[MatthewVanitas]

I'm blaming J-Frame for this one. Believe was $45 after shipping.

Initial impressions: though longer and slightly heavier than my Inova, negligible for pocket carry. Seems extreme sturdy, grip checkering grips hands but doesn't tear pockets (unlike the cheesegrater Kershaw Avalanche I had). Light is far brighter than my Inova, can illuminate my entire front or back yard, and most of the neighboring yard. Blue/white bulb easier on my NV than a plain white would be. Twist-head operation actually pretty easy one-handed. Conclusion: very pleased with this purchase so long as it outlives my mayfly-like Inovas.

[hso]

Nice "mini" collection there.

Mine never worked properly and I didn't get it back to them before they folded.

Perhaps now that they're back I might send it in (if I can find the little thing).

[JFrame]

Hey Matthew,

I was wondering how your ARC purchase went... Glad you saved me the trouble of hunting you down! ;)

I'm relieved that your initial impressions are as positive as mine were. I hope the little guys keep performing, and that neither of us has to avail ourselves of the lifetime warranty against defects that ARC offers! Also, in their fine print, they mention that they'll replace O-rings and foam retainers for the price of a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Nice photo, BTW! I have that Ken Onion also (fixation with miniaturization?), although I tend to carry a Spydie cricket more often... The easy-release mechanism on the Kershaw is ingenious, but kind'a scares the 'ell out of me without the safety engaged.

Best regards,
JFrame

[MatthewVanitas]

(fixation with miniaturization?)

I like small things, and I like minimalist things.

Those two interests are a function of being a) 5'6", 10 stone b) mechanically inept.


I don't generally carry the Kershaw, except as a "dress" or "gentleman's" knife. My EDC is a Benchmade Mini (there's that word again) Griptilian.

There was some article I read online, way back in 1999 when these sort of boards were developing: the author argued that there are certain items that absolutely everyone should carry on them. The ones I recall:

1) knife
2) flashlight
3) pen and paper
4) handkerchief

I carry these four items almost religously, and it's worked out well so far. The paper was a tough one until I realized that two folded index cards perfectly fill the dead-space in my trifold wallet. The SpacePen solved the pen issue, and modern LED lights solved the flashlight.

-MV

[MillCreek]

I carry all four items, but rely on the back of some business cards in my wallet for the paper. I recently bought an Inka pen from REI that is attached to my keychain. This replaced the Bic pocket minis and Pentel mini RSVP pens that I used to carry.

[JFrame]

"Minimalist" isn't a dirty word as far as I'm concerned either. My shootin' repertoire includes a .22LR mini-revolver, Walther TPH, and Beretta Jetfire. Higher up the caliber scale, I have a Glock 27, a passel of J-frames (could'ja guess?), and even a 20-year-old Detonics Combat Professional -- so evidently I've had a thing for downsizing for a while now... :)

Re: your list -- I've got three items covered, but tend to carry a PDA for the writing (I know it's not quite the same thing). I do carry some sort of ball-pen more often than not also. I haven't had a chance to follow through on the Space Pen yet. I've had two AC zones and a computer all go south on me in the past week, so my priorities have shifted a little... :(

I carry the Cricket in the office where I feel compelled to maintain a low profile. For casual carry, I EDC a Spydie Delica 4 or my favorite, a Massad Ayoob (can't always carry the latter when crossing state lines where blade length becomes an issue).

[black bear]

Nice photo, BTW! I have that Ken Onion also (fixation with miniaturization?), although I tend to carry a Spydie cricket more often... The easy-release mechanism on the Kershaw is ingenious, but kind'a scares the 'ell out of me without the safety engaged.


I carry the Ken Onion Leek for over a year with the safety off (and so does my wife and son) without it springing open ounce.

I clip it to my right pants pocket when using chinos and to my shirt left pocket when I am using jeans, and inside the left breast pocket when in bussines attire.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/edclights.jpg

black bear

[Optical Serenity]

Very nice, nice little review too. I have an ARC AAA and a couple Fenix lights. I find myself using the AAA all the time now that its on my keychain.

[MatthewVanitas]

@ black bear:

What's the Surefire, second from the top? Man, that's a short little light!

