Tuesday, May 28, 2013

In case you were wondering...

...why so many small flashlights of the "tactical" variety have those funny flanges at both ends (or what you're supposed to do with those Klingon Navy issue pens sold by Surefire and other companies), my friend John Shirley has done a handy brief overview of their use, complete with video.

8 comments:

J.R.Shirley said...

Yeah, I was reluctant to do video, but got a request from a friend. It was a really windy day, unfortunately, but I think the point got across.

Rey B said...

The mind is the weapon, everything else is a tool. That said some good stuff thanks for posting the link Tam and good video Mr Shirley.

Windy Wilson said...

Very impressive, but from fear of a liability suit I would not want a pen or flashlight that looked overtly weaponized, as some people have considered carrying a knife as premeditation if it's used in self defense, and I can easily imagine what an overtly aggressive name would sound like coming out of the piehole of some amoral plaintiff's amoral (to ensure proper emphasis) attorney in a lawsuit for excessive force.
Make them strong but conservatively styled and named. No use giving the goblins ammunition.

J.R.Shirley said...

Rev, I agree, and thank you.

Mr. Wilson, I strongly agree about weaponizing lights, though perhaps for different reasons. You'll notice my ElZetta doesn't have a tactical DNA collector.

John

mariner said...

Very impressive, but from fear of a liability suit I would not want a pen or flashlight that looked overtly weaponized

My mileage varies.

If I'm faced with the necessity of defending myself hand-to-hand I need all the advantage I can get.

I have to survive the assault to be sued.

Windy Wilson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Windy Wilson said...

Well, being a lawyer, how it will play in court isn't the first thing that comes to mind, but I always think about liability. I remember when I was a mere law clerk what the opposing counsel made of a spy gizmo catalog our client had.

Will said...

Perhaps the crenelations could be termed "energy absorbing lens protection". Dropped my Costco flashlight out a second story window onto a concrete walkway. The result was a folded petal or two, but the light still works, and the lens isn't damaged.

This is a V2.0 light, their first one had it at both ends, which was a pain in the butt, so to speak.