This Flashlight Isn't What it Seems... (Mag 623)

[@F1083]

In the shots of the bulb 4:48 it has an axial filament that would be the 64138 bulb not the 64623. Longer life but a little dimmer. Other shots such as the one in the AW switch look like the 64623 Perhaps that's why the first lumen reading was low

[@ethan-lumencraft-]

That would make sense. I switched out for the 623 bulb early on and filmed most of the video with it, but the dimmer bulb was slightly different which probably explains the output difference. However, based on my quick research, it doesn't appear to be a 64138 either, there are a number of other bulbs in the 644XX series that might match, like the 64465.

[@Julian-wp8sc]

This is why I dropped flashlights as a hobby, too many sweats

[@michaelodonoghue7464]

One of the reasons why Maglights were popular in the Security / Law Enforcement community was their THUMP value when used as a Defensive Weapon.

[@OHLeftyKnifeGuy]

Yeah, a 4 or 6 D-cell light was like a lead pipe.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@OHLeftyKnifeGuy WEIGHTED lead pipe. Quite the compliance device.

[@joesmith2505]

Yep ... Every time I see one.... except for the mini's. Thumpity thump....get some!

[@fastdude2002]

In the academy in the late 90s I was taught to hold the mag light resting on the top of my shoulder so if someone tried to attack you could simply swing the light forward off of the shoulder and put the hurt on them.

[@joesmith2505]

@@fastdude2002 ... Yeah, there's a time principal there. On the rare occasion that I have learned ANYTHING from movies or television, I did on one occasion learn how to better swing a baseball bat. Holding the bat higher above your shoulder, means you won't have to raise the bat BEFORE your about to swing. Split second gained. This is the same principal with the mag light batton tactic. Movie .." Max Dugan Returns" they used a well known, real batting coach for the scene. Totally improved my batting skills for pickup games. 😎

[@shazmodeus2795]

Mag-lite 623: a light source, a firestarter, and a deadly club all in one aesthetically pleasing package!

[@adcraziness1501]

Considered a weapon

[@Jijhebtmijnnaamnietnodig]

can also be hot wired to be a ''sudden air exspender'':P

[@ktkace]

The holy trinity of illumination!

[@masjuggalo]

I'm sure a certain population could find yet another use

[@Tugrik]

Please remember that the primary use of this particularly large number of batteries flashlight is that it is a bludgeoning stick that produces light as a byproduct. There was a while back, then when some municipalities would not allow them to be sold because they were considered “batons”.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

You could say that now, but back in incan days the long body was made to make the torch both brighter and longer-lasting.

[@owlsayssouth]

​@@DinnerForkTongue lmao, that is a side benny, but it's primary use was as a weapon. Otherwise you would use other style flashlights. You hold this above your head to the side from below. This makes you seem taller and makes people misjudge your body location so attacks have a higher chance to miss. It also puts it in easy swing position.

[@oczhaal]

When I worked security in the 90s, it was indeed the case! 2 tools in one, we'd choose the 4D or 6D version for better "grip".

[@13Voodoobilly69]

@@owlsayssouthThat’s why it’s an awesome flashlight. I own one.

[@jimathybindlenim6359]

It's actually not true. The primary market was homosexual men that would stalk the parks during the night having promiscuous encounters and using the mag light as an marital aid.

[@t_c5266]

"it's not just a flashlight. It also beats the shit out of intruders"

[@jpvoodoo5522]

It used to be called a malice green flashlight after a man who was beaten by police with one.

[@catwithoutthehat]

Had one I turned into a bong when I was a teen😹

[@jpvoodoo5522]

@@catwithoutthehat , You need to see Dennis Leary's comedy bit on building bongs. "People say marijuana leads to other drugs. It doesn't. It leads to construction."

[@catwithoutthehat]

@@jpvoodoo5522 LMAO I'll check it out, hell yea

[@allenbowick4716]

​@@catwithoutthehatthat's a damn good idea, you don't have to worry about breaking it. I have a 6D mag with a 2 cell extension that's a good two foot chamber to clear or 18 inches at least. Very smart man.

[@AJ-qn6gd]

Buy and fit an LED bulb one of the best buys I’ve ever made on Amazon, absolutely transformed my 4 D cell Maglite 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@raychambers3646]

I changed out the bulb in my mini mag so much better.

[@wotsac]

It's a real battery sipper too. I swapped out the bulb ten years ago, and I haven't changed the batteries since. Still going strong

[@InvidiousIgnoramus]

@@wotsac ...So you never use your light. Got it.

