Testing the striking bezel of a flashlight on a coconut

[Guardian Gear]

I hope this is the right section to put this. Mods if not please feel free to move to somewhere you think it fits better. I was not sure, but wanted to share.

Jdthesaint and I thought this could be a fun experiement and Lord knows I love to smash shit when I get the chance.

Check the vid.

[CWL]

What would happen if you hit coconuts with a similar flashlight that only had a standard/regular bezel?

I would imagine that you'd get the same results.

[tyr_shadowblade]

And most importantly, remember to "put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up."

[Gollnick]

What would happen if you hit coconuts with a similar flashlight that only had a standard/regular bezel?

I would imagine that you'd get the same results.

An excellent question.

What you can notice in this nicely-done video is that he starts out striking straight down and has no luck breaking the coconut. Then he unconsciously learns to hold the light at a slight angle and that is when he starts being able to break the coconuts open with some better results.

When you strike something, you generate a force, F=MA where F= force, M= mass, the mass of the object you are striking with plus the mass of your hand, and A= the magnitude of acceleration. We usually think of acceleration as going faster, but in physics it means any change in velocity including stopping. What this means is the faster you swing that flashlight, the more change in velocity there will be when it hits, so the more force will be created.

Anyway, when you strike straight down, that force is spread out over the entire circumference of the bazel of the light. A "striker bazel" has breaks in that circumference, so it somewhat concentrates the force. But, when you strike at a slight angle, all of the force is naturally concentrated onto just one point. You don't need a striker bazel to get this best-case concentration of force, what you need is a little angle... and angles are free. They may not look quite so cool, but they're free... and a lot more effective.

[singularity35]

Of course you strike with an angle(point) instead of the whole bezel. In eskrima, when a you hit a glancing blow(some instructors teach this for a more serious effect) with the corner of the stick, you inflict lacerations. Especially in areas with little or no muscles like the head, elbows, knees, and hands. This principle or technique is especially effective with the "dos puntas" or short stick. "Dos puntas" is actually a good style to practice if you intend to use your lights for SD(striking).

[mercop]

I am not a proponent of lights with strike bezels since the turn an improvised impact weapon into an obvious edged weapon.

The test I use is to have someone put both their hands on a table, I blindfold them and smash one hand with a regular flashlight, and then the other with a light with a strike bezel. Then I ask "which hurt more".

Because of the angle of attack even a light with a regular bezel is going to put concentration on a small surface area increasing force.- George

[CL01]

I have to agree that it really doesn't (Or shouldn't) matter whether the light has a "strike" bezel or not, as long as you're using angles (Hitting with 1 area of the bezel), it should do the same thing. And, if by chance you find yourself defending that action, you won't have such a hard time defending a plain bezel light.

Pretty neat though. Smashing coconuts looked like almost as much fun, but a little less messy, than smashing watermelons.

[blt-2-drg]

Cool vid.

I've used my Surefire E2D Defender in a defensive situation before. I was on vacation in another state when i was approached by 2 obvious homeless men asking for change. When i said i didnt have any one of them started to scoot around me towards my backside. I then shuffled sideways and turned so both were in front of me again then the guy that was trying to get behind me lunged at me putting both arms around me. I managed to get myself loose while grabbing the Surefire from my right pocket. At the same time the other guy grabbed at my throat then i swung my arm connecting the flashlight to the side of his head. He went down and the other guy ran, maybe thinking i had a knife. This all happened in a matter of seconds. My hand was on the flashlight clipped inside my pocket when they approached me. It was a secure feeling since i didnt have my pistol there. The Surefire survived, its just missing some finish from the blood. Who knows what could have happened if i didnt have it with me.

[AeroNautiCal]

Well, this appears to show that if you repeatedly attack a stationary coconut with enough force, using a torch strike bezel, the coconut shell will eventually break.

Human attackers rarely adopt the 'stationary coconut position' during violent encounters...

[Guardian Gear]

Damn, you guys really know how to analize the shit out of something. It was a fun test to smash a coconut with a flash light no more no less. have a nice day.

[sumtinfancy]

Damn, you guys really know how to analize the shit out of something.

Lol

It was a fun test to smash a coconut with a flash light no more no less. have a nice day.

Really? That's all it was? I thought the whole point was to see or to at least get some kind of an idea as to how effective that particular flash light would be in self defence scenario, I assumed the reason you stated that the coconut was harder than a human skull was because it was being used to simulate a human skull.

If you really want to just have fun smashing coconuts I suggest you use a claw hammer, its much more fun and really gets the job done.

[Jack Black]

For coconuts, can I humbly suggest there's nothing finer than a leather billy (round jack)? One practiced swipe and you're left with the edible part which can then be simply sliced off with a knife.



(That IS a coconut, I just have big hands! )

[TheAndrew]

Damn, you guys really know how to analize the shit out of something. It was a fun test to smash a coconut with a flash light no more no less. have a nice day.

So.. you still going to carry them at your store?

poor EDC Canada just trying to have some fun and everyone takes it away from you.

[Guardian Gear]

Yes, going to carry them for sure. They are great lights and make great tools. No one really took away my fun, I got to smash something and make a cool fun video which is all it was mean to be. I wanted to see how the light held up and if it would hold up against a hard surface.

I posted the vid as I thought it would be an interesting and fun watch and that the "tactical" guys might like it. I honestly didn't expect the angels of my strikes and all sort of nitpicking to happen. My lesson to be learned.

[CWL]

Yes, going to carry them for sure. They are great lights and make great tools. No one really took away my fun, I got to smash something and make a cool fun video which is all it was mean to be. I wanted to see how the light held up and if it would hold up against a hard surface.

I posted the vid as I thought it would be an interesting and fun watch and that the "tactical" guys might like it. I honestly didn't expect the angels of my strikes and all sort of nitpicking to happen. My lesson to be learned.

I guess you win with that video!

I just tried banging on a coconut with my regular bezel SureFire and all I ended-up with was this!

[Guardian Gear]

I guess you win with that video!

I just tried banging on a coconut with my regular bezel SureFire and all I ended-up with was this!

LOL!! well done, I got nothing for that lol.

[AeroNautiCal]

Damn, you guys really know how to analize the shit out of something. It was a fun test to smash a coconut with a flash light no more no less. have a nice day.

Speaking for myself, I can confirm that I most certainly did NOT "analize" anything!

However, analysis may have been present.

Humour apart, did you really not know that if you reduced the strike contact area, then the force generated would be much more concentrated?

[sigsaur]

Surely such a horrifying weapon can't be legal in hoplophobic Canada.