Surefire Flashlights

D

dens51

Joined
Feb 26, 1999
Messages
18
Yesterday I visited the SUREFIRE light booth at the annual US Army Infantry Conference at Ft. Benning. I have used a Surefire flashlight for the last 5-6 years and know that they are very dependable, very tough.
They just brought out two new models that I think are even better: The E1 Executive and the M2 Centurion. You can check them out at www.SUREFIRE.com.

Out Here, Dens
 
dens --

I have an M2. I posted about it previously, with the general conclusion that I don't think it's worth the extra money. If you already have a 6Z, just spend $20 on the P61 bulb if you must have a brighter flashlight, instead of $100-$130 on an M-2. The M-2 is slightly bigger and heavier, and really provides little extra functionality except for being waterproof (although the 6Z seems plenty water resistant). The octagonal bezel is a gimmick. The clothing clip might come in handy for some people, depending on how you'll carry.

I've found that SureFire's latest generation of products are hit-and-miss for me. They add a little functionality, for a lot of expense.


Joe
 
When I spoke to SF, they said it would have nearly the same beam shape (which is supposed to be round, altho they no longer guarantee a perfect circle) and the same output- 15 lumens, but with a longer burntime of 90 minutes on one DL123A. For the extra cash, that seems to be one of the best buys of the latest crop of SF's, as Joe mentioned. Altho I do like my M3 A LOT better than my 9P.
wink.gif


SF's latest iterations have me shaking my head on some of the pricing in particular. I hate telling customers the retail on the new M6 compared to the old 12ZM. $480 for a light just ain't right.

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Regards,
Tim
Nor'east Knives
noreastknives@bigfoot.com

There are two rules for ultimate success in life.
Never tell everything you know.



[This message has been edited by Tim Flanagan (edited 06-16-2000).]
 
Speaking of the E1, SureFire says it's the smallest flashlight they've ever made. Is it actually smaller than the little model that preceded it (the 3P, I think)?

Joe
 
Well according to their website, it is smaller, but to me, it looks like the 3P with a pocketclip with no size difference. They don't list the dims for the E1, just state that it's the smallest they've ever made.

------------------
Regards,
Tim
Nor'east Knives
noreastknives@bigfoot.com

There are two rules for ultimate success in life.
Never tell everything you know.

 
I'll toss up a picture of a 3P next to an E1. The size differece is amazing. I thought the E1 took a single AA battery from the size of it.

John Hollister
 
Ah, they really did make it smaller! And same brightness as the 3P. I've not been at all interested in the 3P before, because it's too big for its brightness -- for slightly larger footprint, I could carry the UKE 2L. But that little E1, that's small enough to really be not-noticeable!

Joe
 
The E1, along with all the new lights were on display at the SWAT Expo at Ft Knox KY last week. That's where i took the picture.

Joe

I had a 3P and dumped it. Your correct, not enough light for the size.

Let me say that the E1 was actually brighter and had a better focused beam then the 3P. The Rep said that they had reworked the reflector and bulb while down sizing it. While this could have been a battery issue (newer battery in the E1 for example), the Rep assured me this was no fluke. He also said they had lengthened the run time to 90 minutes.

I'll own one when they become available.

John
 
Interesting to see what they did to the E1. The body, by which I mean the part that holes the battery, is still basically the same length as the 3P's. But they re-worked the tailcap and lens holder (or whatever you call that front part). And then slimmed the whole thing down, a whole lot.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing to note is that they apparently got the same or better brightness, from the newer, much-smaller lens holder. Which means there's no reason the 6P and its variants can't also be shortened and slimmed a whole lot without sacrificing any brightness. Now that's something I'd buy, an M-2 variant that's only slightly bigger than today's 3P!

Joe
 
I bought the M2 Centurion and like it a bunch. Distinct improvements over the 6P(Z) are the pyrex lens - harder to scratch, waterproof - which my 6P is not, hexagonal bezel - no roll on smooth surfaces, and the clip. The price is a little high but the workmanship is also great.
 
Hey, a question for you M2 owners:

Is the clip removable? I personally have no use for the clip because I prefer bezel down carry (in a pouch) when on the belt or just straight pocket carry.

I'm also extremely disappointed SureFire didn't come out with an ungraded lamp/reflector assembly for the M2. I find the regular P60 seriously lacking in shock-resistance...
 
Went to the page, slow to load....I've a 9P and love it, but from what I could see there is a replacement bulb that is even brighter?

Where can they be bought?

Thanks,
G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...

G2 LeatherWorks
 
Hi, the brighter replacement lamp for the 6P, D2, and M2 is the P61 lamp. The brighter lamp for the 9P, D3, and M3 is, you guess it P91. The cheapest place that I know of that has them is Botach http://www.botachtactical.com/surfirlamref.html You will cut your runtime by 4 times though, so a 6P that ran 50 min will now run about 15, but it will really shine for those 15 min.

I don't know if you can remove the clip on the M2, but you can on the D2. All you have to do is unscrew the lamp end and it slides right off, then screw the lamp end back on, and presto, no clip.

Brock - http://www.uwgb.edu/nevermab/flash.htm
 
The M2 looks nice, but for that price, I think I would save up another $65 and get a 9N.

The D2 is a little more reasonable, but still not sure it is worth it.

The E1 however, looks to be a winner. May outsell the other 2...



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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
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