[@michaelhaven6859]

Malkoff devices for the best in Maglite LED conversion

[@mountainbigsky]

I got one of those LED bulbs and it brought new life into the flashlight the bulb solder broken it was very easy to repair it. also I got rechargeable batteries for it and they a while

[@Ni5ei]

I always thought Maglites were batons with built in flashlight.

[@nathanhale7444]

When I was in high school I carried a mini mag on my belt. People kinda picked on me for it but I didn't really care by then. One day a bad storm hit while I was in class. The power went out. We were in a room with no windows. The emergency lights didn't come on and the backup generators failed. We were in a pitch black room and this was before phones were commonplace. It was so dark it was hard to believe. I whipped out my trusty mini mag. Took the bonnet off and held it up like a lantern. It was about 30 minutes before the power came back on. We could hear kids in other classes freaking out but we were just fine.

[@ThorstenWieking]

I regularly carry a flashlight everday since the latter half of 2009. In fact, I carry different lights for different tasks and a few Victorinox swiss army knives because they are useful tools in moments when you did not anticipate you need a tool.

[@amarya86]

Rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it

[@ufc990]

​@@ThorstenWieking A lot of people carry flashlights everyday, not so much in highschool though. I'm a big proponent of EDC but you have to be one hell of a dork to be carrying one around clipped on your belt when you're almost certainly carrying a book bag. Let's be real, he was doing that because he liked the attention for whatever reason. And now he's flexing it here like it was worth it for the one time he got to whip it out in class and show everyone what's what. Not the weirdest flex but exquisitely dorky, will definitely be screenshotting and sharing.

[@dasi2383]

@@ufc990One time in Highschool, the lights went out and this kid pulls out what we all thought was his trusty lightsaber or something, and lanterns the room... everyone was dead silent as he began to tell really odd ghost stories for 30 minutes. We couldnt wait for the power to comeback on.😂 And funny thing is never saw that flashlight pulled out again, just swinging around the hallways

[@ethan-lumencraft-]

@@ufc990 I mean, I carried a flashlight on my belt in highschool, and it had nothing to do with attention. It's just a convenient way to carry a useful tool

[@adcraziness1501]

@1:20 What's fun for me is I come from a time when that pitiful beam was all we had. Power goes out? That's your flashlight. Not bright enough? Get two. They chew through D cell batteries and the bulbs were fragile, and this one had the unheard of advantage of carrying a spare bulb in the base. But I also got to keep my old standard mag-lite to today, and fitted it with the Lumencraft programmable upgrade. It is fun having a flashlight from your childhood grow with you into like you said, one of the coolest flashlights I own.

[@michaelkaliski7651]

The simplest and most efficient mod is a drop in LED replacement to replace the original incandescent bulb. The modded version runs for many hours with a much higher brightness and beam pattern compared with a standard bulb. The LED won’t break if the torch is dropped but you can still keep a backup bulb in the foam pad beneath the battery spring. Probably the best thing you can do to improve any Maglight and it is a relatively cheap mod at under $10.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

It is, but the 623 mod goes way, _way_ beyond a simple mod. Also it dates back to when LEDs were only reasonably good, nowhere near the marriage of light quality and power output we have today.

[@Nick-b7b9s]

Also... mag lights are for hitting annoying people over the head with, not illumination .

[@marcfavell]

​@@DinnerForkTongueyou can really light a piece of paper with this thing that's crazy 😂

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@Nick-b7b9s This can do both.

[@brianbickle7395]

Unless they’ve improved them! When the replacement first came out a long time ago I got one and was very disappointed

[@LTCDRRAZOR]

Got a sub here from this. I always had a thing for mag lights, I guess it was growing up with my dad’s mags and his old (80’s) tactical manual for using the maglight. Unfortunately I can’t recall the name, but it was a great little manual in how to use mag lights as a LEO, from making steps in a chainlink fence, to flipping someone who grabs it, via the light,and many other interesting tactics, all with just with a maglight or two.

