Maglite for the car glove compartment
- Thread starter Jake38
- Start date
- Status
I have the whole range of D and C cell Maglights. They have all had their bulbs replaced with LED drop in modules.
Avoid having one hit you, or anyone else, in the head. It can kill.
Avoid having one hit you, or anyone else, in the head. It can kill.
I used to have a 3 cell D battery Maglite in my truck with my name scratched on it. It was stolen during a break in along with a bunch of other stuff.
I replaced it with a 2 pack of those little LED flashlights from Walmart. IIRC they were $3-$4 for both.
I replaced it with a 2 pack of those little LED flashlights from Walmart. IIRC they were $3-$4 for both.
mrmike7189
Member
same here.
Imo you can't beat a full size D cell maglite as a "truck light".
I'll probably get another one at some point. Just kinda sucks that you work for something and others just steal it.
Next one will probably be one of the LED Maglites, unless there's something better. My original one was the older non-LED one. I think the LED models were a little over $40 bucks last time I checked.
This newer model may be worth checking out. The price is around 60, but it's brighter and has a longer beam distance then the older models.
https://www.maglite.com/shop/flashl...ite-3-cell-d-led-3rd-gen-flashlight-1372.html
Last edited:
kBob
Member
We used to encourage folks to get the C cell models as they fit most folks hands better as a less than(ok just less) lethal option and for the light they gave before the little Nova in a grip stuff came out. BTW holding them with the bell in your palm and gripping with the index finger and thumb around the handle right there allows the heaviest and strongest part to be the end of the arc and helps you hold on at full speed and retain the thing better if the other guy does get ahold on it.
My wife carried a C cell in her Giaganto Purse when she worked nights on University property and could carry no better defensive device (don't say it Pepper Spray was not yet on the market and even the mixed CS CN sprays were iffy and she carried that, too)
Later when she had an office in a high visability job on campus that attracted angry folks she got another c cell for her desk drawer at work....because, you know the lights might go out.
-kBob
My wife carried a C cell in her Giaganto Purse when she worked nights on University property and could carry no better defensive device (don't say it Pepper Spray was not yet on the market and even the mixed CS CN sprays were iffy and she carried that, too)
Later when she had an office in a high visability job on campus that attracted angry folks she got another c cell for her desk drawer at work....because, you know the lights might go out.
-kBob
BigBlue 94
Member
I've been a mag light user for 20 years. From xenon and krypton bulbs to the new LEDs. AAA, AA, C, D. Imo the 3D cell LED lights are the best out there. They light up 5x as much at night than the old krypton bulbs. Never had good luck with the led conversion kits. Batteries also last much longer with the LEDs.
Both the 3D and 2AA are great defensive tools. The 2AA is great as a kubaton or blunt impact device. And they'll all break windows too
Both the 3D and 2AA are great defensive tools. The 2AA is great as a kubaton or blunt impact device. And they'll all break windows too
Speedo66
Member
$60, wow! I bought my 3D model many years ago, maybe 30 or so, for $18 and upgraded it with an aftermarket LED kit a few years ago. Now much brighter and the batteries last much longer.
Since retired, but I still use it every night for walking the dog. By the way, they're guaranteed forever. Also, I had a set of batteries crap the bed and couldn't get them out. Maglite has contracts with certain battery manufacturers and will replace the unit if covered by the battery company, which they did.
Both free gift LED flashlights from Harbor Freight actually work very well. Sometimes it's cheaper to get another than to change the batteries. lol
Since retired, but I still use it every night for walking the dog. By the way, they're guaranteed forever. Also, I had a set of batteries crap the bed and couldn't get them out. Maglite has contracts with certain battery manufacturers and will replace the unit if covered by the battery company, which they did.
Both free gift LED flashlights from Harbor Freight actually work very well. Sometimes it's cheaper to get another than to change the batteries. lol
lemaymiami
Member
I used the old Kel lites when I first hit the street in 1974.... This was before Mag lights came along - but the same principle - a machined aluminum body that was a heavy duty flashlight. It came in C or D cells from two batteries up to five if I remember correctly and was one heckuva an impact weapon. On the street you held it by the head while resting the remainder on your shoulder (just the right position to be in if a sudden strike was necessary... This was long before Streamlights and other high tech flashlights came along - and police departments began to issue them to each shift... The big sea change for us in south Florida came when a "fleeing motorist" on a motorcycle was chased down and beaten to death with a combination of night sticks and flashlights... Very, very bad scene - it resulted in the first annual MacDuffie (the young man's name..) riots when the officers involved were found not guilty (right around 1980... long before the Rodney King incident out in California...). Just like Rodney King years later half the urban area went up in flames, the agencies involved paid out big money settlements to the young man's family - and every police department in south Florida reviewed its use of force policies - and using flashlights as impact weapons was verboten (unless you were justified in using deadly force...).
Make no mistake, a head strike with a heavy machined aluminum flashlight is very definitely lethal force -no doubt about it.... You can kill or seriously injure an opponent with one without intending it... So... my agency and quite a few others went to the ASP baton as a defensive impact weapon... Just issuing them didn't cut it. Each officer had to have both video and hands on training (red man suit striking takedowns -very strenuous stuff) and also were taught where to strike (never at the head or neck unless you were clearly justified in using lethal force.. always at the shoulder or elbow joints or at the knees...). That I know of, using the ASP baton properly hasn't resulted in any death or serious injury (the news types would be all over such a story..) and they are effective up to a point... The truth, though, is that there are some opponents you just don't want to go hand to hand with -since they're fully capable of killing you, barehanded... The one such incident I know about involved a rough street type who successfully over powered three cops -and killed them all with their own weapons.... They paid the ultimate price after they engaged him physically on the street bare handed - a big mistake...
