I think my treasured A6 BLF Special is lost forever.
Seeking a worthy replacement EDC.
Prefer same battery/size but open to suggestions.
I loved the programming of the A6 BLF Special. It was the warm tint.
Wow, welcome back after 9 years!
The A6 had an XPL, if you had the warm white version, it was likely the 4000k 5A bin.
This review measured it putting out 1500lm and 12,271 cd at 30sec.
Length and format-wise, itās similar to the convoy S2+, these are available in absolutely dozens of anodising colours/drivers/LED options, there are various complaints about the thermal regulation not working well with some of the driver options, though.
If you wanted to build your own light, you could get a convoy S2+ or S6 (slightly deeper reflector) and get a driver from Mtnelectronics with the same firmware.
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I have a newer BLF A6, it is basically the same size as a Convoy S2+ or S3.
If you like the form factor you could get a Convoy S3 (as it has a shelf like the A6 instead of a pill like the S2+ for better thermals).
You can get it with a decently efficient buck driver running a clone of Biscotti UI (called 12-group) and a Nichia 519A emitter in your CCT of maybe 4000k (or a dedomed 5700k for a rosy 4200k with a beam closer to XP-L HI). If you dislike the UI, the S3 is a 20mm driver IIRC but Convoy sells a 20-17mm driver adapter and you could swap in a MTN t13a driver with A6 UI.
Another option if you want something newer and brighter, you could consider an Anduril light with a 21700 battery like an Emisar D4K. It is a bit wider and shorter than the A6 but not by too much.
It is what I EDC, itās very small for the battery size, itās available in a lot of emitter options and has a very programmable UI. I would suggest the dedomed 519a 5700k for that one as the optic is pretty floody, and the new boost driver for efficiency.
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Sorry for your loss - Your A6 might be gone but those memories will last .
I cherish my A6 as it is my first. āRealā flashlight.
Hey I have 2 A6 BLFs one in use and silver one still in box. Great light for years of camping over years. One in box is silver and will maybe be my back up light in backpack. Easy to see in emergencies.
Wish the same was but into a head lamp. Would be perfect for spreed and
distance. Still a great light.
Buzzurdc1
Iām in the same boat here, mine was fully bypassed, and I swapped in my favorite 2700k 7A bin XPL. Dropped it, and it bounced into a drain with rushing water, now itās buried under hundreds of tons of mud somewhere 
Best all around light Iāve ever used, it never left my belt over the 15 yrs or so that Iāve had it. Just bought my brother one a few years ago, and now I canāt even find astrolux clone of them. The convoy s2+ clips are horrible compared to the BLF A6 though and I would never trust them on a light might lose, they constantly are knocked out of the clip. Anyone know of a good all around light with a trustworthy deep carry clip? Iāve been using my FW3C, but it gets hot way too quickly, and I donāt have 3x 7A emitters left 
There are still a few BLF A6ās (āearly onesā, made by Manker) listed on Aliexpress for pretty low prices; follow the link to that topic to see the specific Aliexpress link:
Iāve personally ordered 2 of them myself, because Iāve read about them about them in the past, but at the time I seriously started with this hobby, they were no longer on sale.
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Thanks, Wingman, thatās great.
It looks like they wont ship to the US, perhaps. I might have to wait for a possible group buy re-vival of the A6 or something.
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I received one of the first BLF A6 when they came out. The one without Manker logo. And Iāve had troubles with it from the start. It was a matter of (really) bad tolerances. So I tossed the 18650 body and used the 18350 body from the Astrolux S41. The short battery was no match for the XP-L so I put in a UV led. Et cetera.
Getting a bit older, I tend to take a stroll down memory lane. Regretting I (still) donāt owe a proper functioning BLF A6. With 1600 lumen. I think the discussion above is about this light. The price was not bad, but I always try to get the extra mile out of my gas tank. So I took the US-route.
I adjusted my account in US-dollar, which got me just over the limit to getting a $2 coupon.
All in all I payed (USD 15.73 - USD 2.00 = USD 13.73) x (0.8427 on my creditcard) = ā¬ 11.57 (shipping and VAT included).
IDK but maybe other members from the EU can take advantage of this info.
Edit: corrected the math 
Today, I wouldnāt exchange a 18650 light with another 18650 light when there are the Convoy S21Aās that are nicer to hold if you have slightly bigger handy and have much bigger and more capable batteries. Also available in some colors and MAO coating.
Or even better (imho), the S21G in titanium with copper head. What a beauty!
Got it! It took only 9 days from āclickā to āding-dongā.
I ordered the color āredā, but the missus says itās more like cyclamen (Iām a bit colorblind).
It has cost me about half what I paid for it in 2015, and the quality is superior to the old one.
Double tailspring. Tail PCB prepared for using a lighted tailcap. Thicker retaining rings all round. Et cetera.
Only thing I changed was the OP reflector. I switched it for a 10Ā° TIR lens. And I do like the color!
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I got the blue Manker last year. Replaced the emitter with an epileds cyan, and gave it a blue tail switch as well. Now itās all blue.
The build quality on the Manker is fantastic. I would place it a notch above Convoy S2+'s, for me the quality difference is noticeable. Finish and fit is very high quality.
I had heard about the driver - wasnāt impressed by the UI myself. āReversingā modes by long half pressing felt very awkward to me. I feel itās faster just to rapidly press forward to get to the level I want, but maybe thatās just me. I swapped it out for a Convoy driver.
Being able to take the head off without messing with a pill is fantastic for modding or just swapping optics. Compared to pill based lights like the S2+ or shelf based like the S3, I find this style superior to either of those. I wonder why more manufacturers didnāt adopt this style, for enthusiasts and modders.
I will buy a few more of these hosts. A pity it doesnāt come in other colours apart from the red and blue by Manker.
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Are these still available? Tried some of the old links but no joy.
Try this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006268026177.html
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Yea thatās the same one Iāve been trying but it says canāt be delivered to your address? Weird.
Sometimes itās region locked. That is weird. Try doing a Google search instead, for example āaliexpress manker a6ā or site:aliexpress.com manker a6
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Do they still use A6 driver with ATtiny or is it a clone?
I am wondering if the newer BLF A6 are missing moonlight mode or is it an invisible snake light mode?
Mine came with moonlight at exactly 0.00000 lumens.