[@oldtimefarmboy617]

The original MagLite used regular incandescent bulbs although you could get quartz-halogen bulbs which were brighter. The biggest selling point to them is the fact that they were made of quality aircraft grade aluminum machined to exacting tolerances which made them very strong and durable. And with o-rings and other rubber seals, they were waterproof. The bigger ones were popular with police because they used five D-cell batteries which would last a long time at night. And because of their construction they could be used as a club for defensive and offensive purposes. That is why they would hold them at shoulder level with their hands griping it next to the bulb end. That way if someone they were searching for or interrogating at night tried to attack them they could easily swing the flashlight forward. I was told by an ex sheriff deputy once that they used one to break out a windshield of a wrecked car and the flashlight still worked perfectly, although the outside did get scratched up pretty bad.

[@johnwhitley2898]

After getting my first maglite over 30 years ago, I have ONLY bought maglites..... I've got 10 or 15 of them here around the critical areas and I have a alert on the phone to change out the Duracell batteries once a month. Once they went full LED I bought two new ones for my EDC belt light, wearing a suit or jeans and boots! I also converted the old ones to LED. This is in contrast to my older brother who ONLY bought Dollar Store flashlights and batteries..... Lolol😆!!! God bless him!! His philosophy was "Bro, it's Two friggin' bucks... I got more if this one quits!!!", laughing all the while.... I have to admit, I had more money in a minimag and a 2C, with batteries than he had in ALL of his combined..... and he said, "Bro between you and me, WE have enough lights for the entire neighborhood....!!🤣🤣🤣". And yes, I have grabbed one of his Dollar Store Specials, nothing and tossed it like he said and went to the second one that worked.

[@harpintn]

Does Maglite make a led light the size and weight of the old 4 and 6 D cell lights? To me that would be the best of both worlds.

[@Iron_Condorr]

4:05 who remembers making "80085" out of the beam of a maglight? Ahhh childhood nostalgia.

[@anvilsbane]

That was the first thing I thought of. 😂

[@GrowingAnswers]

So far I have not seen any led be able to compare to the warm cozy glow of a dimmed incandescent lamp. Probably because metal at temperature isn’t a flat spectrum of narrowband colors but is in fact a curved broadband spectrum of colors. Some LED’s come close but so far none can match.

[@abcbcd1834]

Agreed. I imagine a 3:1 mix of 1800k + 3700k FFL351As would be the closes option but even then it's not BBL - the super warm 351As have a positive duv and the more neutral ones have slightly negative duv usually. Nothing really beats the beauty of a high quality incandescent light yet. Besides the sun lol

[@ethan-lumencraft-]

I definitely have a preference for neutral and warm emitters, I have a few around 1800K, but incandescents are still superior color-wise there for sure.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

True. I love me my warm white LEDs, but they only come close to incan light, never bang on. There's still a noticeable gap between the light quality of both.

[@rayzimmermin]

its probably because you are either getting cheap LED bulbs who's manufacturer don't care about quality or you did not set up the light right i have LED bulbs next to incandescent and threw the lamp shade people cant tell the difference the trick is to have a full color LED bulb one whare you can change colors then take the normal light color and add just a bit of yellow to it and poof looks just like an incandescent and then you can dim the bulb to produce the same cozy effect the only problem is you have to use the bulbs app to dim it and not a dimming switch and for me i like LED more because i can match sun light better then incandescent the LED bulbs in my computer room are set to match sunlight and their are times i forget its night because my brain just thinks its sunlight

[@nunzioification]

I’ve got some cheap old school lightbulb shaped let bulbs with the remote control and the warm spectrum is really nice, pretty sure there’s some other good ones out there, I have a candle simulator that’s nice and you can turn the fake flicker off. Like Dennis Miller said, “I didn’t work my hole life to have my apartment lit like a Russian hallway fight scene in the Bourne Identity” Something like that that, how’d I end up in this niche of the internet

[@thedarkknight1971]

I've still got my old 6 x D Cell black Mag with belt hoop I bought around late 80's early 90's? I was all in on Mag with single AAA Mags, double AA Mag versions and more. A simple drop in LED mod would be great for my old 6 x D Cell... 😏👌

[@jacksonrees]

