Flashlights for self defense

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black bear

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FLASHLIGHTS FOR SELF DEFENSE

As strange as it sounds, some flashlights are used for self defense quite often in daily life.
Sometimes by professionals Police Officers in a way to avoid using deadly force in confrontations with suspects, and other times by civilians that are not permitted to carry lethal weapons.

In the US we have it quite good in that we are allowed to carry short knives and some others implements but in the majority of Europe such activities are illegal or highly frowned upon by the authorities.

If you defend yourself with a baseball bat even in your own home in certain countries you have to give reason for why you have such an implement with you.

One of my flashlights that I promote in the States as the Search and Rescue 852 lumens to use in emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, helicopters etc. because is too heavy and too long to be easily portable (it is based on the Maglite 4 D). I have found appreciative customers in the European market to be used as self defense tool by civilians that go out for a stroll or to walk the dog situations.

Other lights use others means of incorporating defense mechanisms in their construction. I am thinking now about the ARES Defense Companion, a Maglite with 3 cells that incorporates a shotgun of 410 gauge (only one picture is circulating in the Internet and I think is not in production) or the Tiger Light that incorporates a pepper spray canister, or the several models of Surefire that come with crenellated bezels (one example is the popular E2D executive Defender).

Surefire was the first (to my knowledge) at popularizing the crenellated bezel and the SureFire Institute offers a class in basic defensive tactics called “The power of Light” which is open to all qualified civilians as well as law enforcement professionals .
The course is taught by certified instructor Steve Tarani (shown below delivering a carotid strike).

SteveTarani.jpg


My own MAG 951 II or the EXP 852 can be had with the optional heavy stainless steel crenellated bezel that I offer in a limited production run.
Such bezels add 3 ounces to the weight of the head and the bezel even that is not actually sharp will be a good imitation of the broken beer bottle.
I don’t think that an aggressor, if he is in his right mind, will confront such a weapon that first will blind him with 951 lumens and then is ready to rearrange his facial features.

cbezel.jpg

Some handy accessories have been produced to increase the defensive use of the Maglite. I am thinking of a quality item made with great care and good materials called the Piggy Back; it will keep a container of Pepper spray quite handy by screwing the accessory to the end of the MAG tail-cap.

pgbk_4.gif

Or from the same company the accessory tail-cap with carbide insert capable of breaking automotive glass.

pgbk_1.jpg

My own Quick Detach Swivel, when used only with the nub for the lanyard, can be very hard on skulls and noses.

swivelmag.jpg

This MAG 951 sports the heavy 3 inch head (the head is now out of production), more resembling a medieval mace. This is also a fantastic throw monster reaching over several hundred yards.

bigandflash.jpg

I have in my long association with the flashlight Industry seen a few models which spray OC from the front of the lens, flashlights that also incorporate a screaming siren, flashlights that incorporate a stun gun and others weird contraptions all of them gone from the market now.

What seems to prevail is just a good weight reliable flashlight that can be used as a baton or with the new crenellated bezels and the introduction of really powerful MEGA lights capable of blinding an assailant.

Best regards,
Black bear
 
I have received a shipment of the new Crenellated bezels in stainless steel to use with the MAG 951's and others lights in my line.

Click the link under my signature.
regards
black bear
 
I've heard of taking a knife to a gunfight, but a flashlight? Sure, you render someones pupils to the size of pinpoints for a few seconds, but mace them they can be down for 45 minutes.
 
Wesker,
If you are in law enforcement your pistol should stay in the holster until you can not control the situation in another way.

I have noticed that most Police Officers have no training in using impact tools.
If you have a Maglite (probably a 3 D) and you hit people in the head you are using the wrong technique.
You could cause a fatal injury and find yourself in trouble.

Thirty eight years ago I teach Police Officers to use impact weapons on a non lethal manner.

First you have to avoid them to close on you, when they try to; the blow should be directed to the knee cap.
He will go down in excruciating pain, unable to attack or escape, the only job left to do is to cuff him.

When you use one of my MAG 951 the job is even easier because the guy is going to be blind, (ever see what a 1,000 lumens of white light can do?)

I have never tried it with the new Crenellated bezel on a real person, but I imagine the added weight and configuration of the bezel will take the whole knee out!

That is the way to deliver a non lethal incapacitating blow that will finish the altercation right there, an effective professional way to end it all, none of those multiple blows on heads arms and shoulder that we have watched lately taken by security cameras or civilian camcorders.

Respectfully,
black bear

 
I bought a 5-cell Maglite back in 1990 after reading about flashlights in one of Mas Ayoob's books. It has been riding around in my SUVs ever since and has come in handy during power outages at work.

I've never had to rely on it for anything other than illumination, but if needed it would make a pretty handy club. We are a bit short on criminals up here but the power goes out at regular intervals.

black bear, those are some nice photos.
 
Self defense flashlights..........

Black Bear is right......

Most police departments only allow the use of a flashlight as a primary impact weapon in a life or death situation where the officer's life is in imminent peril. Our department policy states that explicitly.

What I do know, from experience, and from other officers is that even a small flashlight inside a closed fist makes for a weapon to respect. Also, large or small flashlight..........a tap on the collarbone will end a fight in short order.

Like a service weapon, a flashlight is simply a tool. They come in handy when needed. I like the idea of a "duty" flashlight having a scalloped head. In close quarters, it may make the difference in being walking out or being carried out.

Just food for thought.

HiVelocity
 
MORE CRENELLATED BEZELS

these are made by TAD GEAR and are called TIC (tactical impact crown)
But it most be a mistake, everybody knows that the device was invented so when you put the light head down, ligh can escape thru the openings.:D

tad-tic3_300x300.jpg

There is even a model for the Fenix that will fit the L1P and the L2P.

Now, what a nice gift for a GF or wife!

black bear
 
And Surefire have been making a gorgeous piece of high quality machine work in the L-6 Porcupine.

You can not overlook that beautiful extended crenellated bezel.

L6Porcupine043small.jpg

SurefireL6P.jpg

black bear
 
Wesker:
I've heard of taking a knife to a gunfight, but a flashlight? Sure, you render someones pupils to the size of pinpoints for a few seconds, but mace them they can be down for 45 minutes.
I have one of black bear's Mag 951 lights.

If you ever have the opportunity to look into the business end of one, rest assured your pupils will not be rendered to the size of pinpoints for a few seconds.

Instead, you'll be wishing you'd brought your seeing-eye dog with you for way more than long enough for someone to bounce the flashlight off your gourd several times - should that course of action be deemed necessary.....:what:
 
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