-MV

[JFrame]

black bear,

Thanks for the advice -- guess I'll screw up my courage and carry the Chive "cocked and unlocked" sometime... :)

--JFrame

[cosine]

What's the Surefire, second from the top? Man, that's a short little light!
Looks like an E1L, I think.

black bear, how do you like the Fenix?

I've been looking at the Fenixs and the Arc-AAAs and can't decide whether I want a Fenix or the Arc.

[black bear]

Mathew,
That is the E1e 15 lumens light that runs with a 123 battery, all the lights in the pictures were my EDC's at one time or another, the perpective in the picture makes the Fenix appear too large, (it is because is in the front of the focus) in reality is a small light that uses AA batteries.
I use it with rechargeables AA Nimhs and that way is completly FREE to run.

Cosine,

I like the Fenix L1P very much, my son and wife also have them, Fenix also have another light out that have two levels, the L1T, the low level is for several hours of subdue light.
Clipse did a review of the L1T and is the person to contact for more information about the L1T.

I also have the Fenix LOP (1 AAA) and I love it, it have replaced my older ARC AAA as my key-chain light.(I think that the new version Premiun of the ARC AAA is much more powerful than my older model)

Here is a picture of them together:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/LOPandothers.jpg

And here is the beamshot of the ARC AAA on left and the Fenix LOP on right

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/ARCANDlop.jpg

I haven't dived with my Fenix L1P but I know they are fairly water resistant

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/LOPINWATER.jpg

If you guys ever want to go to the other extreme and take a look at the most powerful flashlight in the world, click on the link under my signature to view it.

Best regards
black bear

[MatthewVanitas]

I also have the Fenix LOP (1 AAA) and I love it, it have replaced my older ARC AAA as my key-chain light.(I think that the new version Premiun of the ARC AAA is much more powerful than my older model)


The old ARC AAA was 3 lumens, the new Premium is 5.5

-MV

[KD5NRH]

Black Bear:

When will your modded 1200 lumen Fenix be available? :D

Now that, I would definitely buy.

[black bear]

KD5NRH,

It will be available the day after the antimatter fueled cells comes out, but still need some more MASS in the body to what the Fenix offer, that is to dissipate heat as a light so small will be impossible to hold in your hand after a few seconds (assuming it is using a BOREALIS bulb with an internal temperature at the filament of 6,000 degrees).

A couple years ago at CPF we used to play making the Surefire E2e double the powerful (from the stock 60 lumens to 120 lumens).
We used the P-61 lamp (120 lumens) stripped bare of reflector and with shortened springs and with a lengthened bezel by way of a thinner mineral crystal and an O ring.

Such light was good for 5 minutes of run time, until the batteries got hot enough to throw the internal protection switch for overheat.
The reflector was badly toasted after a few runs.

Here you can see the internals in the bottom picture. The top picture is of the most effective solution, an adaptor bridge the E series body to a C series head, and the lamp could be used with the reflector intact.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/nascardissasem.jpg

Here are the two lights assembled. The one with the adaptor and the Centurion series head worked like a charm, with full run time, as the mass of the adaptor, the bigger head and the mass of the reflector, dissipated the heat properly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/E2CandNascarpic.jpg

I have learned a valuable lesson of not pushing the envelope TOO much. Incandescents release a lot of heat forward thru infrared, but Luxeons lights get very hot very quick, so they are even more difficult to control the heat.

I have built for a friend a 75 watts light in one of my 3 D's special bored bodies.
Putting 12 high current batteries inside for an estimated 2200 lumens.
Of course been AA batteries the run time was of only 13 minutes and the light was difficult to hold (for the heat) after 5 minutes.
A nice stunt but out of the practical side.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/75watts.jpg

This is what the 2200 lumens can do at 25 yards

Surefire M-6

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/SureEME625y.jpg

75 watts 2200 lumens light

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/blackbear11784/teddyAT25YARDS.jpg

Yes, even that my BOREALIS (ex 951) is doing well in the forums, I don't stop experimenting with powerful beams. That reminds me, that I have to call the Brookhaven National Lab to see how the antimatter batteries are coming along.

Best regards,
black bear