As a working EMT then Paramedic from 1970 into the ‘90s, I’ve had a bunch of Kel-Lights & MagLites, before the vast changes in battery & bulb technology (ie before “lumens” counts). I’ve had 3D, 5D, 3C (with a Yawara stick end adapter), & 2AA MiniMags. A very useful trick with D-Cell units, was to take advantage of the little-known ‘1/2 D’ battery. This was the full power & life of a D-Cell in a half-size version. This doubled power and matching with a correct bulb using that power gave one power, light, and compactness: 3DX2=6cell, 10 1/2Ds made it worth carrying the size and weight. Changing to halogen bulbs or LEDs, all the better. I understand that a major market of 1/2Ds was in Hollywood to give dramatic emphasis to flashlights in dramas as they would not so likely be washed out by other lighting of the scene being filmed. This has led to the now cliche’ of searching cops using weapon-mounted lights and lasers. One reason for having had a bunch of lights was that if left behind after shift or unattended was theft and vanishing. Very popular, they were… Never could afford SureFire or Streamlight main units, but the excellent Streamlight Stylus (3X AAAA) penlight (roughly pencil sized) is a worthy exception. Pocket-clip, momentary button or rotate the top end for steady light. With bulb end-tip exposed, there is wide cast with the pre-focused bulb, or use the black shroud on the end for isolated focus. Check any pupil in daylight, or work close to small parts without glare. I’m happy to have modern lights for their compact power -unimagined in the past era, but I still have occasion to use the Stylus…

[@davidbuchanan3374]

I bought a two cell mag lite 30yrs ago and still use it today. I upgraded the bulb to a led 250 lumen/ bright enough and then replaced the D cell batteries with a 18650 3.7v battery. What a difference in weight/brightness and long lasting power..

[@operator8014]

I owned 4 or 5 maglights as a young man, because they were the industry standard and I wanted to be taken seriously. Unfortunately they just never lasted more than a handful of months up to a year at best. By the time I joined the workforce, the older generations had already sold our entire country to China, and everything you could find was made of garbage.

[@davidbuchanan3374]

@operator8014 You had me checking mine there lol. Their both marked up Mag Instrument - Ontario, California, USA. Both serial stamped to so I'm hopeful these are genuine USA made. Their dinosaur's in the flashlight world today but I wouldn't part with them. Best wishes my friend from Northern Ireland 👍👍👍

[@operator8014]

@davidbuchanan3374 Hope you find a way to hand them down to the next generation that could really use something to rely on. Enjoy!

[@MD.ImNoScientician]

You seem knowledgeable and honest. I'll follow you. Props to you for mentioning Matt Smith. He was the 1st person I found reviewing different flashlights a few years ago.

[@McTroyd]

Wouldn't mind a video on that Lumencraft Maglite mod. I still have two, a 4D and a 3D, that are old enough to say "Patented Made In USA". Both are still in intermittent service. The 4D was converted to LED in the aughts, when Mag Instrument finally relented on LEDs and introduced a module (so I could keep it "OEM"), but I haven't done anything with the 3D. Could be hilarious to make that a "sleeper."

[@ericdoe2318]

Things were just darker at night when I was a kid. I had the red mini mag. Got it from a a Colman outfitter at a BSA mountain man

[@jerrykco]

One of my favorite lights is a 2D Mag with the socket and reflector replaced with an MR-16 socket and bulb assembly, powered with multiple lithium batts. The light and beam pattern is super nice, because I’m using NSP 5degree bulb. I’m still using the original switch.

[@Subgunman]

The most interesting thing I have seen done with the MagCharger flashlight is a quick change kit turning it into a suppressor on the fly. Something out of the CIA chronicles or James Bond’s MI6.

[@TITAN3084]

It is maybe a 100w bulb - but I doubt that it runs with 100 w. The datasheet says 2800 lm @ 100w, so it seems to be powered with more than 12v and 100W. Nethertenless very impressive! Would be interesting, how much power it really consumes (at beginning and during life span), how long it lives and what lm/w comes out.

[@Proyectosandia]

This was the flashaholic dream back in 2010. The coolest part was that all the replacement parts (custom aluminum reflector, switch, custom misc parts, bulb) costed a lot more than the host. I couldn't afford it back then but managed to get a 5 XPE leds module from TrustFire that I had to trim with a dremel and soldered a screw in the center to make contact with the original bulb module.

[@Brian10962001]

I have a high led 5mm led cluster in a 2 D cell with 3xAA adapters to this day!

[@choppermike3329]

Costed a lot more?

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@Proyectosandia Crazy how tech evolves, isn't it? I vaguely wonder how this setup would work with an FC40 1800K now.

[@Thankz4sharing]

@@choppermike3329 English is tough stuff. Even academic sites frequently write things like "good weather is forecasted". Ugh!

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

@@Thankz4sharing Not the bestest use on Ingrish.....

[@anderssorenson9998]

I'm very glad there are so many aftermarket parts for old maglites. I have the same led in my mini for about ten years now. I've replaced rhe bulbs on my big ones, but I rarely use them as they're too heavy and the cold hurts my hands.

[@NativelyBornAmerican]

Maglite, the AR15 platform of the flashlight world.

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

The father of MagLite was the Kel Lite...founded by two Policemen tired of weak thin flashlights being destroyed just rolling out of squad cars (off the bench seats) and hitting the ground.

[@kx8960]

Nice job, now "Ped0" Joe Xiden and the DemoKKKrats are going to ban "Assault flashlights!!! REEEeee!!!"...🤣🤣

[@adamcoe]

yeah except you don't have to be a paranoid psychopath to own a maglite

[@NativelyBornAmerican]

​@@adamcoeonly a paranoid psychopath would think an AR-15 is only owned by the mentally deranged.

[@thystaff742]

@adamcoe What the heck does that mean?

[@Brewdog2001]

I built a Mag 623 and put a custom turbo head on it. It's a beast of a light, and will light paper on fire.

[@fvdeddrift]

I still have my "MagMod" club pins from middle school in the 90's! Lol! We have done millions of lumens of mods to early incanmags and streamlight tubes! Especially our sweet custom magnesium reflectors! Which I do see every now and then on eBay! Killer video dude!

[@mmcallery]

and in 2024 we have maglite LEP upgrades. i love that people are still modding them

[@DinnerForkTongue]

If only Maglica got with the program and offered these options as stock...

[@TheFastday]

I remember back in the day these torches were a favorite with security guards as they could be used as a batten if things got crazy for them. Though back then , they could say ( with our laws back then) that, it wasn't a weapon but a torch. 🔦. Great video by the way and,thanks for taking the time to remind us all how much we want one now too haha.

[@imsoreetodddid9007]

Jesus, what's the name of the prison colony that you live in?

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

@@imsoreetodddid9007 Australia New Zealand UK Unarmed security is the norm. Speak softly and carry a big Kel Lite or Mag Lite....

[@imsoreetodddid9007]

@@JohnSmith-pl2bk they can't arrest you for having something on your person that is neither designed nor adapted to cause injury, only if it's intended to cause injury which they would need to prove.

[@SecretSauceyjuice]

That might be one of the coolest naturally occurring electronics sounds I've ever heard. It sounds like some kind of light saber or forcefield.

[@axeami1354]

I remember hot-rodding these things back in the day by putting xenon bulbs in them. used to have to hunt around to find a inverter slim enough to fit in the case.

[@repentnow1720]

Matt made a 5K lumens / LED / 2 battery version - I still have my purple one! : )

[@FrankHohimerfromChicago]

I carried a 4-D Maglight for the years I spent as a night watchman in college, and then as a Sheriff's Deputy later. I switched to a smaller tactical flashlight when I moved to Alabama in the late 90's, but I kept my Maglights in the car and in the house. Technically, the courts ruled that they were not weapons, but we all knew one reason that we found these lights handy. (They were nicknamed "Rodney King-beaters" by some of the more gruesome jokers in any given locker room.)

[@tinkerman5220]

There was a lot of custom parts being made is those days. A very fun time to be part of CPF. Thanks for sharing with the rest of the world. I still have my hotwire 5761 because of the light color. It is just so mesmerizing. The same bulb has lasted me 3 years and is still going. I was never a fan of the fire starter 100W+ lights because they usually only ran 5 min or less because of batteries of heat. BTW mine is using *3 A123 LifePo4 batteries which are very safe, just don't very good capacity.

[@topofthetrail]

I dunno why I got this video in my suggestions, but now I’m hyped and I dug out my black Maglite3 cell and I wanna build it

[@themadscientest]

I feel like a good incandescent one would be the ideal bedside light. Not pain-bright, big long lasting cells, good color.

[@-IE_it_yourself]

great for snacking and trips to the WC.

[@goldcountryruss7035]

That Maglite was so bright I could tell that you were in LA.

[@39XenonD]

Keep in mind that the bulb will put out quite the amount of UV-light (especially UV-C, which is... really not good for your skin) if it is not filtered by some glass.

