Surefire issue, What would you do?

I just bought a 6P LED Defender online to give as a gift and when it arrived I noticed a few issues. First, the beam of the P60L isn't very good. It has a dark ring around the hotspot (not at all like the many other P60Ls I have had).

Also, the body has some machining/anodizing issues. There are faint marks around the knurling where it looks like they knurled too deep so when they lathed the ends it still left a trace of knurling past where the knurling is supposed to end. It kind of looks like little flames around the knurling. The anodizing is also not normal, instead of being glossy black with the lathe marks clearly visible, it is matte and those lathe marks aren't visible. If you look REALLY close, it doesn't look perfectly even. I guess it almost looks like a black HAIII anodizing.

I contacted Surefire and naturally they said they would take care of everything. I am just trying to decide if I am being too picky. Is it really worth shipping it to them for repair? What would you do?

a picture is worth a thousand words.

Send it back. You are paying for quality when you bought your Surefire. I look at it as if I purchased a car where it would not be acceptable if the car had flaws.

If intended as a user then I would keep it but if you are making a show piece or it was to be part of a lightly used collection then I'd just maybe consider sending it back. If the knurling error was evenly done I would keep it.

Sounds like it was finished twice to give it that matt look and Surefire knurling mistakes can fetch a higher resale price from collectors. You may want to hang onto that light.

Pictures??

Sorry, I will try to get pictures. Not sure how well I can get this in a picture, but I will try my best.

Alright, here we go. Its the best I could do. I tried with and without the flash.

Here it is without a flash which shows how matte it is and you can see the machining marks past the knurling.


Here is another showing how matte it is, you can't see how the level of matteness (I don't think thats a word) isn't consistent.


And here it is with the flash, which shows the color a bit better.

I've had 6P's with similar matte like finishing. To me I found it an advantage due to the increased grip.

The knurling on the body looks nice. How grippy is it?
On a scale of 1-10, one being slippery wet soap, 10 being so grippy that it cuts into your hand.

I wouldn't worry about it unless you're trying to find something nice to put on a shelf.

I would call it a keeper personally.

There is nothing wrong with that light. You have got to be f'n kidding me.

foxtrot29 said:

There is nothing wrong with that light. You have got to be f'n kidding me.

Click to expand...

I agree, even an extruded aluminum wouldn't bear exact consistency in texture from front to end, let alone machining marks.

Your lights fine, there have been ones alot worse, plus engraving errors...that got sold with alot of money in cpfm

Right there with you Foxtrot

Hey Hey, lets all play nice... I think that if I paid that much money for a surefire, I would be scouring it with a fine tooth comb too!

I see what you mean, but you'll find that with use lots of other marks will show up uninvited...

I have a 9p that's been a backpack queen carried as a spare and hardly used, it sure doesn't hold a perfect finish!

Again, remember I said this was for a gift. I have never gotten a SF that wasn't absolutely perfect (and I have several). I just didn't want the recipient to think SF was anything but awesome. Mine all get beat up, so for me I wouldn't care.

I think I am going to agree with all of you and not worry about it.

I am going to swap out the drop-in with one of mine that has a good beam and just keep this one as a spare.

DimeRazorback said:

I've had 6P's with similar matte like finishing. To me I found it an advantage due to the increased grip.

The knurling on the body looks nice. How grippy is it?
On a scale of 1-10, one being slippery wet soap, 10 being so grippy that it cuts into your hand.

Click to expand...

9.5

I'm guessing that is why the knurling marks extend past the knurling. I think they got it deeper than usual and then when they lathed the ends it didn't take off all the knurling.

The knurling is what makes the 6P so incredible.

Based on the pics, I'd keep it.

revance said:

Again, remember I said this was for a gift. I have never gotten a SF that wasn't absolutely perfect (and I have several). I just didn't want the recipient to think SF was anything but awesome. Mine all get beat up, so for me I wouldn't care.

I think I am going to agree with all of you and not worry about it.

I am going to swap out the drop-in with one of mine that has a good beam and just keep this one as a spare.

Click to expand...

If you really want them to think SF is awesome, throw that subpar module out and put a Malkoff M61WL in there.

Now I have seen everything.
I'd hate to work in a customer service department and handle "issues" like this.