Yes it does. It’s the size and shape I had in mind. I do want a strictly on/off tail switch still along with a quad XP-G3 led set up. BD06 has the charging ability to keep most people happy to not have to buy an additional piece of equipment/charger. It’s tube is 32.8mm and the Convoy L2/L6 being 35mm but having the desired nearly flush fitting tail cap for easy holstering.
A 40-45mm head, 140-150mm total length, 35mm body, e-switch that doubles as a charging port. A quad XP-G3 S5 on copper with a tight throw TIR optic. Modes set by e switch only;moonlight, low, medium, 3-4 amp high and 8 amp turbo. UI to allow long press for strobe. I dislike quick mode scrolling to cause accidental strobe. The electronics then needs potting or epoxy. Water proofed as much as possible, I’ve worked some really wet shifts where nothing on me was close to dry. The bezel needs some height to better protect the optics and be stainless steel. It still should have the detachable tactical ring and thread protector. It needs some mass like with a thick walled head and heavy body tube to give confidence that this light is the one light you grab when it gets bad. That mass will also help handle turbo’s heat. I have a lot of lights that are toys and only a few that I would consider as tools. I may have to send some emails.
I like the sound of this. Add a tail switch, a tactical ring like the L2 and L6, and bump up the head diameter (although I’ve decided I would rather a smaller 35mm head and run a triple instead of quad set up that way it’s more pocket friendly), and then it should be good. I completely agree about potting the electronics and the waterproofing as well as the thick body. I would also like to see options on the optics as I prefer flood with a little throw. Now I just wonder who we need to talk to about making this?
That was my first thought but I was hoping this would take a different direction, like as in smaller head. I like compactness lately. The other light that sprang to mind is the DQG 26650.
I like the looks of the new Supfire and will keep it in mind for a personal build. The DQG is similar to what I’m thinking of as well. At first I wanted a 40mm head but after thinking about it more, a smaller head would be practical for me because then I would actually carry the light. The Shadow JM20 and JM07 are also other options. The JM20 is more along the compact pocket size and the JM07 is more along the duty size. I would still buy whichever ends up happening but preference is towards a more compact light.
Gotta say once again as the owner of 5 26650 tube lights, the Shadow JM20 is really worth a look. It has an integrated shelf for heat dissipation, on/off tail switch and an electronic side switch. I do not like the system for mounting the tail switch, it is just not pretty or elegant but it works. The switch is soldered on the side of the driver board, but it is only 1 board, not one of the T boards. I need to see if one of our driver gurus could make a board for the light that would fit and is a FET + 1, 2 or 3.
I personally like the side switch. But, it needs a hotter driver. The venerable Trustfire A8 that the BLF A8 was built upon is still in circulation as well. Maybe a version 2 of the A8 with a modern driver and other goodies is in order. Just got ahold of the BLF A8 and it really fits the hand well!
If I see that correctly I believe they plugged the tail switch? I would rather leave the tail switch and plug the side switch. I do have to say though, it does look good.
How big is the head the X6? Basically just make a 26650 tube for it?
Gotta touch on this quick as I gotta go, I built a F13 Triple, a Raysoon light. 26650 cell and Ledil CUTE-3 optics. Easy enough to quick change optics if needed for flood vs more throw.
Pretty awesome light for this, there may be something very similar with a side clicky…
Keep in mind that virtually all side e-switch lights have a parasitic drain on the cell. For EDC purposes where the light gets used a lot and the cell recharged this might not have any bearing on anything at all. For an EDC that seldom gets used but is carried daily for those emergent situations, a partially drained cell due to the switch draw could be a big deal.
A light with both tail switch and side e-switch would be ideal, lockout ability at the tail, easy mode changing on the side.
I know there was a side clicky light much like the Raysoon F13 but I forget what it was called. Maybe we need to get someone like Convoy to design a new light as a tube light based on the 26650 format to keep it as small as possible and yet be well made?
Just remembered that Hoop is planning a Maglite ML25LT build, that would be one to watch. I chopped one and made it a triple and then put a tail clicky in it, really nice smooth light for easy jacket or backpack carry. Single 26650, very sleek.
How many do we number here anyway? Could we potentially fuel a “group buy” from Hoop? From what I’ve seen, a light from him would be as good or better than a factory light…
I think a redesigned Convoy BD06 is our best bet to get it the way we want. I’m ok with both a side mode switch and an on/off tail switch but would just as soon as have only a tail switch. I do like Dale’s modded Mag but I think it would be outside my budget. Speaking of budget, what kind of price are we looking at for this? I want to keep it affordable but at the same time I don’t want to set a price so low it’s not realistic to get the features and quality we want.
I just noticed that the BD series with “The Miller” help is a side clicky. I’ve read complaints in the past about side switches breaking off boards when direct mounted. I’m wondering how waterproof and damage proof a USB micro port can be made? That side switch should be electronic. A few extra TIR’s with each light would make it a might more flexible, something you really can’t do with traditional reflector. I use equipment, I think of things that would make it better or more user friendly, I have no skills to actually do most of it. This is why I started a thread to hopefully get the ball rolling.
Over six years ago we had a night time shooting the day before Christmas. Three officers from another agency responded, one had a working flashlight. I was already carrying a Solarforce with an epoxied dropin. I thought I could do better than what was normally carried. So I just started putting lights together, Solarforce bodies, good 1-3 mode dropins and a bit of epoxy. Only a few agencies in my area actually issue a light, most are officer purchased. A lot of us are cheap. My lights are about $5.00 over cost and I’ve put together about 300 to date. I’ve been using Intl-Outdoor dropins since the time he started carrying them. To date I’ve only had to fix 2-3 lights that I’ve put together. I don’t do this for profit I do this so my area first Responders have good reliable equipment. In that six years the manufacturers have caught up and surpassed what I’m doing. I’m thinking it’s time to get a properly designed and professionally built light into service that covers most of the first Responders needs.
Criteria I think is important. Short, if it’s too long it gets left in the car or at home. If it’s too complicated it get replaced. If it’s fragile it’s worthless. TIR lenses because they resist breakage better then traditional lens. I believe the best throwing TIR’s throw like op reflectors, this gives some throw with good flood. Easy multi-mode selection for the job at hand. Built tough enough to take to war, this also give the user confidence in his gear. I picked 4 XP-G3 over 3 XP-L’s because I think 4 smaller LED’s will throw and flood equal to 3 larger LED’s given the same head. Not set in stone I could still see 3 XP-L’s instead of XP-G3’s. 5700K I place output over CRI but do realize the 6500K’s are just color washing glare masters. Must be 26650 for capacity and output.
A great first Responder light would also be a great BLF light and a great tool. I see a few more people jumping on this thread and I hope that the talent here will bring this to be.
That little chopped maglite looks awesome!