[@skoronesa1]

I'm a service plumber. I bought one of Lumencrafts' 5,000 Lumen Led upgrades almost a decade ago. I keep that 2D in the work van. I have two 6000mah 32650 cells in it. When I go into a thin, dirt crawlspace of a 100-200 year old house that's what I take in with me. Yes, I have a pocket flashlight and a couple work lights, but the 2D is perfect for crawlspaces. There has been at least one occasion where I came face to face with an animal and I was glad I was holding my 2D and not my pocket flashlight. I think it was an Opossum or a Racoon. Either way, it didn't like feeling backed into a corner. Thankfully I could take some good swings at it, causing it to turn tail and find another route, as opposed to coming at me. I could not backup nearly as quickly as it wanted me too.

[@JohnD-JohnD]

I have a few of the 6D lights. Absolutely love those lights, even with the stock bulbs. Not only did they put out a good spot light, they could also be used for self defense. Biggest issue I ran into was that the batteries lasted a LONG time, and hence sat in the light for a long time and sometimes leaked in the flashlight, causing the batteries to get stuck. I had to put a couple flashlights on the lathe to get the crud out from the inside to use them again.

[@bigunone]

You aren't old enough to know the reason Mag lights in the 6 cell configuration were popular was it gave you a light and a club at the same time

[@jakeaurod]

This was recommended to me randomly. Now I'm reminded of some small mini-mags I should replace the lamp with LEDs. There's gotta be videos around her about that.

[@scoobiedude]

Upgraded my 6 to an 8cell in 2013 and added the TerraLUX three bulb 1000 lumen head. I use it all the time and its still going strong! Have no plans to change it! still plenty bright.

[@JWimpy]

I used to have that 7 C cell MagLite but it sprouted legs and walked off. Someone thought they needed it more than I did. Life's a beach. It was a great baton for the truck.

[@Herfinnur]

The only self-defence weapons I got as a nightwatchman was a maglite and the biggest bunch of keys south of Long-year-byen. I used a headlamp for actual light

[@chrishart8548]

I bought a 10w halogen bulb for a bike light and put it in the mag lite. Pre focus same base strait swap. The had 6x 4000mah 1.2v rechargeable batteries ni cad. So around 2 hours run time. They were tagged sells so i fitted a 2.1mm socket for charging and drilled a whole in the base. The reflector would start to melt very slightly on the enge if it was ran for a long time. This was around 2000

[@fastcoffee9878]

No matter how much effort I gave to keep mine clean, my 6 cell D lites always corroded. They were great tools for finding house numbers at night while delivering pizzas back in college

[@ZXNITH_l]

Definitely getting one of these for when I go patrolling

[@rexdarvog]

I keep an old-style Maglite 6-cell in my vehicle for emergencies. Don't use it very often and I haven't changed the batteries in about six years, but still lights up even after being in extremely hot and cold temperatures. I also had an AA-powered LED flashlight in the glove box, those batteries died almost immediately. My father has a six or eight-cell light from my uncle who retired from the NYPD, probably wouldn't be keen enough to let me inherit it so I bought my own.

[@SA12String]

I have that exact same 6 cell Maglite, right down to the red color. I installed just the aftermarket high output LED bulb, and the thing will blind someone at 25 yards. It's ridiculous enough for me. I don't need an incandescent fire starter. The LED bulb I installed did wonders for the light pattern.

[@chr1s83]

Thanks for the video. If you're gonna compare an old Mag light to a newer one you should turn the old one off 1st, and not hold it in the same hand overlapping the new beam. 1:32. That's adding both beams together.

[@notreallydaedalus]

It's funny, Maglite was so amazing in the 90s. I kept a 6-cell in my car, and carried a 4-cell in the job I had in 1999 where I worked overnight and had to do a facility walk-through each shift. I spent a fair bit on D cells in those days.

[@cristobaltorres6185]

Been a fan of the mags since the eighties or so. Still have a 4D incandescent. Didn’t know about all these upgrades. Fascinating! Just subbed too. 🤙🏽

[@RebelYell134]

mag lights are too well made for the money to ever be relics. I have a 2 cell and a 6 cell. with upgraded bulbs for efficiency that triples battery life. I kept the incandescent bulbs for when I need the natural light. they are an underrated necessity.

[@dramaticmudderer5208]

Can you link the upgraded bulbs that you used?

[@WBatte1]

The 6 D cell Maglite was my go to for years. But I used Maglite's led bulb. To me it was brighter and threw a beam further than standard incandescent bulbs. And battery life was good enough that I never really cared that they weren't rechargeable. There was a recharge kit available that came with a battery pack to replace 4 of the D cells and a spacer if it was to be used in a 6 cell light body. A new end cap and charging cable also came with the kit. A car mounted charging rack was also available. But I never was all that interested in this. They went way out of their way to warn you not to handle the light too roughly and it only provides 4 D cell performance.

