As much as the field of guns has it’s wildly nerdy devotees who geek out on what might otherwise be considered ‘useless trivia’, the field is not alone in that. Case in point: flashlight nerds.
A posted about flashlights and a little bit about MagLite and, unsurprisingly, there are blogs out there dedicated to the history of such:
It’s a fascinating thing, to see how the technology and design have changed over the years. There have been very few advances in technology that trickled into the realm of survivlalism in such a pronounced way….the advent of LEDs and newer battery technologies have really made a tremendous sea change in flashlight options compared to the olden days of survivalism.
Both of those links are fascinating reading, doubly so if you have law enforcement experience. No doubt the KelLite’s bring back some memories for the long-retired cops.
Thanks CZ. Important piece of equipment, right up there with a knife, matches, paracord, water and a firearm. You can’t shoot what you can’t see, don’t walk or run in the dark without one but as soon as it’s turned on everybody knows your location.
Flashlights have their place, but they do give away location and cripple your night vision.
Taught many scouts about movement in the woods at night without flashlight. “Kids” love to wave lights around, and then complain they “can’t see nuffin” without a flashlight. Confiscate the lights and sit quietly (for values of quiet appropriate to 13-16 yr olds with attention span of goldfish) for 30 min for eyes to night adapt and get comfortable with the sounds of the woods…..it’s like a magical experience for them….most kids today have never done anything like that.
We would do an annual “Escape from Stalagluft X” night campout with a daytime orienteering ex in the afternoon and then a night nav ex e&e after dark.
Best was when one team shacked the checkpoint I was at with no gps, compass and map only, and they were quiet too. Straight lines through the woods and didn’t get caught.
Only lost a few scouts on the first one….
Cops, and medics….likely others.
Back in the day when I was both a medic and more of a SAR responder than I am now, I used to keep about a dozen different flashlights in my truck…for use on SAR callouts, and in the hopes that should I need some, one or two might actually work when needed. Leaking batteries, broken lamp filaments..despite refreshing everything twice a year (with seasonal changes) flashlights were a very high failure item.
These days? I have one Maglight (3-D cell, with a traffic cone), and a couple of LED headlamps – not very high end ones, either. Change batteries yearly, and I’m good to go and so are they.
Tech is wonderful, sometimes.
When I started my police career, the Kel-lite was THE flashlight to have. I still have a 4-D Kel-lite I bought 50 years ago. And a “compact” Kel-lite that uses two 1/2-D cells, which seem to be unobtainium today. They were pretty much indestructible.
It was the Fall of 1974; I had just graduated from college and gotten my first permanent job as a Park Ranger. I went to a police equipment store in Nashville, TN to buy a belt. Then i saw it, the biggest flashlight I had ever seen; 4 D Cells and made of aluminum. I splurged and bought a Kel Light. When I say splurged, it was $20.00+ dollars, when $20 ment something. I never hit anyone with it, but I did come close. I still have it
I don’t always use flashlights but when I do, I like Pelican. Go big or go home, if the local Fire Dept. is using them they are probably pretty good. Pricey but at 2200 lumens it brightens up the night and possibly burn holes in the retinas of your enemies.
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/flashlights/9410l
Pac Lite is small enough to carry in your pocket and the 9v battery lasts forever. I have owned most of the lights mentioned (and still do) but the Pac Lite is the only one I carry all the time.
A long, long time ago, I was a stretcher ape in da City. I had a 4 x C Kel Lite. I thought it was mighty fine.
I also thought that woodland camo bcuz served some purpose other to target designate my young honkey ass.
Times have certainly changed. Nowadays, I have one surefire Led with a G-2 form factor, a second VG 15 by Thorfire, a microlight, two Streamlight Stylus Pro, and a pinch light on my ID lanyard.
Decided that was almost enough lights, the SECOND time I was ICU nursing, shore power failed and the “emergency” generator did not start.