Side-switch flashlights

Reverse (icepick) grip all day, unless the light is uber-tiny like the Olight S1. Then I pinch-grip it.

Handshake grip with thumb on the button. Lens at the front.

I hold mine sideways, gangstah style.

It looks so cool…

Dangit, beat by Lightbringer.

I was going to say I hope it like a Glock with sights on the side of the slide. Not enough “O’s” in coool…

Wolf spider eyes. Showed that to a neighbor one night while we were shooting the breeze. He walked on the pavement going back home!

thumb on the side switch///

(not “COP CARRY”)

’’[[why do they do that?]]”

does that mean that Cops can’t really use side switch lights?

i find it easier to point and direct the light quickly and to more directions, in NonCopCarry

wle

Don’t think I agree with this.

Shadows can make it a lot easier to spot obstacles in your path.

yes i agree, shadows can add detail

i will sometimes move the light around just to get differing shadows

no-shadows is one look, but shadows-from-different-angles, adds a lot of visual info

C’mon. Side switch flashes aren’ t forced to be pinky operated held microphone head high like the pic.

If the switch is rotated to the upside down position the thumb directly underneath easily operates it. The other fingers rest on top providing directional and grip pressure working with the thumb. And if there were a rear switch too the index finger could operate it as well as for example, a Zanflare F1 with again the thumb operating the side switch from underneath. A bit awkward but doable depending on overall flash length, index finger length, hand spread width, etc.

*IDK how ya ergonomically came to this pinky finger restriction. Also the thumb being much stronger than a pinky and an opposing (primate advantage) digit makes it relevant of how a cop would deal with it. They don’t hold anything defensive/offensive in nature that’s inherently in a weak position. Without the thumb in play it’s flat-out in a weak position.

*(Unless I’ve missed something obvious in this thread that explains this pinky forced restriction.)

I avoid sideswitch lights.

For non tactical use, I prefer no switch anywhere, just a rotary ring.

if I Must have a button, I like it on the tail.

“Cop Grip” aka “Ice Pick” grip, is a Tactical hold, intended to be used for bezel strikes in CQC… with lights that have “tactical” bezels, aka DNA samplers…

when combining a flashlight with a pistol… the light should have a Tactical Tail Switch (raised button), so it can be used in a modified cigar grip… pressing the button against the knuckles of the pistol hand:

here are a few more Tactical Flashlight grips to support a pistol. They all rely on a tailswitch, and an ice pick grip.

in the past, maglites were used in an icepick grip, thumb on the switch… This made the body of the maglite into a striking baton. Now flashlights are too short to use as a baton, but the same ice pick grip works for bezel strikes.

For non tactical use with a tailswitch, I often use my index finger, instead of my thumb. And then I dont require a raised button.

This.

It’s not rocket science.

For sideswitch lights hold them switch up with your palm gripping the body tube and your thumb on the button. The head of the light faces forward near the top of your hand. Like you see in pretty much every picture of someone holding a sideswitch light. This gives a secure grip with instant access to the controls with your thumb.

Sure the optimum way to hold a sideswitch light is not a “tactical” grip, but sideswitch lights aren’t “tactical” anyways.

If you want to hold your light head-down in a tactical grip, you’re better off just using a light with a tail switch.

Firelight2……

I surmise he’s referring to holding it head high or higher which then makes a side switch awkward to operate with the thumb on top. Rotating the flash 1/4 turn to the left assuming right-handed allows the thumb to easily operate it from the side and as mentioned above rotating again puts the thumb directly under the switch. How a rear switch then somehow comes into play with a pinky IDK.

All this notwithstanding even if ya held the flash just as the manufacturer intended (switch pointing up) and way over your head then your index finger would naturally replace the thumb and the thumb would support it from underneath instead.

Someone thinks this IS rocket science. :laughing: :open_mouth:

How a rear switch then somehow comes into play with a pinky IDK.

—- i think he meant using CopCarry with a sideswitch, then your pinky is near the head of the light, where the switch is

wle

Why would a cop put his thumb behind a tail cap when there isn’t a switch there to begin with?

copcarry w tail switch: thumb on switch

copcarry with side switch: pinky on switch (awkward)

and vice versa

“Why would a cop put his thumb behind a tail cap when there isn’t a switch there to begin with?”
—maybe to hold it better in case he had to bean a Bad Guy with the light (ie not for the switch)

ha
what i do is ‘wrong’

i have a tail switch light
but i use it in several UnCopCarry modes

usually i just turn it on and adjust mode, then go to Opposite CopCarry mode, where a side switch would be better, but i don;t have a side switch

or cigar mode, between index and middle finger

Seems I intended to post a second reply but didn’t get around to it, or the data vampires ate it mid-send. Oh well.

Using the pinky to press the switch is not very smart. The pinky is made for scratching ears, flagging good tea and pressing Ctrl on the keyboard, not for applying force :stuck_out_tongue: Try using your ring finger next time, it’s much easier.

Like a boss

We seem to be going round in circles a bit here. We could do with some diagrams and shared terminology.

From what I can tell much of this depends on the preference to hold a light either at waist hight or head hight.

How’s this for naming? What other ones are there?

  • Waist height
    • Remote control grip, thumb, very common (e-switch)
    • Upside down grip, forefinger (e-switch)
    • Cigar grip (tail switch)
    • Awkward pinky grip (tail switch), with heavier lights
  • Head height
    • Ice pick grip (tail switch)
    • High pinky grip (e-switch)
    • Pen grip (e-switch)