Wolf Eyes Raider or equivalent in natural?

[jbviau]

I'm looking to get a new flashlight, and I know someone here will be able to steer me in the right direction. Here are my requirements:

1. 3 X 123A body
2. option of using some type of protected li-ion rechargeable batteries also
3. metal, not plastic (*not* the SF G3)
4. can handle both the LF EO-9 bulb and also a D26-size LED drop-in
...and last but not least...
5. natural finish (not black)

If it weren't for #5, I'd buy a Wolf Eyes Raider no questions asked, especially since it's affordable and I've heard so many good reviews of it on this site and elsewhere. However, I don't like the black finish. I don't care about light reflecting off of the bezel, which black minimizes. I've just always preferred the natural finish, i.e. gun-metal gray, stainless, etc.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

p.s. Oh, and under $100, please, if at all humanly possible!

 

[Norm]

Buy a Raider strip the anodizing and polish it. :shrug:
Norm

 

[jbviau]

That sounds like a bit of a project. Not sure I have the tools I'd need to do it! But thanks for the suggestion.

So there's nothing I could buy without modifying that fits the bill?

 

[mdocod]

get a leefbody 2x18500 with C head and tail, a leef tailcap, and try to pick up a SF C2 or C3 bezel from BST...

still going to be pricey.

 

[fasuto]

Not sure, but I belive that HA can be removed with NaOH (sodium hidroxide, dont know the common name in english, but is easy to find).

I'm also thinking in buying a WE to be my first incan, but I prefer the sniper, not decided yet what tailcap prefer :thinking:

I remember now a led light thant can use D-26, may be huntlight or "deerlight", in natural, but no 3x123A

 

[jbviau]

Hmm, yeah the Leef solution would be too expensive, and I'd worry about the tailcaps not matching the body in natural since the tailcaps seem to have a lighter finish on Lighthound at least.

Good call on the Huntlight, which seems cool, but you're right that it's not 3 X 123A.

I'll keep looking!

 

[BoomerSooner]

Look at a 9P from Surefire. It's not natural but, it's not really black either. It almost looks dark brown, at least to me. It meets your other criteria and is one heck of light! The C3 is offered in natural but it's not a $70.00 light.

I have 9P that I bought a 1 cell extender for and run two 17670's. With the P91 lamp assembly it's a bad boy! And of course you have your LF lamp options.

 

[jbviau]

Maybe I'd pick up a 9P if it were on sale. For now it looks like the Raider is my best bet, and the price is certainly right. I did call Mike at PTS, and he confirmed that the Raider can not be ordered in natural. Oh well.

 

[Yapo]

maybe you could spraypaint it?

 

[Monocrom]

That sounds like a bit of a project. Not sure I have the tools I'd need to do it! But thanks for the suggestion.

Fair enough.

Pay someone to do it for you. The finish is a minor issue at best. I can't stand the puke-green finish on my L4. But the light is as close to perfect for my needs as I've found. So, I still EDC it.

 

[jbviau]

Sure, the finish is just cosmetic. I agree. Although I've noticed a lot of people are excited about all the Fenix lights that are now available in natural. I'd be curious to see how many people here own 2 P2D-CE's, for example (one black and one natural)...

Anyway, about the Raider, I guess black beats "puke green" any day. Thanks! You've made me feel better

 

[Monocrom]

Anyway, about the Raider, I guess black beats "puke green" any day. Thanks! You've made me feel better

W00t! I've still got it! Oh yeah. :twothumbs