Did you find anything in the end? Having read through the replies, few seem to be suggesting anything appropriate.
But I think there are some issues with your request. A thrower means a bigger reflector, which if he is wanting a 1” tube light, you simply aren’t going to get.
And most tube lights of 1” will be a rear clicky, as a side clicky will make a light wider a lot of times.
And most AA lights are narrower than 1” because the battery is narrower.
I think it comes down to:
-how much throw
-how pocket friendly
The most obvious multi AA light is probably the Mini Maglite LED. The Pro/Pro + versions offer pretty good performance these days.
There are a few other 2AA lights out there, but choices are limited and most will have a tail switch. I think Shadow used to make one and there is the new Jaxman that looks nice. Not really sure they are better than the Mini Mag though.
I would seriously consider some 3xAAA lights too, nothing wrong with this power source. The Maglite XL50 or XL200 or the Led Lenser P7.2 for instance. Both will give good comparable performance to the Mini Maglite or exceed it.
Out of interest, Led Lenser do offer a 2xAA light as well, slimmer but longer than the p7.2 and slightly less output. Called the P6.2, might be worth considering. As it’ll probably perform well, has a zooming function and is easy to use.
http://www.ledlenser-store.co.uk/torches-c70/p6-2-led-torch-p957
If more throw is needed, then sticking with the Mag theme, there is their new C cell lights, obviously bigger, but bigger means more throw….
And you can run AA to C cell adapters easily in them. But far less pocket friendly than smaller lights.
The mentioned Convoy/XinTD X3 is a nice light and runs on 3xAA, but it’s quite chunky, head about the size of a Mag D cell almost. Or probably similar to the new C cell Mags.
Personally I think 18650 is not the way to go here. Even in built chargers are still charging an 18650, the risks are exactly the same, even if they on first glance don’t appear as obvious.
That said, I did review a nice 18650 compact pocket thrower recently in the form of the Rofis KR20. If you did go 18650, it’d probably do what you are wanting.
Here is also a review of the Maglite XL200, which as a non 18650 pocket friendly tube light, is quite frankly a brilliant light.