Right now there are PK Warrior lights (a I and a II) being passed around by some members over at the "Group Buy/Pass around sub forum. In general comments are favorable.
I was contemplating the 2 cell version (the II) and after buying one was very pleased with it as a last ditch effort protective device that doubles as a pretty cool flash light. But being it's not a toy by any stretch I figure it'll get EDC'd about as often as a sword....
After checking out a few PowerTac products I bought a Warrior 850 (called the Gen II, but the light has G2 on the body). It was on clearance for $75. They have a Gen III that was close in every way to the PK output wise, but I was after a more...general use flashlight with a good output and 850 lumens is plenty.
The Gen III has their new round tail cap where you can feel the side switch. The PK and the 850 have a lanyard hole 180° away from the switch.
^^ top is the 850, bottom the PK.
Aside from the obvious differences the PK has a flat at 120° centers. The 850 has a pair at 180° opposed and a 3rd at 90° below them.
PK feels more confident in that regard.
The spacing of the Gen 2 is more to my liking as well for everyday use. The PK is brighter in each mode, has a burely design that can be used as a weapon, or a weapon light. But there were only 250 made.
There is no stated production limit to the 850. Mine is #434 so there apparently aint that many of that either. I'm less likely to be bothered if blemishes occur on the 850.
Both are HA III coated according to PowerTac.
PK Warrior is 15/288/618 and 1000 lumens.
The 850 is 7/83/404 and 850 lumens.
Both strobe on high.
Now for my use setting 2 is more to my liking on the 850. But my PK stays on setting 2 as well.
Speaking of staying on settings...both lights use a reverse clicky side switch to change settings after the light is turned on via a tail standable tail switch. Both use the switch for instant strobe with the light off. It is forward momentary for that.
When the circuit is interupted via battery removal etc the 850 returns to low. The PK remembers where it was. Nice!!!
^^ tail cap on the PK vs the 850
^^ the PK vs 850 crenallations.
You DO NOT want to drop either bezel down on a bare foot. But I believe the PK would chop off a toe.
Both lights felt about the same weight wise but the PK is better forward balanced.
Both have a removable pocket clip. It is a half circle type locked in place by a ring, yet stays put just fine without it. I removed it on both. But replacing the locking ring on the 850 results in a smooth transition, where the PK locking ring adds another raised area at the tail end I found uncomfortable when using the fist full of light technique...so it stayed off.
Both have glass lenses, but the PK head has the 'hot' caution where the 850 does not. Curious.
The 850 comes in a typical PowerTac plastic case with foam lining, places to store stuff, like the neck lanyard, the extra o-ring and tail cap cover and the supplied holster....oh and a slot for a spare battery magazine.
Speaking of holster...
^^ bezel down open top for quick retrieve
The plastic holster is a molded unit with a clip that'll easily slide over a 3" belt with a hook on the end to keep it from coming off accidently.
Both lights were able to essily slide in. But the PK requires a bit more 'push'. Both slide out lickety split. I'm not a holster guy but this one may change that.
^^ PowerTac likes supplying cases.
The PK is your typical PK Lab Designs packaing where you get a helluva a light in a no frills box with a serial number.
Both use 2 primary 123's or an 18650. The 850 is bored and sleeveless. The PK has a removable sleeve. Battery magazine fits ever so slightly better in the sleeved PK.
Both can have the bezel removed without the lens popping out. The head on the 850 is deeper. But both use the same or very similar reflector. It's raining hard out so no test pics of the 850 tonight.
I have used the PK enough to know it's a thrower with a boat load of spill with an impressive output from setting and above.
The 850 disassembles further than the PK in that both segments of the head can separate where only the top half of the PK is removable from the body.
^^ makes me think I can use other front or rear PowerTac segments for a differing look....
The PK provides access to the emitter or reflector/lens.
Now my thought was to swap out stuff from the 850 to the PK or opposite. But that was not to be. Aside from the pocket clip and emitter, nothing else Legos. My brain says PK tweaked the emitter so that may no Lego along with the reflector, but at a glance they look like they will.
I look forward to using the Warrior 850 as it has an appeal of a ProTac HL with memory, feels in hand like an MD2 with a PK FL 2 head, is weighty like a 6P but is a thrower like a big head light....and one of my favorite characteristics after I was done tweaking it... is it's completely round.
Oh, and the round tail cap I put on it also rembers the setting it was left on if circuit is interupted.
