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

BLF A6 - actually got better with time (double springs)
BLF Q8 - long term reliable product (Sofirn gave us new LED options too)
FW3A - 1 month in and ???

Maybe Thorfire/Sofirn would be interested in a group buy for a popular, relatively easy to manufacture design… they even have LH351Ds.

TK verifies that no lumens are lost, but candela is indeed reduced.

Agreed. Or maybe BLF should talk to Gene Malkoff: I know he has been toying with a programmable light. Yes, it would be over $100, but . . . Oh, I’m kidding. Maybe.

Chuck

TK, were you able to see if there were any other quiet changes, like to the driver or switch assembly?

In the midst of all the concerned discussion, I do want to thank Neal for bringing the change to our attention. I hope Lumintop listens to the feedback he has collected.

Instead of the Tool AA, you could have mentioned the Tool AAA, advertised as available with a 219B emitter, but as far as I know, has actually been shipping with a 219C (although like the FW3A, reported to be a decent tinted one), for over a year:
http://www.lumintop.com/tool-ti.html

Bulb Cree XP-G2 R5 LED Nichia 219BTLED

* edit - fixed typo

Somewhat sad isn’t it . :person_facepalming: . :frowning:

There’s a thought. :beer: . A great thought in fact.
If Lumintop won’t play ball… find a manufacturer that will. :+1:

Different optic and code no longer valid, is that correct?

Two years in the making and less than two months before the changes start. Hmm.

Lucky me, bought in time.
Mike

+1…. :+1: … Thank you Neal!! . :beer:

Yes, definitely. Thank you, Neal, for telling us about the change! :+1:

Well, with all of this in mind, I’ll just go get an Emisar D4/FF E07 instead.

Thank you indeed, Neal. Very nice of you to let us know about the change.

Indeed, I bought a Tool Ti that was explicitly advertised as 219B, but to my disdain arrived with a 219C. Fortunately, it’s a really good 219C and it remains one of the best tinted emitters in my collection today. I unfortunately can’t say the same about the green 219Cs that came in my Emisar D4.

Yep,thanks for the heads up Neal.
So I order the SST-20 with a turboglow gasket that fits FW3A and the carlco 105xx optic. What’s going to work and what’s not going to work? I really do want the ar coated lens and the original optic.

I suppose you could get the sapphire lens available on Neal’s site, but, in my opinion, sapphire is not the best material for a flashlight lens.

Hi Neal, jus to let you know I don't accept this for my ordered copper version (order 5240) and would rather have the original Carclo Optics 10511 with AR Coated Glass (just like the original version please), as it was stated on your website when making the order. Thank you!

:BEER:

- SAM -

I feel badly for Neal. Talk about “bait and switch”… it was done to him first and foremost. No heads up / warning? He just gets a light to discover the change. Mind you, ToyKeeper did alert us to the possibility of an optic change, which many of us here reacted to with “Please, NO!”. Then, less than 2 weeks later, this happens.

Excellent point made about Lumintop not having to do any of the design engineering for this light. They were given the blueprints already complete and probably even all the supplier sources lined up. Naturally, they make less money because of the design licensing. But hey… you get paid for your efforts, right?

I also think it’s in very poor form for Lumintop to have done this. I really don’t see the cost advantage here, given the volume. This is a “niche” flashlight. It’s not even broken out into mainstream promotion yet. If they make just a thousand dollars or so more profit over the course of the production, that’s not really enough to warrant this change, by cheapening the light.

They need to understand that because this was a BLF project initiative, there’s a community behind it that is sensitive to changes. Acknowledge this mistake.

EDIT: I see Neal is offering parts, thankfully. The optic price isn’t bad, but with glass it adds up to another $7.50 USD. A bit much… but at least it means the original design is still in reach.

I’ll cherish my original release FW3A and look forward to the next BLF project… hopefully not contracted out to Lumintop. After all, remember all the QC issues we faced. Lumintop was really slipshod on this, compared to other makers.

To be fair, Lumintop delivered what was requested for the Group Buy.

Any changes they make after the group buy is done is up to them.

Thanks Neal, we all appreciate it!

:BEER:

- SAM -