[Fosbery]

At the moment I carry an AA Maglite because it's tough, cheap, socially acceptable and makes a good kubaton. However, I would like something a bit more, you know...

Something with some of those little teeth that Surefires tend to have these days. Also, something brighter. I'm assuming Surefire is my best bet here.

The thing that immediately comes to mind is the E2D but I think it's just too blatantly a weapon and thus not legal on the streets of Britain. So what else is there?

I've been looking at the C2 Centurion, E2 E2E, E2L, E1E, E1L.

The Centurion is advertised as a self defence tool and it also has this ring thing towards the tail of the torch which I assume helps to keep a firm grip. However, it's a bit big around, I want something about the same thickness as my AA Maglite, or thinner. Length in't a big deal, but I want a nice slim light if possible.

The E2 series look nice but I dunno which one to go for.

E1 is shorter than the E2. I'm not sure how much easier that makes it to carry to be honest. Shorter battery life and I assume it would be less easily used as a weapon.

SO, what do you think?

Also, a good book on defensive kubaton use (or even torch use, if such a book exists) would be nice. I'd love to go to classes but I fear any UK martial arts classes will be waaay too PC to actually teach me any practical kubaton techniques with a torch.

[JShirley]

Look for books with yarawa stick/eta koppo techniques. A Mini MagLite works fine, though I would upgrade to an upbreakable LED bulb. For general use, a Nite-Ize offers a cheap upgrade that is very floody, and dramatically extends battery life. Other upgrades with more throw cost more.

John

[woolfam]

Go to www.candlepowerforums.com - you'll find more than you might ever want to know.

[griz]

Have you seen Maglite's new LED light with two AA batteries? It is a little bit longer than yours, but the same diameter and puts out a LOT more light. Not up to Surfire amounts, but a big step up from the old AA Maglite. I saw them at Walmart last week.

(edited to remove link to an even fatter light)

[leadcounsel]

Coast tactical. $15 at Costco, about $30 elsewhere. I have 4. The are bright, 3" long, great switch and run forever on inexpensive AA batteries (rather than the litium batteries which are shortlived and more pricey than gold).

[carpettbaggerr]

Also, a good book on defensive kubaton use (or even torch use, if such a book exists) would be nice.

http://www.bushipower.com/page/BS/PROD/GPO/B3004

http://www.bushipower.com/page/BS/PROD/GPO/B3007

Haven't ordered from this site before, but I have both books and they're pretty good.

I like the 6C sized Maglite for self-defense. Not as easy to carry as the 2AA version, of course...

[stdlrf11]

Instead of buying a LED maglite, just buy the upgrade kit. You can get them with the 3 LED bulb alone, or combined with a tailcap switch. Target and Wal-Mart had them for about $10. (I'm not sure where to get them in Britain.)

[pete f]

The maglight AA mini has an adjustable focus and a better chip in it than the drop ins.

The streamlights have better names and although have less aggressive bezels on them, they will hurt with you hit someone with them.

If you get a defender, all you have to say is that the notches are to prevent you from melting the table cloth if you set it down with the switch on.

[Fosbery]

Thanks for replies. I always intended to use the maglite with the tail as the striking section as it has a nice spikey lanyard hole thing and looks more durable than the bulb end. For this reason, a tail switch would be a bad idea (of course on a Surefire I'd use it the other way around). I really want something with at least 60 lumens preferably with enough power so I can upgrade it to 120, so I can blind an attacker.

As for Streamlights, would the Scorpion Xenon/LED be the preferable choice? My UK dealer only has those and some big non-EDC lights. Not sure what the difference is with the Scorpion Tactical, but if it says 'tactical' on it, I don't want it. Remember I live in the UK, anything that could possibly be percieved as being carried as a weapon is illegal. Even if I use it in self-defence and the police look and see 'tactical' or 'defender' written on the side, I could be in trouble.

Also, thiking about this:

http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/nuwai_tm301x5.htm

The review says what the bezel notches are for i.e. it's ont a weapon (so I should be able to have an expert stand up in court and say so if it comes to that) and it dosn't have a non-PC name, yet it looks sturdy and capable of being used as a weapon. Look nice and grip-ee too. Apparently they have an 80 lumen output which is great, but they have only an on/off or low/high/off click switch, not a pressure switch like on the Surefires. Still, they look like a very probable choice. Cheap too.

