FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

I have some anodized titanium knives. Both factory ZT’S in bronze ano and others with custom design anodization by Whitty @ USAMadeBlades and the ano holds up very well. I’m definitely harder on knives than I am lights and have yet to see any signs of ano waring off after over a year of literally every single day carry.

Don’t knock it till you try it. Worst case, flame color it to bring the design back (albeit a different color) or send it back to Whitty for custom laser anodization (he’ll do whatever, not just knives)

Ive decided that one of the lights Im ordering is going to go on the bench first thing. I want to convert one to a single emitter (Maybe XM-L2 U3-3D) with a TIR optic. I wonder if anyone makes an optic shallow enough to work…or even an orange peal reflector… Dont get me wrong, I like multi-emitter lights, but for daily tasks I DO prefer a single emitter (nevermind my D4 has been living in my pocket more than my 18350 S2+ with moonlight driver)

Anyone else have any thoughts on a single emitter version of this project?

I would have liked a round of FW3CA = CuAl but Aluminum Bronze has a bad thermal conductivity. :person_facepalming:
Yellow (gold-like coloration) like brass but has also a good corrosion resistance.
I don’t know how it smells in a sweaty palm, but i will prefere aluminum bronze over brass, despite a worst thermal conductivity, if it doesn’t smell funny.
Depending of the alloy, can be heat treated to be hardened.

(Not my picture)

I would like a single emitter version, far ahead in the future. For now i am just waiting for one of these. I do think it will be a great size and weight for one emitter though.

FW3S = Silver :money_mouth_face:

100g Sterling-Silver < 50€
Thermal conductivity should be > 400 W / (m · K)

Hi, I would like to be put on the interest list for one FW3A with LH351D emitters, please. Thanks!

I must agree. I’m excited for the triple FW3A, but I have a preference for more usable outdoor beams and would be all over a more throwy version of this flashlight. A FW1A with a narrow-ish TIR and a single emitter (hopefully something like an SST-20 or XP-L HI) would be divine.
Of course, this is just a pipe dream and we need to get the actual FW3A released first!

Yes, this one first! I do think when and if it is a huge success, there will be a single emitter down the road though. I say this largely because, if I remember right, TK mentioned she would like one as well.

I'm # 1033 on list and had originally requested one, then asked to add another (2 total) a couple of weeks ago, looking at the 2nd "people" column I just see a 1 next to my name. So sorry to be a PITA, just getting excited for this one and want to make sure I'm down for two. :)

Thank you so much to whoever is keeping the list updated, that can't be a fun job. I'm drinking a beer in your honor as we speak.

You asked for your second light on Jan 29th. The last update to the list was on Jan 28th.

i dont really see why a single emitter would be anything interesting ? more fun a tripple emitter frosted optic for nice flood imo.

A single emitter often delivers nicer tint at low levels, and it generally gives a very different beam pattern with more throw. It’s also generally cheaper, easier to mod, and less prone to heat issues. However, it may end up longer due to a deeper reflector, and the maximum output would be lower.

With triples and quads being so popular lately, I kind of miss single-emitter lights. Both are good, but in different ways.

I personally have always had a preference for single emitter flashlights. I can appreciate that flood is nice indoors, but I like my EDC to be capable of throwing a bit when I’m outdoors too. I love my Emisar D4, but in order to see a decent distance ahead of me outside I need to crank the output up to the point where battery life is terrible and it’s uncomfortably warm to hold. I’ve actually taken to carrying a Convoy S2+ recently due to how much more throwy it is at reasonable output levels. The best balance I have ever found before is probably the TIR on the Olight batons. Wide enough for indoor use, but throwy enough for some basic outdoor use.

If the FW had to be made longer to accomodate a reflector, I’d be fine with that too. Narrow width is everything in an EDC light, and the FW3A is already very short in length. Even if the head couldn’t get any thinner with a single emiter, I don’t think a slightly longer head would have much of an impact on pocketability.

I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but given the number of GT variations we’ve seen lumintop may be the most likely manufacturer to turn this into a single emitter light. They may also make a 14500 version, an 18350, a 21700 with triple XHP35, and a 2*18650 one of the GT spin-offs are any indication… But I hope at least the single emitter one happens at some point down the road.

Edit: I would love to see an 18350 version with a single emitter that allowed swapping of the heads/bodies.

All of those things sound sweeeeeeeet!

For me the smaller/throwier emitters are almost a necessity in a triple or quad TIR light. That’s why I plan to swap some SST-20s into my FW3A as soon as I get it unless I end up really liking the LH351Ds with a 10507 or even the stock frosted. X-PL HI would be nice but its hard for me to justtify give up high CRI AND pay more when these new high CRI emitters can be had for so cheap and are constantly closing the efficiency gap with 70-CRI, high output bin options.

With a very floody beam like on a Nichia D4 for example the output needed to have any reach is just too high. The heat production and battery drain make it far less practical for any outdoor use IMO.

A single-emitter light can have decent throw with a large emitter like the LH351D. A triple of the same size needs something smaller though, to avoid being extremely floody.

However, that said… I still think the compact-triple beam looks very nice with XP-L HI. And, comparing it to a 95CRI SST-20, I still prefer the XP-L HI because the rosy 70 CRI tint looks better to me than the SST-20’s 95 CRI greenish tint. I reserve the right to change my mind though, if we ever get any rosy-tinted SST-20 emitters.

I’m interested in one with the Samsung emitter.

Yes, I’m using the awful quote button!
I’m reading through threads, so if this has been answered later, sorry.
I’m totally up for an all copper FW3C. Charge me. I’m happy to pay for at least two (assuming 100ish ea).
Add me to the list!

They don’t exist, and there is no list for them. The only list is for the original aluminum, and even that doesn’t exist yet.