I have realized something about this community.

“Lower output reliable lights to save lives”

It’s not going to save anybody’s life if it’s not there when needed, we usually keep the brightest light around.

99% of said life-saving situations is to actually being able to see in the dark.

To the fella asking if a strike bezel has ever had a use I can say yes to that. Being unable to carry a personal firearm when traveling to and from my duty station, I EDC a folding pocket knife and of course a flashlight. I used to carry a Klaurus XT11 with the aggresive strike bezel. Sitting at a stop light one afternoon a questionable person approached the window of my truck and asked for change and I didnt have any. He kept asking and getting a little more aggresive with his tone and pleading. Meanwhile his hand was on the doorsill and he starting sliding it further into the truck as if reaching for something. Not wanting to eacalate anything I pushed his hand back firmly. He then proceeded to shove his whole arm in the window across my body. Now I was mad and pulled the flashlight with my left hand since I was pushing his arm away from my body with my right and whacked his forearm with it like a baton. He started yelling at me and wildly grabbing around so I jabbed pretty hard with the strike bezel a few times and he jumped back from the truck. Now Im looking for somewhere to pull away but traffic still wasnt moving. Meanwhile he is kicking my front tire and slapped my mirror forward and Im fumbling for my cell phone which slid somewhere in the tussle. Finally the light turns green and traffic pulls away, I drive about a block and pull into a lot to call the Police. Turns out they have had several calls about this man being forcefull and snatching things from vehicles. I do think a flashlight has a place as defensive tool even to average people. The situation did not warrant deadly force with a firearm or even my pocketknife and the officers agreed that I made the right choice in self defense. I feel this was a scerario that is more commonplace to average citizens than combat or intruders in the home so maybe strike bezels have a place for a low level self defense and there are many classes offered that teach how to use the small keychain kubatons and Im
sure the same techniques apply to maybe a Convoy S2 also. In combat training using a flashlight combined with a pistol we train a few different ways of use. Never with a WML on a pistol since you may not want to point the pistol at a non combatant but still need a light. Using multiple styles of holding the flashlight we practice scenarios of coming around a corner and finding yourself face to face with another person. Being so close ID can be difficult, having the pistol extended in front of you becomes a liability, either in unitentionally pushing it into someone and having the slide come out of battery or tucking too close to yourself and trying to fire can cause the weapon to not cycle properly causing a jam or misfeed. With a good flashlight in the other hand we practice striking towards the face or hands with it to create distance and maintain suprise. At worst you poke a friendly instead of shooting blindly in a panic, and youve given yourself a split second longer to assess the situation. Any ways long rant but yes strike bezels on flashlights have a place in and out of combat. But with any tool out there training and practice is critical. Muscle memory is king.
Take it as you will.

I like it! Thanks for the insider info, especially the proper use in a weapon drawn close-range situation. Makes a lot of sense for a police officer or licenced carry individual.

I’m from Canada however and things are very, very different here. Weapons of any kind are totally prohibited. The laws here state that if you’re caught carrying a weapon or anything that can be used as a weapon and you aren’t in the process of an activity requiring it or on your way to/from said activity you can be charged with possession. It’s also illegal in most cases to use a weapon for self defense as the law states you’re only allowed to use reasonable force (or some other specific “force” term) to prevent further attack. In Canada you would be fine shoving the assailants arm back out of your truck but the moment you struck him with the bezel you could easily be charged with assault with a weapon.

I’ve done some research on the topic and here was kind of the easiest way to understand Canada’s law: if you’re a woman walking your dog in a coyote prevalent area and you’re carrying bear mace that’s a possession charge. (regular mace is prohibited for sale or ownership in Canada) If you’re a woman in bear country walking your dog carrying bear mace that’s allowed but if you were to be attacked by a rapist in that situation and used your mace you’d be charged with assault with a weapon. You could use a walking stick to ward the attacker off but not an actual weapon. You could also only use the walking stick to prevent further attack and the moment the attacker stopped attacking if you struck him or chased after him or tried to puncture him during the attack with it you’re liable to be charged

I’m glad to hear that Tacticool attachments are indeed applicable and I also like how you enlightened me as to why cops don’t ever use WML. Hadn’t ever crossed my mind that you’d have to point your gun at a 5 year old to identify them in the dark without a separate flashlight in your other hand.

I have had to unfortunately take lives, and also I do EDC a knife, light and gun 24/7. If they are not on me (only when taking a shower,) they are all within reach. Thanks to those who have been mature in their posts.

Great exmaple of why you shouldn’t have your windows down driving through busy areas where you will have to stop frequently at least.

My S-I-L just got a boob job, so now I’m gonna have to send her the harness with Anduril in the light so she can do Lightning displays and Candlelight, settable strobe so she can stop waterfall action and ceiling fans with her boobs! So if she puts on a brass support cup and jogs will there be thunder to accompany the lightning?

:person_facepalming:

And we’re not taken seriously. Go figure.

Stopping in traffic with any of my windows down is one thing I make sure to NEVER do. Poverty can drive people to desperation, and on top of that, you never know when there’s an opportunistic robber biding to pounce on you.

That also goes for when you see two men on a motorcycle coming up behind your vehicle, whether you’re moving or standing still. KEEP THOSE WINDOWS UP, PEOPLE.

Good description.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Good points all around.

I once long ago watched a news report/documentary on Brazil and during heavy traffic periods where highway traffic moves slowly there are many cases where people on overpasses will drop 2 person carry boulders onto cars below and then a crew at street level pounces on the vehicle to remove the valuables through the shattered windows

Haha. Also, I apologize to anyone my thread may have offended. I in no way meant to offend or degrade anyone. That was not my intention.

Which flashlights can I count on to “save my life” while operating and how few lumens do I need before my flashlight is tactical enough to operate with?

Yeah, that was a thing, but it was mostly a short-lived strategy. Even on huge cities there aren’t too many overpasses, and folks with large stones on top of said overpasses is easy for the 5-0 to spot.

I said what I said about motorcycles because the majority of traffic robberies in places with cheap access to two-seat bikes is done like that. The maneuverability and acceleration potential of the Honda CG and the like makes them perfect for smash-and-grab.

No A/C in Florida :person_facepalming: It was my old 1st gen 4runner so finding parts amd making the effort to fix 30 year old A/C components for a rusty old work truck was not in the budget, have to be able to afford all these flashlights! Wasnt even a bad area either. Now I ride a motorcycle everyday so I carry an actual collapsable baton as well as flashlight and a small fixed blade knife that I dont have to fumble to open with gloves on.

Yeah motorcycles aren’t something I thought of but it makes great sense.

lol What do you mean easy to spot!! Me and this guy are just carrying this 70-lb boulder over the overpass to our landscaping job. The boss is such a cheap prick he won’t even give us a wheel barrow!

The one that has a defibrillator built-in.

Gear is tactical if it is made and used for that purpose. There are tactical lights, that are built for use in tactical theaters and are used their. That is what I was referring to. Lights built and made for only one purpose. To use during a life or death fight.

CREEXHP70LED

I’m just trying to understand why and or where you would prefer low lumen over high in a tactical situation. Personally I like turbo.

2 offhand. In cqb where you just want to light up what’s in front of you without ruining your vision once you turn off the light, and when you just want to light up what’s in front of you without giving away your position to everyone within a square mile.