Btw, the Warrior II is now stored in the 850 case where it will remain until needed.
I was contemplating the 2 cell version (the II) and after buying one was very pleased with it as a last ditch effort protective device that doubles as a pretty cool flash light. But being it's not a toy by any stretch I figure it'll get EDC'd about as often as a sword....
After checking out a few PowerTac products I bought a Warrior 850 (called the Gen II, but the light has G2 on the body). It was on clearance for $75. They have a Gen III that was close in every way to the PK output wise, but I was after a more...general use flashlight with a good output and 850 lumens is plenty.
The Gen III has their new round tail cap where you can feel the side switch. The PK and the 850 have a lanyard hole 180° away from the switch.
^^ top is the 850, bottom the PK.
Aside from the obvious differences the PK has a flat at 120° centers. The 850 has a pair at 180° opposed and a 3rd at 90° below them.
PK feels more confident in that regard.
The spacing of the Gen 2 is more to my liking as well for everyday use. The PK is brighter in each mode, has a burely design that can be used as a weapon, or a weapon light. But there were only 250 made.
There is no stated production limit to the 850. Mine is #434 so there apparently aint that many of that either. I'm less likely to be bothered if blemishes occur on the 850.
Both are HA III coated according to PowerTac.
PK Warrior is 15/288/618 and 1000 lumens.
The 850 is 7/83/404 and 850 lumens.
Both strobe on high.
Now for my use setting 2 is more to my liking on the 850. But my PK stays on setting 2 as well.
Speaking of staying on settings...both lights use a reverse clicky side switch to change settings after the light is turned on via a tail standable tail switch. Both use the switch for instant strobe with the light off. It is forward momentary for that.
When the circuit is interupted via battery removal etc the 850 returns to low. The PK remembers where it was. Nice!!!
^^ tail cap on the PK vs the 850
^^ the PK vs 850 crenallations.
You DO NOT want to drop either bezel down on a bare foot. But I believe the PK would chop off a toe.
Both lights felt about the same weight wise but the PK is better forward balanced.
Both have a removable pocket clip. It is a half circle type locked in place by a ring, yet stays put just fine without it. I removed it on both. But replacing the locking ring on the 850 results in a smooth transition, where the PK locking ring adds another raised area at the tail end I found uncomfortable when using the fist full of light technique...so it stayed off.
Both have glass lenses, but the PK head has the 'hot' caution where the 850 does not. Curious.
The 850 comes in a typical PowerTac plastic case with foam lining, places to store stuff, like the neck lanyard, the extra o-ring and tail cap cover and the supplied holster....oh and a slot for a spare battery magazine.
Speaking of holster...
^^ bezel down open top for quick retrieve
The plastic holster is a molded unit with a clip that'll easily slide over a 3" belt with a hook on the end to keep it from coming off accidently.
Both lights were able to essily slide in. But the PK requires a bit more 'push'. Both slide out lickety split. I'm not a holster guy but this one may change that.
^^ PowerTac likes supplying cases.
The PK is your typical PK Lab Designs packaing where you get a helluva a light in a no frills box with a serial number.
Both use 2 primary 123's or an 18650. The 850 is bored and sleeveless. The PK has a removable sleeve. Battery magazine fits ever so slightly better in the sleeved PK.
Both can have the bezel removed without the lens popping out. The head on the 850 is deeper. But both use the same or very similar reflector. It's raining hard out so no test pics of the 850 tonight.
I have used the PK enough to know it's a thrower with a boat load of spill with an impressive output from setting and above.
The 850 disassembles further than the PK in that both segments of the head can separate where only the top half of the PK is removable from the body.
^^ makes me think I can use other front or rear PowerTac segments for a differing look....
The PK provides access to the emitter or reflector/lens.
Now my thought was to swap out stuff from the 850 to the PK or opposite. But that was not to be. Aside from the pocket clip and emitter, nothing else Legos. My brain says PK tweaked the emitter so that may no Lego along with the reflector, but at a glance they look like they will.
I look forward to using the Warrior 850 as it has an appeal of a ProTac HL with memory, feels in hand like an MD2 with a PK FL 2 head, is weighty like a 6P but is a thrower like a big head light....and one of my favorite characteristics after I was done tweaking it... is it's completely round.
Oh, and the round tail cap I put on it also rembers the setting it was left on if circuit is interupted.
Btw, the Warrior II is now stored in the 850 case where it will remain until needed.
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