers
Thorsten

 

[Steve-at-Springboard]

Allow me to add some old information about the color anodizing that might relate to the hard-anodizing tints. SureFire used to make the 6P and the 6Z (now called the Z2) in a 'military' OD (olive drab) color and the 6P in a medium blue and violet, among other colors. Typically the tailcap, body and bezel of the OD models would all have very different colors of OD where the other colors were very well matched. I asked my SureFire rep about it and he said that the color dye solution for the OD only had about a 4-hour useful life and the color changed as the batch was used up. According to him, SureFire had to make hundreds, maybe even thousands of each part and then match each set of parts by hand as best they could. As they got to the bottom of each pile of parts, it was harder to get a complete match. This was the reason I was given for them not being available anymore. Seems it was a royal PITA for them.

Perhaps something like this is happening with the hard-ano process. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge??