tactical flashlight impact bezels

[knuckleduster]

I am looking for opinions and information on these for an article. I have an SF E2D, a GG&G bezel, one from lighthound, and a few flashlights with crenelated bezels. Any manufacturors I should be aware of?

Dave

 

[zenheretic]

Since you are looking for opinions: I think they may work well for their intended purpose, but they draw too much attention from the lowest Barney Fife to the highest Tacklebery.

 

[Cougar Allen]

Do you have an actual report of a crenelated bezel drawing unwelcome attention from a policeman? In what jurisdiction, under what circumstances?

I've seen a lot of speculation, so far zero reports.

 

[knuckleduster]

Do you have an actual report of a crenelated bezel drawing unwelcome attention from a policeman? In what jurisdiction, under what circumstances?

I've seen a lot of speculation, so far zero reports.

A tactical gear store in my city "Adventure 911" is owned by a police officer and staffed by off-duty LEOs and he sells Surefire E2Ds and other crenelated lights. To anyone. And this is in Canada! I too have heard this about attracting attention of LEOs, just don't know anyone it has happened to.

Dave

 

[SIFU1A]

i dont think ya would have probs with it its a flashlight for goodness sakes, arent the crennalations intended to allow some light to seep out when ya have it sitting lens down lol??

anyone who reads gun/knife mags probably has seen the ads for them, AFAIK ya can still carry them on a plane though.

 

[zenheretic]

Do you have an actual report of a crenelated bezel drawing unwelcome attention from a policeman? In what jurisdiction, under what circumstances?

I've seen a lot of speculation, so far zero reports.

Personal experience.
Las Vegas Upon reflection perhaps Cougar's request for jurisdiction indicates Barney Fife might not be so quick to catch on. Vegas cops are some of the best paid in the country...this tends to attract a fairly high caliber force.

As I typed earlier, "...opinions: I think..." In no way did I intend nor do I see any indication in my post that indicates a scientific study or social report. He asked for opinions, I offered mine.

Did I get arrested? No.

Did the policeman instantly know what it was for? Yes.

Was such attention unwelcome? Yes.

Part of my self defense philosophy is a low profile. This stems from the avoidance of knife names similar to "Ninja Throat Slasher", or the classic firearm Red Herrings that can come up in the court of law with Pistols that have reduced trigger springs (if this is an unfamiliar concept refer to the writings of Massad Ayoob.) A crenalted bezel is an extension of this school of thought. Part of survival is what happens after the assault. This includes the Police investigation and the possible/likely court case.

Are there any reports showing crenalated bezels are more effective for bashing someone's head than a regular flashlight?

 

[zenheretic]

i dont think ya would have probs with it its a flashlight for goodness sakes, arent the crennalations intended to allow some light to seep out when ya have it sitting lens down lol??

anyone who reads gun/knife mags probably has seen the ads for them, AFAIK ya can still carry them on a plane though.

I tried that line, cops read BS pretty easy.

Please, take them on a plane, I love buying seized goods off ebay. I see three classifications they could easily classify it under and seize it. kubatons, night sticks, and martial arts weapon. Are you going to bet a $100 E2D, this year's vacation, $1000 plane ticket, arrest on betting you take it on the plane?

I'm not risking mine.

 

[knuckleduster]

Thanks for the personal story! That certainly helps.

dave

 

[alwilliam]

My favorite is my M60 nightcutter

 

[knuckleduster]

My favorite is my M60 nightcutter

Cool Brother Al - but is it still available?

Dave

 

[shaldag]

Well, I don't know how a TSA guy might classify it, but I have goten my Surefire A2 Aviator on dozens of flights, US and overseas, without the slightest comment. My guess is that the TSA guys think that it's a flashlight.

 

[Normark]

Hey Dave....

From what I understand, they are not illegal to carry, not is a Kubaton...

What is illegal is "The Intent to use it as a weapon"

If an LEO asks you why you carry it, and you answer "for Self Defense" then the intent is to be used as a weapon..
If you answer, "Because it's Cool ,and I love Surfire flashlights" then it is only a flashlight.

I've showed my E2D to my Sensei who is a retired OPP, and he saiud Nothing about it being illegal to carry...He certainly tells me what could be and what isn't illegal to carry...

For instance,, if I'm walking down the Greenway with my ASP baton, it is not illegal, however if I'm walking in a mall with it, then it for sure would get me into trouble.

My reason for carrying it on the Greenway is in defense of dogs...
So is the case with Doggie pepper spray....

If it's to be used on animals it's perfectly legal..Use on humans,, Not so much...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

 

[SIFU1A]

i love reading ayoobs stuff, great light reading first thing in the AM, long ago figured out that he's a gun writer and his opinions are just that, opinions & some are more factual than others.

unless ya act a fool/etc i dont think the E2D is gonna get ya in trouble, on a plane or not.

just because a cop knows what its for doesnt mean that its illegal, did ya get into any trouble that day in vegas??

 

[zenheretic]

i love reading ayoobs stuff, great light reading first thing in the AM, long ago figured out that he's a gun writer and his opinions are just that, opinions & some are more factual than others.

unless ya act a fool/etc i dont think the E2D is gonna get ya in trouble, on a plane or not.

just because a cop knows what its for doesnt mean that its illegal, did ya get into any trouble that day in vegas??

Did I get arrested? No.

Did the policeman instantly know what it was for? Yes.

Was such attention unwelcome? Yes.

The whole speal about Ayoob was to voice where some of ideas of low profile originate.

We all have opinions. I enjoy Ayoob's opinion as he enjoys to back them up with court cases, reports, etc.

If I bash someone's head in with a plain E2 or an E2D, I would still be investigated with a possible court case. Now the question is the potential for increased force multiplier on the crenalations worth the extra focus of law enforcement and the district attorney?
In my opinion crenalations will certainly break the skin and cause more blood. Will that help or hurt me in the long run? If the crenalations aid in dispatching the goblin more efficiently (a short run benefit), will this be better or worse for me in the long run court case? (a judged by twelve vs. carried by six question)

As Cougar so deftly pointed out. This is one man's opinion.

When I first saw crenalations, I just had to have them, they are better right? OR are they just a cool factor mail ninja gadget?

 

[zenheretic]

Well, I don't know how a TSA guy might classify it, but I have goten my Surefire A2 Aviator on dozens of flights, US and overseas, without the slightest comment. My guess is that the TSA guys think that it's a flashlight.

Unless it had aftermarket crenalations added; I'd guess they'd classify it as a flashlight as well.

My Inova certainly makes it through with nary a glance.

 

[SIFU1A]

imho if ya bash someones head in with anything ya would be investigated and a possible court case.

personally i dont think they (the crennalations) are worth the extra wear on your pants from carrying them in your pocket but i dont think they are inherently any more illegal than a std flashlight, in my case things are gonna have to get pretty bad before i am depending on a small flashlight for anything except providing light, the add on crenalations add too much weight and i really dont care for them. do they work as a weapon? oh maybe with some training, i would prefer a 4 "C" cell maglight though if i am gonna have to fight with a flashlight, but thats just me. ya see lots of cops with maglights, lots have surefire lights, i havent ever seen one with a crennalated flashlight myself, i suppose they would be better than a std surefire light in a knock down/drag out, still would rather have a maglight though and imho they are more a mall ninja thing than something revolutionary or innovative, a guy on BF (cant rememeber his name lance something/another) was the guy who first invented them IIRC and sold them on the GG&G websight yrs before SF offered them.

ayoobs great light reading i just dont consider him the do all end all expert he considers himself to be.

 

[Gollnick]

When I first saw crenalations, I just had to have them, they are better right? OR are they just a cool factor mail ninja gadget?

The original intent was to allow some airflow if the flashlight got turned on and pressed up against something. Such lights can get very hot, possibly hot enough to start a fire, you know. So, if asked why the light has this feature, you can use that explaination.

 

[zenheretic]

The original intent was to allow some airflow if the flashlight got turned on and pressed up against something. Such lights can get very hot, possibly hot enough to start a fire, you know. So, if asked why the light has this feature, you can use that explaination.

Stop skimming the thread Gollinick, you missed that we already talked about that.

 

[zenheretic]

Since you are looking for opinions: I think they may work well for their intended purpose, but they draw too much attention from the lowest Barney Fife to the highest Tacklebery.

imho if ya bash someones head in with anything ya would be investigated and a possible court case.

personally i dont think they (the crennalations) are worth the extra wear on your pants from carrying them in your pocket but i dont think they are inherently any more illegal than a std flashlight, , a guy on BF (cant rememeber his name lance something/another) was the guy who first invented them IIRC and sold them on the GG&G websight yrs before SF offered them.

ayoobs great light reading i just dont consider him the do all end all expert he considers himself to be.

Large splashes of blood play well as photos in a prosecutor's court case, when trying to paint the flashlight wielding defendant as blood thirsty.

I don't think they are any more illegal either, drawing attention is much different than being illegal. For example a policeman may see a flashlight on my center console of my car while writing me a normal traffic ticket. If it is a normal light I would assume he wouldn't give it a second thought. What will he do if it is crenalated? I'd guess a whole string of other questions may ensue, maybe even a car search. Not that, I personally have anything to worry about other than stress and lost time, but that is my point. Increased attention, increased scrutiny. Most beat cops probably deal with maybe 100 people a day? What gathers their attention is things out of the ordinary; things out of the ordinary require a closer look. Up to you to decide what out of the ordinary is. IMO based on my experiences and my ability to extrapolate, crenalations are a beacon for attention.

The first crenalations I ever saw was also GG&G.

I heard some call him "Ayoob the Boob", but I guess I lack the writing skill to convey the thought I was trying to regarding his thoughts, so I'll just drop it.

 

[Ray U]

This has a hardened steel strike bezel, albeit it was designed to shatter glass (according to the promotional material). However, in an emergency, I'm sure it could also be used on a person.

Personally, I own Surefires L4 and L1. Some people have commented on the bezel edges potential to be used to strike someone. On these 2 flashlights, Surefire neither advertises nor advocates this. It is there to indicate the flashlight is on if it is left standing face down.