There was a time where a thread like this may not make it through the day without closure due to the passion(s) of the persons posting. But that was a different time here. These days things tend to remain calm and orderly without name calling or flaming.
Once upon a time the 3D flashlight ruled the world of cop lights. Companies like Franco and Ray-o-Lite built rubberized body lights with nickel plated reflectors that put out some 8-12 birthday candle brightness. The electric candle sort of. By the end of World War II there were ginormous numbers that came with shoulder straps. Folks carried extra batteries on a belt like a gun belt in the old west for search and rescue duty. But the 3D light was still the most practical. In the 1950's the Eveready Captain and Rayovac Sportsman were really really popular with police and first responders. That remained until Kel-Lite, LA Screw, and Maglite changed the flashlight world using what had started out with sprinkler pipe, mirrored plastic reflectors and impact resistant plastic lenses.
Along came SureFire. Well, back up a little to the rechargeable Streamlights, LA Screws and Maglites. The appox 4D size Streamlight SL20 was the undisputed king of cop lights. SureFire changed the game by shrinking lights with the brightness of a much larger light. So for a time cops were outfitted with an SL20 in the car and a 6P on their belt. The mini me SL20 was the Stinger. That one became a great option to the 6P. Capable of being worn when running, it was even replacing the SL20 with some who carried a Strion on their belt. All that probably had more to do with local purchasing agents scoring better deals on Streamlight products than SureFire who were focusing on military contracts.
The LED eventually changed the game. It took a while. Nearly 15 years from around 2000 to around 2015 when LED lights had pretty much replaced the light bulb as the emitter for cop lights.
Now between 2015 and 2018 the magical 1000 lumen threshold was crossed. Once 18650 sized fuel cells had become the norm, really bright lights could be had a great prices. The SL20 abdicated the throne and so did Maglite. Chinese made lights were king. Is the Chinese light really king?
But which one? That's where this thread comes in. Let's hear your thoughts. Please remember to keep it friendly here. There's no money or championship belt on the line.
I'll start with two I do not own. The Malkoff Hound Dog and Elzetta Charlie AVS. The hound dog due to dual fuel ability and the Charlie for it's Sherman tank durability. My personal favorite is the initial light designed and built by PK after he left SureFire the FL2 LE. The 6P 2.0 with a great low setting. Second would be a toss up between the Elzetta Bones and Bravo AVS/hi/lo.
My favorite classic cop light is the early LED edition of the Streamlight Stinger with the early edition LED TL2 as a backup.
Favorite incan in my "worlds best" category is a stock 6P by SureFire. To me that one is the 1911 of flashlights and could still be considered worlds best all things considered.
Just my opinions. What's yours?
Once upon a time the 3D flashlight ruled the world of cop lights. Companies like Franco and Ray-o-Lite built rubberized body lights with nickel plated reflectors that put out some 8-12 birthday candle brightness. The electric candle sort of. By the end of World War II there were ginormous numbers that came with shoulder straps. Folks carried extra batteries on a belt like a gun belt in the old west for search and rescue duty. But the 3D light was still the most practical. In the 1950's the Eveready Captain and Rayovac Sportsman were really really popular with police and first responders. That remained until Kel-Lite, LA Screw, and Maglite changed the flashlight world using what had started out with sprinkler pipe, mirrored plastic reflectors and impact resistant plastic lenses.
Along came SureFire. Well, back up a little to the rechargeable Streamlights, LA Screws and Maglites. The appox 4D size Streamlight SL20 was the undisputed king of cop lights. SureFire changed the game by shrinking lights with the brightness of a much larger light. So for a time cops were outfitted with an SL20 in the car and a 6P on their belt. The mini me SL20 was the Stinger. That one became a great option to the 6P. Capable of being worn when running, it was even replacing the SL20 with some who carried a Strion on their belt. All that probably had more to do with local purchasing agents scoring better deals on Streamlight products than SureFire who were focusing on military contracts.
The LED eventually changed the game. It took a while. Nearly 15 years from around 2000 to around 2015 when LED lights had pretty much replaced the light bulb as the emitter for cop lights.
Now between 2015 and 2018 the magical 1000 lumen threshold was crossed. Once 18650 sized fuel cells had become the norm, really bright lights could be had a great prices. The SL20 abdicated the throne and so did Maglite. Chinese made lights were king. Is the Chinese light really king?
But which one? That's where this thread comes in. Let's hear your thoughts. Please remember to keep it friendly here. There's no money or championship belt on the line.
I'll start with two I do not own. The Malkoff Hound Dog and Elzetta Charlie AVS. The hound dog due to dual fuel ability and the Charlie for it's Sherman tank durability. My personal favorite is the initial light designed and built by PK after he left SureFire the FL2 LE. The 6P 2.0 with a great low setting. Second would be a toss up between the Elzetta Bones and Bravo AVS/hi/lo.
My favorite classic cop light is the early LED edition of the Streamlight Stinger with the early edition LED TL2 as a backup.
Favorite incan in my "worlds best" category is a stock 6P by SureFire. To me that one is the 1911 of flashlights and could still be considered worlds best all things considered.
Just my opinions. What's yours?
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