[Boom-stick]

though I would upgrade to an upbreakable LED bulb.

The bulb maybe unbreakable but the holder isn't, mine fell out the bathroom cabinet last night and smashed inside the maglight casing:what:


I'm using an LED lenser micro frogman approx £30 and as bright as my mates surefire L4.

[stdlrf11]

Coworkers have had problems with the Scorpion. I have the TL2 and it is fantastic. TL2 LEDs look good, but I'm not sure if there is anything better out there for the price.

Hope this helps,
stdlrf11

[Screehopper]

If you're down to choosing between the E1 or E2e, get the E2e. The E1 is a bit short to get a good solid grip with your hand.

I have the E2e-HA and it's part of my EDC.

Or if you want the LED equivalent get the L4.

[KD5NRH]

If you can get your hands on one, the Pelican M3 Xenon is an impressively robustly made little light. Well, little as a 3 lithium battery light can get, anyway. The tube and head are pretty hefty aluminum, and the reflector assembly is turned on a lathe as a solid piece to fill the head cavity. Output is 115-145 (no two sources seem to agree) lumens for the Xenon, (there's also a M3 LED that should be around 60 lumens, IIRC) which puts it in the same league (if you're looking into the beam, you can't tell; both hurt a lot) as a Surefire G2 with the P61 lamp assembly. It seems to have better battery life than the G2 as well. (Of course, the Surefire uses only two batteries)

I can't vouch for the others in the series, but if the're built like the M3 3370, any of them should be able to crack a skull or two and still work.
Pelican M Series (http://www.pelican.com/media/news/product/pr_07_14_06.php)

[Fosbery]

My UK dealer does the Pelican M6 for £60.

Just to give you an idea of how bad we have it so far as guns, knives, flashlights etc: I see the M6 cna be had for under $40 in the US. Well, the UK price is £60 which is $113 :fire:

[Boom-stick]

Just to give you an idea of how bad we have it so far as guns, knives, flashlights etc: I see the M6 cna be had for under $40 in the US. Well, the UK price is £60 which is $113

Ship it in yourself.

That what I'm starting to do and you still save money even with shipping charges. My next few blades will come from the US.

I don't know if you've noticed but generally the price tags have the same numbers on just one happenes to be in $ and the other in £ :confused:

[black bear]

Fosbery,

My choice inside your parameters will be one of the Nuwaii Luxeon III with two 123's batteries models, but I don't know if they are available in the UK and at what prices.
Of course the Surefire L-4 will be the better tool, but you say reasonably priced? Perhaps the E2e incandescent will be more affordable in the UK.

About the book, Phil Elmore have come up with one that seems to be what you looking for.
Here is a link:
http://paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=1356

If you ever shoot for a bigger light, click on the link under my signature to look at my line of mega-lights. No problem for me to ship to the UK.
Best regards
black bear

[Matt_W]

You are right, Surefire E2ds have a 'strike bezel' and that will encourage the Police and the CPS to press charges against you in the UK at the present time.

I tend to think that such things are un-necessary though. The amount of force than can be generated by the end of a E2 without the strike bezel is going to be enough - why go to the extra hassle of having the strike bezel? I bet they are harder on your clothes as well.

When the UK Police see Phil Elmore's book they will start to treat all torches as offensive weapons, mark my words.

BTW I carry a Night Ops Gladius during the cooler months - I know it's bigger than what you are looking for but I feel that the strobe compensates for its size especially when I am wearing a coat and have the extra pockets or can hide it on my belt. I have carried it through security into a closed courtroom (along with a tobacco tin containing my fire lighting kit!) - the Copper said "what have you got those for, it's only a day in Court?" I spent the next few hours in a small room filled with armed Coppers carrying Tasers, 5.56mm Carbines and Glock pistols and they thought that my Gladius was over kill!!!!!

[Boom-stick]

BTT,


From a 'legal' point of view you can buy the E2D front and rear bezels and put them on an E2E to give you a 'defensive' torch without the word defender plastered al over it:)