So I finally received the Club Light in my hot little hands and immediately set about installing a 5W HD into it. Most of the body of this light is actually fabricated from scratch out of aluminum bar stock, then mated with the cut-down switch section from a Mag 2C tube and a beautifully modified Mag 2C head. Here it is with a couple of Zebra Space Needle IIs I just built:
To actually experience it in person, to handle it, to feel the weighty heft when loaded with six alkaline AAs, you quickly realize this thing is simply in another class, a work of art, combining fluid form with optimal function. The sculpted cutout around the head allows the little finger and bottom edge of the palm to slip in for a perfect fit, creating a feeling of permanent retention in the hand when - er - swinging it. The glassbead finish job sparkles like silver metallic paint. And the original pewter Maglite finish on the switch barrel looks positively mirror-black in contrast.
There was another thread in which I originally asked people to name this light, and although there were a considerable number of Very Good suggestions, the one that ultimately grabbed me by the collar was when Tree commented HERE ,"Careful, you may be charged with AAsault with AA Batteries", and I was instantly inspired to shorten it to simply, "Assault and Batteries". Something like Photon Baton would probably be the real name if more of these are produced for sale, but for now the humorous and rather clever twist of "Assault and Batteries" gets my vote. A&B for short. Feels like I'm at work...
The heatsink specifically machined for this light features a raised post for optimal focusing, and in the very center of the pedestal is a slightly hollowed depression into which a Luxeon's metal slug base literally snaps into place for dead-on centering:
And look how thick the sink is. Lots of aluminum and lots of rounded surface area to snuggle up intimately against the inside circumference of the light itself for maximum thermal transfer.
The endcap is a study in elegant design, machining complexity, and exquisite workmanship:
And as you screw it into the body, it closes down to a nearly invisible seam:
We thought long and hard about the myriad of different shapes and forms the endcap's exterior could take, but finally settled on a simple radius to retain the continuity of the sleek baton's lines:
I didn't want it catching on anything when drawing it from the metal ring holder on my duty belt anyway. Plus the simple rounded shape should hold up better if I miss and the cap tip strikes something hard.
And finally, what story would be complete without the obligatory beamshot, shown here in LLS format flanked by the two Zebras:
A quick blast into the LM631 light meter produced a reading of 5,850 lux with slightly used alkaline AAs.
A dual-offense weapon, initially stunning the suspect visually, and then pummeling him into submission if necessary, Assault and Batteries will certainly have a chance to live up to its name in the coming weeks...
To actually experience it in person, to handle it, to feel the weighty heft when loaded with six alkaline AAs, you quickly realize this thing is simply in another class, a work of art, combining fluid form with optimal function. The sculpted cutout around the head allows the little finger and bottom edge of the palm to slip in for a perfect fit, creating a feeling of permanent retention in the hand when - er - swinging it. The glassbead finish job sparkles like silver metallic paint. And the original pewter Maglite finish on the switch barrel looks positively mirror-black in contrast.
There was another thread in which I originally asked people to name this light, and although there were a considerable number of Very Good suggestions, the one that ultimately grabbed me by the collar was when Tree commented HERE ,"Careful, you may be charged with AAsault with AA Batteries", and I was instantly inspired to shorten it to simply, "Assault and Batteries". Something like Photon Baton would probably be the real name if more of these are produced for sale, but for now the humorous and rather clever twist of "Assault and Batteries" gets my vote. A&B for short. Feels like I'm at work...
The heatsink specifically machined for this light features a raised post for optimal focusing, and in the very center of the pedestal is a slightly hollowed depression into which a Luxeon's metal slug base literally snaps into place for dead-on centering:
And look how thick the sink is. Lots of aluminum and lots of rounded surface area to snuggle up intimately against the inside circumference of the light itself for maximum thermal transfer.
The endcap is a study in elegant design, machining complexity, and exquisite workmanship:
And as you screw it into the body, it closes down to a nearly invisible seam:
We thought long and hard about the myriad of different shapes and forms the endcap's exterior could take, but finally settled on a simple radius to retain the continuity of the sleek baton's lines:
I didn't want it catching on anything when drawing it from the metal ring holder on my duty belt anyway. Plus the simple rounded shape should hold up better if I miss and the cap tip strikes something hard.
And finally, what story would be complete without the obligatory beamshot, shown here in LLS format flanked by the two Zebras:
A quick blast into the LM631 light meter produced a reading of 5,850 lux with slightly used alkaline AAs.
A dual-offense weapon, initially stunning the suspect visually, and then pummeling him into submission if necessary, Assault and Batteries will certainly have a chance to live up to its name in the coming weeks...
