Hi Jackal,

I recently got hold of a Ultrafire WF-502B and a Cree Q5 drop in for about $35 from Deal Extreme.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3371
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11074

Not as bright as the Fenix T1 or as tough but allows the use of 18650 2400mA 3.7 lithium rechargables. I got fed up paying for CR123s Although the Fenix does work nicely with the AW's RCR123A 750mah rechargable cells. The Ultrafire is surprisingly well made for such a cheap flashlight.

i have 5 ultrafire 501b's 3 x P4 sku:6090 2 x Q5 sku:11622 1 x R2 sku:11836

Romisen RC-M4 3V~8V Cree 1-Mode Flashlight (2xCR123/1x18650)

Price: $17.30
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7934

is a good host to with a better finish than the ultrafires

solarforce L2 is a good P60 host but you have to wet and dry the barrel abit to fir protected 18650 cells, but protected ultrafire 17670 cells fit as do protected rcr123's

i am abit of a flashaholic

fenix are ment to be bring out an 18650 light. till then the Derelights are my preffered carry.

1S(1-stage) cree XR-E Q5 module
Input Range: 2.8~4.2V
Output Range: 1.2A
Battery Type: 1x18650,1x17670
Features:
constant output at it's fully input range
over discharge protection
$32

http://www.dereelight.com/module-list.htm

an outstanding module

The Romisen RC-M4 3V~8V Cree 1-Mode Flashlight looks pretty good especially for the price. Do you know if it has a bezel diameter to take the 1.25 inch 31.74 mm FM35 Surefire Red Filter attachment? The Ultrafire WF-501B seems to have the correct bezel diameter.

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/870/sesent/00/FM35-Red-Filter

the 3 RC-m4's i have measure 31.67mm across the bezel

For what it's worth I've carried a Surefire E1e-HA with KL4 head every day for, what has to be, at least five years now. I've even carried it in the same pocket as my keys the majority of the time. Believe it or not, it still looks near brand new, with the coating just slightly worn around the edges and on the rubber button. The glass isn't scratched/chipped up either, thanks to Surefire's sapphire coating.

I've taken this thing everywhere. I've had it snowmobiling where it was -30*F, I've had it in Aruba, the Bahamas, I've used it working construction, I've swam with it in my pocket, its been buried in sand and clay, it's fallen from a scissor-lift onto a concrete floor. Even through all that I've never had a single problem with it. The only maintenance I do is clean and re-grease the threads every six months or so.

IMO the KL4 head is worth it. I've never seen a more durable flashlight. I used to kill Maglights all the time, I rarely had them last more than a year. Yet I don't doubt this Surefire will last me for at least another 5 years.


On a side note the KL4 head is 100 lumens now, not 65. Even my older one on my single battery E1e body is very bright, enough to temporarily blind someone (as I've found out on a few occasions.) It's nearly as bright as my regular E2e.

Now, on the E2e body the KL4 has more flood than the regular E2e (making it good for searching inside a dark area), but I don't think it throws as much light over a distance as the regular incandescent E2e does. It's pretty close though. Either way, I've never felt lacking with the KL4 driven on one battery, never mind two.


You can see my light in this picture:

Paul810- Thanks a lot for the good info

despite the one bulb failure I agree that the surefires are tough. I think there is a video somewhere that shows a dude hammering a bunch of nails with one(not that I ever intend to do this) but I did clock a guy up side the head with my M3 combat light once with no lessening of performance. My beef is not with the surefire but rather the xenon bulbs which are bright but burn out fast and are really expensive. I get (maybe) a months use from a bulb at 13-16 bucks each. I also didnt like the fact that I could not store a spare inside the flashlight body itself and my spares carrier was not always with me due to its bulk.



I wish I had a dollar for each one killed....



this is great. I must have been looking at a older add because the only place that references this is the actual surefire website.

I think I may be sold on the KL4. Best of all I appear to be able to use the slide on red filters that I already have.

Thanks again

Taurus,

I have a Surefire G2 now with the P60L assembly as well as the P60 and the P61 for what it's worth.

However, my main reason in this reply is not to talk about flash lights (torches) but to express my happiness that you are still safe and well over there.

Thank you for your sacrifice sir, I wish you well, and hope that you will continue to stay safe.

You will continue to be in my thoughts an prayers.

Sincerely,

Blitz

Wow dude. Thanks for the kind words but...

I have been home about a week now. I was not on a full deployment but rather a TAV(tactical assistance visit) To replace a guy who was badly injured until the next troop rotation. Just long enough for 5-6 missions. I am all in one piece and only suffered a broken nose, busted lips, two loose teeth and some fairly good bruises(I thank God every night for this cause a lot of guys are not so fortunate with their injuries)

I got a bit of time off and then I start work up training for task force 1-09 which will be a full deployment.

After spending some quality time with the family I plan to hit the outdoors once again and not worry about that hell hole until I have to go back.

Besides, hiking is a lot funner when you arnt getting shot at, and hunting is great when the deer dont shoot back

Take care

Damn. All this flashlight talk has forced my hand! I picked up 2 cheap Dorcy flash lights on the way home and it seems my prophecy was self fulfilling.

The 1 Watt light with a focusing beam I picked up didn't work right out of the bubble pack...it's dead right in the circuit by my tests and the circuitry is a single piece crimped into the end of the light so it's not serviceable...I guess it's going back.

The other is a 6xAA, 130 Lumen, Aluminum body, K2 light which is very big but holy light of God is it bright.

Tarus, if you're willing to risk under $20 US, I've bought a Cree LED drop-in which works very well in my Surefire Nitrolon G2, from these guys:

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.917
The drop-in goes into the surefire WITHOUT the spring. And, the head doesn't screw down the last full turn. However, I find no loss of water resistance even so.

I've also bought 1/2 dozen of these:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1993
they're remarkably small and bright. Others have complained that they're not too durable, but that is not my experience. My ham-fisted hunting buddies loved them... and haven't screwed them up. And, they're so small I EDC carry 2 rather than backup the LED assembly. Runtime on ONE AA is very long. In fact, my Surefire is now the stow-away and not my EDC
They're not $100 plus units. But they do fine for me. YMMV

The dealextreme folks are a bit strange to deal with, so be quite patient. They pay shipping, but ship via Hong Kong post and airmail. Just wait... it'll get there eventually.