Great review Old, thanks a lot for giving this nice classic some press. Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.
So, where the best source for a C3 SS? I just gave mine away, and I'm looking for a replacement. My main requirement aside from good quality is tailstand-ability and a good low mode. I will not buy from DX any more. Some versions of this light have a slightly protruding switch, whereas others are properly recessed. Suggestions please? Thanks!
I own two of these (one EDC and one spare I keep in a box) and I've purchased 8 of them (over the last year) for friends that want one after they see mine. I have 5 things that I do to every C3 that I purchase...
1. Trim the tailcap switch boot about 1mm on the inside where it touches the switch - tailstands a little better and doesn't ghost push the switch in your pocket.
2. Screw the switch down tighter into the tailcap assembly - keeps it from flickering and gives a brighter output.
3. Screw the pill all the way down into the head, gives the LED firmer contact with the pill, cleans up the beam, makes it more reliable.
4. Add a trimmed "business card" into the body where the battery sits - takes all the play/slop out of the battery and makes it much more reliable, keeps it from switching modes if shaken or dropped.
5. Add a blob of solder to the positive portion of the driver that touches the battery (or you can add a spring) - keeps it from changing modes and keeps it from flickering if dropped or shaken.
It's misleading to talk about "the Ultrafire C3 SS", there are lots of models and probably none of them are made by Ultrafire. One of them are/were made by the Aurora factory.
Although it's a little more expensive, the Manafont version is 3 mode, no blinkies, with a SS switch. Mine doesn't tailstand however...I've never taken it apart to see if anything can be done with it. But it's a great little light, especially when coupled with a Fenix pocket clip.
I was able to fit a protected trustfire 14500 in mine, and then the LED went PooF about 30 seconds later. They insist at DX that that wont happen any more though, the factory "fixed it".
The original 93mm one (I got mine from DX when they were announced some years ago) I have has worked with every sort of AA I've ever thrown at it, including all the protected ones I have (Which includes flame Trustfires). It does, however, get horribly hot on high with 14500s and more so with IMR cells. I have a pretty high heat tolerance and am not able to hand-hold it for more than 5 minutes on high with a 14500. About 3 minutes with an IMR cell.
DX had both versions at different times 93 and 98mm ... it seems that they are now shipping the 98mm ones. I would go with LT or BOB and ask upfront if that's really the 93mm version.