Phoebus Products

Hey all,

First post here after some significant lurking... great forum with lots of smart people! I like it.

First question. Why all the hate for Phoebus products at CPF? There aren't many posts re: this USA company to begin with and those I've found have a few venomous accusations about knock-offs. Does anyone have insider or objective intel about Phoebus (you know, aside from the as yet unsubstantiated accusations about the knock-offs). Who has a story?

so do you work for them? or own the company?

aml said:

so do you work for them? or own the company?

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:laughing:
When posting this, I just knew someone was going to ask.

No, I don't work for Phoebus, or own the company. I wish I did, but all fantasy aside I ply my trade in Silicon Valley for a software company. I'm curious about them, 1.) because I think the Wilderness Kit is kind of cool, and 2.) at first glance their tac lights look nice.

Nobody, huh? :shrug:

I own a light by them that uses a single AA battery. It is only a 1 watt Luxeon, but is bright enough for use around the house, and is very well made. I have not heard anything about them on this forum however. As far as the criticism about their lights being knockoffs, I find that funny. I have seen a lot of lights that look simliar to others. Some of the lights made overseas are knockoffs of Surefire and other lights, and some of the brand names are a knockoff. They are poplular lights to a lot of folks on this forum however, so I do not undertand that criticism of them.

Mike

I can see why some might think they are doing knockoffs but I think they are just putting their own name on lights made by various manufacturers. Sort of like Sears putting their name on many brands - they don't make them but just have the manufacturers do a run for them and put their name on it.
Personally didn't know of any hate for Phoebus - I don't even recall ever hearing of them but did just look at their web site. Lots of familiar lights by various manufacturers all with the Phoebus name on them - and I'm fairly certain they didn't copy some of these fairly complex designs just to put their name on it - they very likely just had the original maker do a run for them.

matrixshaman said:

Lots of familiar lights by various manufacturers all with the Phoebus name on them - and I'm fairly certain they didn't copy some of these fairly complex designs just to put their name on it - they very likely just had the original maker do a run for them.

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Now that's some good information. Can anyone confirm that Phoebus' designs are "branded?" I just wonder why anyone would do that, especially a company who has manufacturing capability.

I've definitely seen some of their lights under other names - SterOps makes that 'Wilderness Kit' light and in the past I have seen them at Dealextreme and TADGear. A number of other lights looked very familiar although I can't remember all the original companies I had seen making them. In reality I'm not positive who makes what such as SterOps. It might be a branded light that someone else makes in China and SterOps just got them out first and in the most places. But I'm sure I've seen a number of Phoebus lights under other names. The Microfire does not seem to be branded with their name but it is available through other dealers I know and I think Microfire is a manufacturer in China. 4sevens sells the same light they have on the Phoebus site but sells it for well over a $100 less and 4sevens is one of our very respected dealers here with great service. So I see Phoebus as primarily a tactical supply store with lights from various sources and they get some manufacturers to brand them with their name. Just guessing on all that but that is how it appears.