[@gilpiaquadiojr6650]

I still have my 6 D flashlight from 1987. Only mod was replacing the bulb with LED. Still use it for work. And yes, ended many fights with its THUMP value.

[@fgpriceinc]

I still have a predecessor to the mag light, the "B" light. I bought it in 1974. It came with a leather holster and a couple different colored lenses. The original cop baton flashlight.

[@bobp4036]

I had the ROP mod with 6 eneloops in a 2D maglite. It was amazing for what it was. Good times for sure.

[@chrishart8548]

I had a 2D version I bought 1/2 D cells from RS they were 2500mah. So I could get 4 batteries in. This was 2000 so not much was available at thr time

[@TheDementation]

I was using the slightly smaller but rechargeable version of that maglite back in 2000, and it would light the entire side of an 8 story building. It wasnt as good as todays but that was 24 years ago. They were also hundreds of dollars compared to the sub $50 of today.

[@jthang7]

The Mag85 was also really popular back in the day. Using the same driver a 9AA to 3D adaptor you could run a Welch Allyn 1185 bulb in 3D maglite to produce a really pleasing almost white light from an incandescent bulb. I actually still have mine working.

[@turboboy0]

i still have a 6 d-cell maglite from the 90's and it was considered brite for its day but i bought a L.E.D. replacement bulb which cost about as much as i originally paid for the light itself. it is SUPER BRITE.

[@balsalmalberto8086]

Super cool mod. Just the last few years we got mass produced hot rods made in china which are fun but it's like stock cars going with an after market paint job. It's cool at first but then you see it all the time, which is boring. the mass produced Chinese hot rods are boring. there's something very special about a one of kind/ low quantity personally crafted piece.

[@ElCapitanDeLaNoche]

I carried a combat modified 4D MagLite through my career in the crack wars of the 80's-90's. I learned all kinds of field modifications for using these beauties. I'll spare you most of 'em, for now, but I can tell you that the focus on the MagLite is affected by how the bulb is installed and 'bent' into position. I might be available to advise for an upcoming vid, if you'd like.

[@Cammi_Rosalie]

Anyone who has a standard Maglite knows that the D-cells tend to be loose inside the tube. I would always wrap about two turns of electrical tape around each end of each battery. (I had a 4-D version with Nite-Ize LED retrofit) After wrapping the batteries, the annoying rattle was gone and it seemed to have a much more intense "Thump" when needed as a defensive device. Be careful though. Not all electrical tape is equal. If you try this, test the fit carefully. If the battery does not slide in fairly smoothly on it's own, You'll play Hell getting it back out. If it does get stuck, you'll have to swing it and risk the batteries flying out, or bang the open end on a carpeted floor to knock them loose.

[@Bearcrapsinwoods]

Malkoff makes a really amazing drop in replacement led bulb that only requires regular ol' D cell batteries

[@OnTheRiver66]

I loved mag light but watched over the years as others pushed their LED lights forward. I waited for MagLight to catch up but they took too many years. I have many MagLights that I never use at this time and space.

[@bashkillszombies]

The rechargeable version was great, carried it on night shift for many years.

[@VarHar-x1k]

A rechargeable Mag is too dim.

[@clinthowe7629]

They always made huge mag lites like that, my dad had one when I was a kid, it was just a standard light.

[@chrismsmalley2626]

The best purchase I made for my jumbo ex-leo flashlight I got was the D cell to AA cell adaptors, they pop in and knock a ton of weight off the unit. I got them from the usual suspect and the batteries are rechargeable too. Just keep 4 hot and 4 in the flashlight and you're all good. I've never put D cells in it since 2001 and only took them out when I got the adaptor parts a few years ago. They make all sizes. Check them out.

[@RyderUwU]

we used to have maglights all the time. these things are hella nostalgic

[@johnmedrano9782]

you made this topic very interesting

[@Notfiveo0]

I have a 12v HID hand held lantern from the 90’s that is brighter than any LED light I’ve seen. It shines a perfectly focused beam…..off the clouds.

[@asuntosinternos6206]

We need 20 of those sended to Bright Falls ASAP!

[@prjndigo]

I've got a black n decker orange emergency hand lamp (gun grip, floats etc) that's in the shape of one that takes a 6v battery but it runs on 4 C cells... and is an LED COB, and it will kick your ass sideways making you see a ringing sound on new batteries if you don't know it. It's a 2004.

