a little cheaper here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-1400L-5modes-Aluminum-alloy-Camping-Flashlight-Torch-Handstrip-/280837431496?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item41633720c8
But some day ago I have seen this light under $17, I don’t know where.
Dammit, the ones I found earlier were 3 mode, but that may have been a properly list uf-980, I’d not noticed the modes before :~
Nope, just checked, the cheapo’s are five mode, the uf-980 listed ones are three mode but the working current is listed at 450 - 600ma :~ they go for thirty quid, no charger listed so their either massively under driven or have bum drivers 
Mmmm… I would say those bezel and tail cap are made of aluminum (polished) and not SS 
Likely quite true, they must need to cut corners somewhere, ally vs stainless I can cope with, an underdriven 980 is blasphemous…. J)
I was thinking the exact same thing. Nice find guys.
It’s definitely not the right driver - 5 mode :~
Received mine yesterday.
Let me preface the following with : I don’t own a 980L or a TB-D7.
This is my impression based on what I have read here at BLF , can physically see
and to other lights I have on hand…… Y.M.M.V…
Shipping time was acceptable (less than 2 weeks ) and the light was well packaged.
Tracking number came at no additional cost…
The threads are good, and everything was at least moderately lubed.
Finish is very nice, and everything fits as it should. The one thing that disliked was the knurling. I.M.O it should have been deeper, but the cuts were clean and confined to the appropriate areas. The o-rings were where they should be , none were undersized or torn. 
I compared it with Foy’s review of his UF980L
Many of the things Foy reported are present in this light.
Driver is different , 5 mode vs 3 and has no branding on the back. There’s a spring soldered to the driver and a retaining ring.
I took it out last night a little after midnight for some playtime and even without a “top notch” cell it put out a massive amount of light. There’s 2 street light in my area and both are far enough away that they don’t contribute much to the yard. This one easily bested any p60 lights I have. And posed some serious competition for my TK35 clone.
I’ll rule that a draw, because I really like that one.
The idea that this light that was nearly half as much , ” beat it ” wouldn’t please
me very much.
final impression :
It’s not a exact copy of the 980L, but it’s a very well made light.
The light output is excellent , I.M.O it was well worth the price.
I really wish you had said its crap…… I’m trying not to buy any lights this month, just some drivers and stars and cells for some projects, but I’ll probably buy the drivers in sets of five and have three projects ear marked…. Plus I’d really like a 980 style light…… Can you check the tail cap current? Or post pics of the driver? It sounds like its driven well at least. Glad your happy though :bigsmile:
Yeah, good to know you liked it
Have questions tho: does it have PWM (check all modes)? Tint? Beam pattern? (good or with artifacts)
Thanks 
Can you check the tail cap current?
Or post pics of the driver?
does it have PWM (check all modes)?
Tint?
Beam pattern? (good or with artifacts)
Quick answers before I have to bolt. :
Cool White tint.
There’s some easily visible rings on a white wall from about 10 feet away.
No dark spots or anything I’d call ugly .
Outside last night I didn’t see them at all.
It’s a bit after 7:00 and I have to meet the wife for dinner around 9:00
(45 minute drive to the restaurant )
Will get farther into this for you all later tonight. :bigsmile:
Haha, no prob, Master :bigsmile: Thanks for the info 
The heat sink looks pitiful thin.
If it don’t pull @ 5amps it ain’t the 980L. Wrong driver.
Streamer, it’s not 980L. I can tell you that without having either of them :bigsmile: It’s a similar host with lower quality and, of course, it’s cheaper. So quality wise it could be a nice light.
Someone obviously didn’t read the whole thread…. 
Yup :bigsmile:
OK I’m back.
Need to correct some things from earlier.
Not a retaining ring , part of the pill… Looked like it, but wasn’t. ( DUH !)
Not cool white. Just plain old white , similar to what I see in a
ordinary fluorescent bulb. Playing with it in the restaurant parking lot , then
more outside tonight when we got home changed my mind
(not enough of a blue tint for cool white.)
The spring on the driver fell off in my hand while messing around with it.
Have to tell you it wasn’t much of a spring. I put the battery back in
without it , and the light worked just like it did before.
I’m not going to put it back on, don’t think it’s worth the effort.
The pill looks very much like the one in Foy’s review ,
His star is black & says Cree XM-L-H , Cree is at the top of the star,
with XM-L-H is on the bottom.
The led star on mine is white & reads Cree XM-L , the designation is confined
to the top of the star.
Put on my spectacles and took a better look at the led. It’s a XML ,
matches description found here . Cree - Flashlight Wiki
6 yellowish strips & 3 wires at the bottom.
Try as I might couldn’t detect any PWM.
Not sure how sensitive to it , I really am.
But it’s may be worth a mention that most strobe modes irritate my eyes,
in a very short period of time.
Will add tailcap readings tomorrow. My DMM , has left the building.
Both of my daughters have been bitten by the flashlight bug too.
Daddy is so proud ! :bigsmile:
The 14 yr old left this afternoon to stay a few days at her BFF’s house, she took my DMM , two of my newer lights, gitd o-rings,tailcaps and batteries for both.
Sorry Folks, no pictures. My cellphone camera is junk. Tried a few pics tonight and
they were worthless.
NO kidding... your daughters? 14yr old? Congrats to you!
Well, my daughters don't seem to follow this hobby much, except the 2yr old - that one showing promise. Always took my lights away to play with - reverse engineered some too... just so hope this continues so 
Anyhow, thanks for the report. Seems like a really good buy. Look forward for your tailcap readings.
First let me apologize for the delay.
I had to spend a few days cleaning up behind others. |(
Never underestimate the ability of stupid people
(even in small groups), to screw up what really should be simple…
But it did pay well… :bigsmile:
Tail cap readings on a Junk Fire 3000 with protection.
(my Sanyo 2600”s went with my oldest girl.)
High 3.04
Medium 1.45
Low 720 ma
I.M.O. it’s not a 980, but it’s a pretty decent light none the less.
There are thing that could be better. The bezel and tail cap insert are polished aluminum rather than stainless. There’s machine marks showing on both, but it don’t show unless you look closely.
I mentioned the knurling earlier, I think it should have been deeper,
but it’s still easy to keep a good grip on.
Thanks Pulsar 13…
All 3 of my kids are into guns, ammo, flashlights and the like.
It runs in the family. Mom was in the Army
and Dad is , well , Dad.
They go with us to the range , hunting , fishing , camping & etc.
My middle girl is a excellent shot. Her groups with my M&P.40
at 7 yards are pretty impressive, and she can field strip & clean anything I own.
I’m pretty sure it helps that if they ask about or show interest in something, I take time to show them what I’m doing & explain why.
I try to participate with and be supportive of them as much as possible.
So Far , So Good !!