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"Military" flashlight — Parallax Forums

"Military" flashlight

LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
edited 2016-02-27 19:01 in General Discussion
I've just ordered one of these:

http://moderntips.com/s/new-blinding-tactical-flashlight-is-a-must-have-for-every-american?utm_source=mt&utm_medium=mt&utm_campaign=npag700

I was mugged many years ago in one of the poshest parts of London by two young blacks. One of them went through my pockets - I only had about £3 on me in loose change which he rather disdainfully handed back to me!

This gadget will blind anyone like that for a few minutes, enabling me to escape or do something nasty to them. :-)

Comments

  • DavidZemonDavidZemon Posts: 2,973
    What gadget?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    Sorry, it's there now.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2016-02-27 19:24
    Oh dear, Leon.

    Surely you must have noticed that it is not acceptable to mention the skin colour of anyone who does harm to you in the modern world?

    Oh, and you should not say "young", that is ageist. And probably you should not say "two", that brings in all kind of gender politics.

    (Aside: The only humans that have done physical harm to me have been whiter than me. Which is pretty hard considering I don't think you would spot my naked body if it was dropped into a snow drift :) )

    More seriously, I don't think any gadget will help. Lets replace LED torch with revolver. Unless you have your wits about you and are on the alert all the time it won't help, you are down on the ground an getting kicked around before you even know what is happening.

    (Other aside: In the "posher parts" of London that I have seen, nobody walks in the street. They have chauffeurs or at least take the taxi.

    On the other hand, I'm always up for more LEDs. :)




  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    This happened to me twice.

    One time, I had a single quarter. Showed it to them and said something along the lines of, "sadly, this is all I got, and you are welcome to it." We ended up in a very interesting chat. I asked them why, and I won't put it here, but life was not kind to those two. They made a couple calls to insure safe passage.

    The other time I did have some cash, and my cards. No phone either time.

    Said, "somehow you need this more than I do" extended my hand with it and never stopped moving. They took it, "thanks" and I just continued back to the hotel.

    I was worried that time. Did not want to remain there for long. Could see it escalate quickly...

    I value people and experiences far more than I do things or money.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2016-02-27 20:17
    It was Holland Walk, no cars allowed. The muggers were obviously lying in wait for someone much better off than I was. People like Freddy Mercury and Tony Benn lived in nearby Holland Park.

    I've often seen famous and rich people walking around less posh parts of London, such as Tottenham Court Road and Malet St.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    Reminds me of the story of the young penniless English guy that arrived in New York in 1970 something and started a roller skating rink business.

    Every evening he would carry the cash takings out of there, through central park.

    On one occasion a couple of guys stopped him in the dark hoping to get his wallet or whatever. Which he did not have. He proceeded to have a long chat with them about why it is their life is so hard and they have to resort to such activities.

    All the while missing the point that he had thousands of dollars in cash in the brown paper shopping bag he was carrying it in!

    I'm not sure but I think I'm talking about Richard Wrigley. The Englishman that brought the idea of real beer to the USA:
    http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/06/beer-history-manhattan-brewing-company-lost-craft-beer-pioneer.html

  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    I think that ad is a bit of a crock, and we all know what's in the crock. 700 lumens is hardly enough to blind anyone unless it was pitch black and right in front of their eyes. The typical led replacement for a 60W bulb is about 800 lumens.
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    Consider a Maglite, the police here in America still use them in some places. It doubles as a stout club with which to pacify overly energetic people. The 3 D cell is quite massive and the 4 D cell model you could use as a war club.

    The only drawback is that you can't put one in your pocket.

    A alternative would be something like a Irish walking stick made out of a heavy wood. Fashionable yet useful.
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    Why would you be out at night, Leon, when you could be home fawning over your collection of gently used XMOS boards? :)
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    I'm vice-chairman of the local ham radio club, for instance, and like to attend the occasional meeting. I used Skype to 'attend' the AGM, though, as I'm on crutches following an encounter with a people carrier while crossing a road.
    kwinn wrote: »
    I think that ad is a bit of a crock, and we all know what's in the crock. 700 lumens is hardly enough to blind anyone unless it was pitch black and right in front of their eyes. The typical led replacement for a 60W bulb is about 800 lumens.

