Why is the Surefire L4 named that and not something like the E4L

Just curious since I just bought one, why is the SF L4 named that, and not something like the E4L?

It has the same size body as the E series, has the same clickie tailcap as the E-Series, and small head versus the 2 stage twisty cap on the L1 and L2?

Probably because it was part of their original LED series - L1, L2, L4, L5, L6 and L7.

the E1L and E2L were replacements for the E2O outdoorsman model, which was the MN02 lamp using member of the Executive line composed of the E1, E2, E1e, E2e, which is a different lineage as the L-x Lumamax series that came before the E1L and E2L. But the L4, L5, and L6 use the bodies of the E, C, M lines, respectively. I think the L7 is a dedicated rechargable light with body of the 8AX light.

And that's why we love this site, the collective knowledge.

The inconsistencies with the "L-Series" and their associated "KL" bezels has been annoying to me since before they were created.

L1 has no KL bezel
L2 has no KL bezel
L3 - no such model
L4 has the KL4
L5 has the KL5
L6 has the KL6
L7 has the KL7
L8 (KL8) and L9 (KL9) were never released.

KL1 was for the E1e and E2e, later as part of the E1L and E2L [I believe]
KL2 was for the M3 (low output version of the KL6)
KL3 was for the C2/6P (low output version of the KL5)
KL4 was for the E2e as part of the L4 (high output version of the KL1)
KL5 was for the C2/6P (part of the L5) (High output version of the KL3)
KL6 was for the M3 as part of the L6 (high output version of the KL2)
KL7 was for the 8AX as part of the L7
KL8 & KL9 were never released.

KL1 was a replacement bezel so it was understandable that it doesn't match.

Technically the KL4 was also a replacement bezel but it was also released 'straight away' as part of the L4.
(same applies to the KL5 and KL6 and KL7)

To my mind the L4 would have better been called the E2L (this was the obvious choice before the E2L was released as the E2e+KL1 I believe)
Another alternative would have been EL2...

The L5 would have been C2L or CL2
The L6 would have M3L or ML3
The L7 would have been 8AXL or 8LAX or perhaps just 8L...

Simple really? :green:

Size15's said:

Simple really? :green:

Click to expand...

duh.

I thought it was because it was part of the Lumamax series/line?

following the E series naming convention with E4L would mean it takes 4 CR123s....

Beamhead said:

I thought it was because it was part of the Lumamax series/line?

Click to expand...

Indeed - the 'issue' is over SureFire's break with consistency in their nomenclature after they 'reset it' for the Millennium.
So L4 would indicate four-SF123A batteries rather than the fourth model in the "Lumamax" Series or L-Series.
Note that L4 does not mean the fourth model in the L-Series either.

Alastair,
You are the man, you save me so much time. Thank you my friend.


Stuart

No worries!
It's just like throwing together my quick guide to BeamFilters...
Al

Size15's said:

The inconsistencies with the "L-Series" and their associated "KL" bezels has been annoying to me since before they were created.

Click to expand...

Wow. I hadn't figured out that the relationships were this complicated. Alphabet soup.
Is the KTx history comparable to the KLx?

Is there a can-o-worms emoticon?