Just build a little franken-light based on a FiveMega 18500 C body. Pretty happy with it, very classic feel. Still working on finding a “perfect” driver as I want good li-ion performance but still usable on AA in an emergency. Anyways, this got me thinking. There are a fair number of AA/14500 lights out there, and many 1x18650/2xCR123. Is anybody making 18500 lights? With the latest cells you are seeing 2300mAh which isn’t far off from 18650 performance. And with some manufacture resources it would surely be possible to design a halfway decent wide range driver that can utilize both the 18500 cell and a AA. Cell spacer isn’t 100% requirement (depending on springs and contacts used) but can be easily accomplished with o-rings or a simple plastic sleeve so that really shouldn’t be a significant impediment.
I think I’ve seen 18500 bodies for the Jaxman E2L and the Lumintop FWxA lights. Not sure if there are others, though didn’t malkoff offer a 1.5 body that would work that way at some point?