    I wondered about that as well.
  • Jeff HaasJeff Haas Posts: 421
    You'll have to tell us how good that flashlight really is...I see spam for it everywhere. There are multiple versions on Amazon.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    This one is rated at 4100 lumens.
    It looks pretty impressive.

    http://www.wickedlasers.com/torch

    Bean
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    Jeff Haas wrote: »
    You'll have to tell us how good that flashlight really is...I see spam for it everywhere. There are multiple versions on Amazon.

    I'll let you know
    Bean wrote: »
    This one is rated at 4100 lumens.
    It looks pretty impressive.

    http://www.wickedlasers.com/torch

    Bean

    That uses a halogen lamp and can fry an egg!
  • MicksterMickster Posts: 2,693
    http://www.ukpreppersguide.co.uk/legal-pepper-spray-for-self-defence/
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    I like the idea of a "military flashlight".

    I imagine it being heavy enough to use as a club. Perhaps with a bayonet attached.

    Or perhaps, pull the pin and lob it the enemy.



  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    rod1963 wrote: »
    Consider a Maglite, the police here in America still use them in some places. ...

    I have many Maglites and recently bought this one - you definitely don't want directly into it...
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W5QQRHW

    It is 611 lumens with a beam distance of 339 Meters. It has various modes
    Momentary
    Full Power (Maximum Lumens)
    Low Power (up to 105 Lumens)
    Eco Mode (a super power saving mode that yields up to 20 Lumens with greatly extended run-time)
    Strobe

    ANSI LUMEN VS BEAM DISTANCE & PEAK BEAM INTENSITY - Flashlight Performance Testing – The ANSI Standard

    https://maglite.com/maglab/ansi_lumen_vs_beam_distance__peak_beam/#.VtSBq_krJhE
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2016-02-29 18:13
    It all depends on the area illuminated. That 700 lumens flashlight I mentioned could be really dangerous if it covered a small area. I don't know what area it can cover, yet. Lux values for the various modes would be useful.
  • Brian FairchildBrian Fairchild Posts: 549
    I've seen ads for LED torches that have a strobe function, the idea being to dis-orientate the aggressor.

    http://www.selfdefenceweaponsuk.co.uk/best-led-torch-for-uk-self-defence
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    The one I'm getting has that.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2016-03-03 15:14
    $56 for a 3xAA, 700 lumen flashlight? The only tactical thing about it is the marketing plan.

    For that price, buy 21 of these: $2.69, aluminum, 18650 cell, hi-lo-strobe, 1800(?) lumens, zoomable http://www.ebay.com/itm/1800lm-Zoomable-3-mdoe-CREE-XML-Q5-LED-18650-Flashlight-Focus-Torch-Lamp-Light-L-/281871144889

    You will need a battery & charger, but Li-Ions are amazing, you'll find other uses for them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/4pcs-18650-3-7V-9800mAh-Rechargeable-Li-ion-Battery-Charger-For-Flashlight-j/111810957819
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    My Baofeng HT uses them.
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    erco wrote: »
    ...

    You will need a battery & charger, but Li-Ions are amazing, you'll find other uses for them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/4pcs-18650-3-7V-9800mAh-Rechargeable-Li-ion-Battery-Charger-For-Flashlight-j/111810957819

    It seems unlikely that you can get 9800mAh out of a battery that size.

    In fact one the reviewers states:
    The product is labeled 9800 mAh capacity and it is grossly overstated.
    I ran it for a couple of cycles at 170 mA drain current. The batteries lasted only 5 hours. That is equivalent to 850 mAh capacity. Since the batteries were charged to 4.05Vdc, I would think they should be rated 1000 mAh only. That would be 1/10th of what they claim the capacity was.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    Agreed, all those battery capacity claims are drastically overstated. TEN amp hours is outrageous. Nonetheless, these 18650 cells are cheap, safe and much better (energy density) than NiMH cells. They cells work fine in those flashlights, and at that price, you can always have a few extra charged cells handy.
  • MicksterMickster Posts: 2,693
    Leon, just wondering if you ever received the flashlight and what your impressions are?

    I was involved in a confrontation, recently and have received some pretty serious threats from someone who "doesn't care about being in trouble with the police"
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    Yes. I received it. It is pretty bright but I'm not sure if it would deter someone who was really intent on inflicting GBH on one.
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