[@bnkwupt]

Pretty sure that’s a Mag 5D. I have one kicking around somewhere. Pretty cool that people are (were) modding them to run halogen lamps and lithium batteries. I might have to dig mine up.

[@joeschmo622]

Yeah, that was Roar Of Pelican to the next level...

[@nealewalter]

I’ve got 3 or 4 Upgraded Mags. All are led, but I used to have a custom bulb mag that was seriously wild.

[@FailedSquare]

I have a mag light that takes two D size batteries. It’s from somewhere around 2005 a few years after I got it I purchased a mag light branded LED conversion kit and it’s been that way ever since 19 years of continuous service.

[@jamin-r4k]

compared to todays led lights these old maglites are so dimm. flashlight tech has come a long way.

[@briancunningham5011]

Wild that 2024 they make lights equally as bright with better beams small enough to fit on a firearm. X300 turbo by SureFire is a solid comparison. Smaller than the head on the maglite

[@wpherigo1]

Wow! I thought my old maglites were worthless…. Maybe not! Thanks! Yes, more maglite vids, if your regular subs don’t mind.

[@anthonyC9199]

You get a thumbs up from me for setting the bag on fire.

[@jdnotariano]

That’s an awesome incandescent flashlight! We are lucky to have modern LEDs that can put out the same amount of lumens in a pocket sized single battery light.

[@michaellacy8510]

Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s the maglite ruled. It was way more reliable and durable than the stamped metal, 6 volt, and scout style lights available. I used mine for home and field. Still use them. Not perfect, but still good.

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

In the 1970's the Kel lite ruled...Mag Lite was started by ex employees of Kel Lite..

[@ethan-lumencraft-]

@@JohnSmith-pl2bk That's not quite true, MagLite was started by the machinist Tony Maglica (hence the name), but he did receive some help from Don Keller, who founded Kel-Lite

[@christopherchev6306]

That thing is badass!!! is there any way to build one now that the driver is discontinued?

[@MavHunter20XX]

The feature of it being able to start a fire is the most attractive part of this.

[@johnny6293]

Beautiful work. I would like to buy the MAG 623 flashlight in the Czech Republic. Is there such an option somewhere? Thanks 👍🔥

[@JDCarnin]

I know that you can get 6d Maglites in Germany. But the last time I bought one is already a decade ago…

[@bertsteele139]

I worked at a wilderness program for juvenile offenders, we weren’t allowed to carry a nightstick but of course it was expected that we carry a “flashlight”. I never had to hit anyone with my 6 D cell Maglite, but just having it allowed me to avoid many potentially dangerous situations.

[@Buck1954]

That size mag-lite makes a damn good club too.

[@1nfinitReality]

I just found an LED bulb that fit in my mag light I use it all the time and with d cells it lasts forever and it's a hell of a lot brighter

[@FellVoice]

That should make things tough for bigfoot trying to hide in the dark!

[@thunderbear0]

My father still have it in all black. He gave it to me ❤

[@TheButlerNZ]

Looks like my 90's G.T.Price Smoke Cutter Police Flashlight. (Aluminium and multi section so it can be expanded indefinitely (well until you can't find a bulb with a big enough Volt rating). The rounded reflector surround is designed so the torch can be carried with palm on the surround, body over the shoulder... which then becomes a baton in an instant, with the bulbous surround keeping the torch in hand.. (Bet you never realised the reason cops always have their torches over their shoulder with their hand holding it right at the business end, was so they could smack you over the shoulder at a heartbeat/// well bot until reading all the other comments)... Mines a 5 cell with the original 6v Krypton bulb.

[@ChetJang]

They make LED converters for Maglights, which make them brighter and more efficient. They cost about $20$ and are mostly just screw-in parts. LEDs use a fraction of the wattage. I have LED bulbs in my chandeliers. The regular bulbs are 40 watts each the LED's are 4 watts each so now the entire chandelier is 40 watts.

[@christophwilhelm6431]

Being a 5000lm incan, the next led drop in has to be higher

[@davidparnell1893]

I believe the large, long Mag flashlight was marketed as a security item made of aircraft aluminum tubing and was expected to be used as a club as well as an H/D flashlight.

[@f1nch1312]

Drill some holes, add some baffles, add a small metal threaded coupler and bing bang no boom.

[@blitzar8443]

That looks deadly wow