Wish I knew less about this sort of stuff and I'm very glad to be out of that world...
Make no mistake, a head strike with a heavy machined aluminum flashlight is very definitely lethal force -no doubt about it.... You can kill or seriously injure an opponent with one without intending it... So... my agency and quite a few others went to the ASP baton as a defensive impact weapon... Just issuing them didn't cut it. Each officer had to have both video and hands on training (red man suit striking takedowns -very strenuous stuff) and also were taught where to strike (never at the head or neck unless you were clearly justified in using lethal force.. always at the shoulder or elbow joints or at the knees...). That I know of, using the ASP baton properly hasn't resulted in any death or serious injury (the news types would be all over such a story..) and they are effective up to a point... The truth, though, is that there are some opponents you just don't want to go hand to hand with -since they're fully capable of killing you, barehanded... The one such incident I know about involved a rough street type who successfully over powered three cops -and killed them all with their own weapons.... They paid the ultimate price after they engaged him physically on the street bare handed - a big mistake...
Wish I knew less about this sort of stuff and I'm very glad to be out of that world...
I keep old SureFire G2s in our cars, updated with LED pills. They don't have the thumpability of a D-cell Mag, but they work better as flashlights. The batteries, being lithium, are in no danger of leaking and leaving you with a worthless metal tube in the dark. And the plastic bodies are more comfortable to hold, whether it is during freezing weather like we are experiencing now, or during those hot summer nights.
I've probably got 6 or 7 maglites of various sizes. I do like the 2 cell size the best. It stows nicer and caries easier.
When I went to Ireland years ago, I took along a 2 C LED Maglite and kept it in the rental car by the front seat. Honestly, I brought it because I didn't know what little weird car we were going to be issued or how road worthy it would be or how well the cell phone would work if it broke down outside of the city.
Having a good dependable light is never a bad thing. Having a good dependable light that can ladle an aggressor, even better.
When I went to Ireland years ago, I took along a 2 C LED Maglite and kept it in the rental car by the front seat. Honestly, I brought it because I didn't know what little weird car we were going to be issued or how road worthy it would be or how well the cell phone would work if it broke down outside of the city.
Having a good dependable light is never a bad thing. Having a good dependable light that can ladle an aggressor, even better.
John Joseph
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,441
My 4 cell Maglites live at home now kept in stratgic locations in case of power outages.
There are brighter, cheaper flashlights in the cars. A Mini
Maglite went with me to several third world countries and to this day I keep it with me when traveling.
There are brighter, cheaper flashlights in the cars. A Mini
Maglite went with me to several third world countries and to this day I keep it with me when traveling.
Jesse Heywood
Member
Back in the day the older officers would carry the Maglite wrapped with solder. The lead increased the energy while it softened the blow.
CapnMac
Member
A Maglite rides tucked in between the driver's seat and the transmission housing in my ride.
Been that way for more years than I can remember. All D cell sized, if in differing numbers of cells.
I've finally learned to only get even numbers of cell sizes, since that's how the batteries are packaged [
]
Been that way for more years than I can remember. All D cell sized, if in differing numbers of cells.
I've finally learned to only get even numbers of cell sizes, since that's how the batteries are packaged [
]
D.B. Cooper
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2016
- Messages
- 4,395
D.B. Cooper
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2016
- Messages
- 4,395
Same here.
D.B. Cooper
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2016
- Messages
- 4,395
I like the 2D cell size. In my early adult years, I had a 5D size. An uncle who is an LEO told me that the difference between a 2D and a 5D is about 15 stitches, so carry the lighter flashlight.
I completely swore off all things Mag-lite about 20 years ago when I started working as an aircraft mechanic. Chemicals and fluids easily get under the rubber switch cover and quickly kill the light. Some guys put tape all the way around the tube over the switch, but that only seemed to prolong the inevitable.
I started keeping them in the truck again about4 yrs ago, and now I keep one in my classroom as well. (I typically use it as a joke; kids who don't want to answer questions, I shine it at them and put on a fake German accent and say "sprekenze! ve have vays ov making you tock."
The smaller AAA Led ( https://www.homedepot.com/p/LED-XL50-3-Cell-AAA-in-Gray-XL50-S3096/202548534 ) is pretty awesome. Compact, light, and super bright.
I completely swore off all things Mag-lite about 20 years ago when I started working as an aircraft mechanic. Chemicals and fluids easily get under the rubber switch cover and quickly kill the light. Some guys put tape all the way around the tube over the switch, but that only seemed to prolong the inevitable.
I started keeping them in the truck again about4 yrs ago, and now I keep one in my classroom as well. (I typically use it as a joke; kids who don't want to answer questions, I shine it at them and put on a fake German accent and say "sprekenze! ve have vays ov making you tock."
The smaller AAA Led ( https://www.homedepot.com/p/LED-XL50-3-Cell-AAA-in-Gray-XL50-S3096/202548534 ) is pretty awesome. Compact, light, and super bright.
Last edited:
The peak beam intensity and adjustable beam size is also quite impressive. It has a lot less lumens then my other flashlights, but that Maglites peak beam intensity stumps all the other flashlights in my collection. The peak beam intensity for mine is 42533cd.
Deltaboy1984
Member
They just work! I love them!
danez71
Member
I have that one and I like it a lot.
It beats my 4D Mag with a LED upgrade in brightness, run time, verstility. It's just plain superior in every way.
(they don't make 4D anymore)
It's currently 40 dollars on Amazon... I'm starting to get tempted.
- Status