Lawman VII XIV
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2020
- Messages
- 71
I got my first badge in 1977. Back then we were given an allowance to buy flashlights and everybody opted for Kel-Lites. These were heavy 3-5 cell aluminum Incan flashlights very primitive by today's standards. Shortly before I retired, we got SL-20 Streamlights, lightweight, bright but not LEDs or Li-ion.
Most of these small "tactical" lights are nice, but thinking back to how I worked, they'd be a narrow use case for me. Most of my career was street patrol, ultimately as a Sgt. There are so many times I needed my hands free but light at the same time. So the light was tucked under the non-dominant arm. That wouldn't work well with the little tactical lights. But they would / do work very well with a weapon drawn and held in the high ready position. This could be awkward with an SL-20 or the monster. Were it now, then, I would have carried two lights one larger (SL20 like) and a small LED like a Fenix etc.
Most of these small "tactical" lights are nice, but thinking back to how I worked, they'd be a narrow use case for me. Most of my career was street patrol, ultimately as a Sgt. There are so many times I needed my hands free but light at the same time. So the light was tucked under the non-dominant arm. That wouldn't work well with the little tactical lights. But they would / do work very well with a weapon drawn and held in the high ready position. This could be awkward with an SL-20 or the monster. Were it now, then, I would have carried two lights one larger (SL20 like) and a small LED like a Fenix etc.
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