With all the xxxFire lights on Chinese websites, why has no one bothered to clone the best selling light ever, but with a brighter emitter?
I would love a nice, focus-able XM-L powered by 3 or 4 "D" cells, but to get one I have to build my own with a Malkoff drop-in, and that has a fixed focus. I wonder why they have never gone after Maglite's market, but chose to invade Surefire's design instead?
Yeah, D cell powered cheapo light would be awesome, agree on that!
I have bought 3 noname D cell Mag look alikes and will have to mod them, but ability to get pre-made and cheap light with ability to use common drop ins/drivers etc would be cool!
Just out of curiosity, would 4.5v (3x "D" cell) fry a driver made for an 18650 (4.2v)? I wouldn't think so.
It would seem to be relatively easy to mfg an adapter that would let you put a p60 drop-in into a maglite.
The Chinese use Li-ion almost exclusively, so it would, at most, be a 2D with 26650 batts. I think that the whole Maglite design is so famous and exclusive, no one wants to bother with it. Actually the stock design does not lend itself well at all, to a high powered led.
There are focusing maglite mods out there. The Heatsinks done by CPF der witchel for the SST 50 could be used with an XM-L and they have a pedestal for focusing the Maglite. Just use one of those with an XM-L or just do a SST 50 or 90. Use the stock (led mag) reflector with it. I believe there are other heatsinks available on CPF, but I would have to search for them. Der Witchel might even be diong a heatsink for the XM-L, try sending him a PM.
Try looking at the Der Witchel heatsink. I believe it can and has been used for an XM-L.
I read some time ago that Maglite is famous for suing clone makers. I wonder if they would go to China with that attitude as well.
I'm glad there aren't clones and I don't think I'd want to participate in encouraging them either. Even though I don't have a purpose for owning such a light these days, I respect what they've done for the flashlight industry and they're still a quality, American made product. They came up with a simple, iconic design and it's great to see it's become such a timeless piece. They essentially have one product, so more power to them for protecting themselves. It's not like they're Apple and suing other companies because their flashlights produce light 
I've heard the rumors about them suing the crap out of people - hence the "M*g" usage instead of "Maglite".
Troop - I use the same AMC7135 driver for my Mag builds as my P60 builds. Only issue with 3 D alkaline cells is their lack of ability to provide enough amps, which is why I use eneloops or rechargable C batteries.
Brinkmann was one of the companies that used to make Maglite clones, they got sued. Ive seen some cool maglite to XML, and sst50 mods on CPF.
I had bought an sst50 1D Mag from a member, but he made heatsinc style grooves in the head a little to deep and one snapped. Managed to epoxy it together but my 1D red Mag lost a 1/4 inch in the head which messed with the flood to throw making a fugly beam with a dark spot ( going to try a DX aspheric lens in it befor I give up on it)
Fixed that for ya! 
Speaking of lawsuits, I read (either here or CPF) that Maglite shutdown Mac’s customs due to some sort of legal issue. I honestly can’t understand that at all. If someone buys a product, modifies it, then wants to sell it for a profit, how is that any kind of patent infringement? But then again, I’m no lawyer so what would I know of these things?
There was this impressive bit of knockoffery.
I was just making a powerful demonstration haha
Those two seem similar in how they wield their arrogant power in simple concept lawsuits. It’s a rectangle! It produces light (exaggeration)!
Oh great… :~ All I can say is get ’em while you can!