BTW, just got this:
"Dear Maglite.com Visitor:
Thank you for your interest in Mag Instrument and its products. We are pleased to report that Mag will soon be adding MAG-LED flashlights to its product line.
If these products have been a long time coming, its because the MAG-LED Technology has taken a long time to develop to the point where it is feasible to make an LED flashlight that meets Mag Instrument's high standards of quality, durability, style and function.
Now, after years of research & development, testing and refinement, Mag Instrument is committed to introducing, in early 2006, a line of MAG-LED flashlights. Like Mag's incandescent-lamp flashlights, these newest members of the Maglite® flashlight family will have the style, performance, benefits and features that both professionals and consumers have come to expect from a Maglite® flashlight, including the fact that they are built for a lifetime of service. The Maglite® design tradition will be instantly recognizable in them, and they will offer the beam-focusing capability that has always been a feature of Mag® flashlights, AND MORE!
Again, thank you for your interest in Mag Instrument and its products. We look forward to the rollout of the MAG-LED flashlights in the near future.
Sincerely,
The Maglite Team"
I still have my heavily modified 4-D cell Mag-Lite from over 20 years ago. Like Munk, I keep it in the car. D-ring tailcap, updated reflector w/ krypton bulbs, but that's about it. I like it that I can unscrew the front and stand it up and use it as a lantern, but have to be careful not to knock it down. With the D-ring tail cap I can also hang it more easily, and with the bezel off it really lights up a large area if you can hang it up that way.
I have a mini mag lite that has held up well, a 2-C cell for my daughter, and two 3-D cells on the walls in clips leading out the back and in the pantry. I am looking forward to seeing if these can be upgraded to the new technology, not sure, as I would like to keep them.
I almost ruined the 4-D ML years ago by leaving it on the seat of my car in super hot weather and the batteries pretty much exploded inside the case. Made a baking soda paste and scrubbed the whole thing out and salvaged it, but the metal inside is still permanently etched from the acid.
20 years ago when he was a cop my brother carried one of these before upgrading to a top of the line rechargeable Streamlight, mounted in a charger in the patrol car (those were nice units), and he and his partner favored Duracells in the ML. Said they ran a bit heavier than others and provided a bit more "oomf" if necessary to thump someone with it. (Have to be careful though as the big ML's are easily lethal!)
I also have it on my list to get one of these great conversions for the Mag that John told us about, as the output on those is amazing.
Yvsa, one other thing that I don't think anyone else has mentioned, is that when used with a handgun the smaller Surefires and Streamlights, etc., etc., are way better than the bigger lights. You can use the Harris technique, which is what I learned, or some of the Surefires and others have ridges on the bodies that allow you to hold the light in your left and activate it while holding the pistol normally.
For a dedicated house gun having a light like the Streamlight M-3X is perfect, but it is a pain IMO if you want to carry the gun as you need a special holster. I have one on the Kel-Tec Sub-9 I got from Spectre, and it adds almost zero bulk, mounts easily and is rock solid, and really lights up the target.
For pistols though I just usually go to a vintage Surefire 8X w/ the B-90 battery packs, and for EDC an Innova X-5.
Norm
It has replaced my CMG Ultra for city EDC.
