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New Haley Strategic Thorntail SBR version and more

By: Rob Curtis

02-05-2012

Travis Haley just announced two new versions of his Thorntail Adaptive Light Mount for rail systems. One is for SBRs and the other to mount SureFire’s 620 and Millennium series lights.

Thorntail SBR Scout is a Thorntail with a shorter arm so the light head doesn’t extend into the muzzle blast area of your rifle. Rings are available for .830″, 1″, 1.030″. The mounts are $70 with rings, or $50 if you are mounting a SureFire M600/M300 series light and don’t need the rings. The SBR mount is available mid-May.

The Thorntail Mil/620 fits the Millennium series and Scout M620. These lights have a wider mounting base and won’t work with the standard Thorntail. The Mil/620 still tucks the light in to the 45˚on your quad rail. Also $50 without rings. The mount is also available mid-May.

I have been running a ringless Thorntail with a SureFire M300 Scout Light and think it is the best mounting solution out there. It pushes the light out front to mitigate barrel shadow, keeps the light out of the way of my hands and tucks the light out of the way of other devices.

Surefire goes green-ish

By: Rob Curtis

18-04-2012

Product Announcement

Surefire is now offering “K2 Energy” branded rechargeable CR123 batteries for use in their LED flashlights. The SF2R charger comes with a pair of rechargeable CR123 for $29, and a pair of batteries is $12. The batteries will last for more than 500 charging cycles, saving a significant amount of money. But, the rechargeables offer about half the runtime of a set of primary CR123s.

Getting a charger and a second set of batteries for backups for $41 will net a savings of about $800 considering a 12-pack of batteries costs $20. So, even with the reduced runtime, this should be attractive to anyone on a budget (read, all of us!).

But, there are some caveats worth noting when using rechargeables in flashlights. Rechargeable batteries have a little power spike as they start to deliver power. Surefire’s LED lights can deal with it, but the power spike can cause older incandescent bulbs to burn out. So, stick with the primary CR123s for vintage lights.

Crimson Trace Lightguard

By: Rob Curtis

12-03-2011

Product Announcement

Crimson Trace is tackling the problem of bulky pistol lights with an illumination device that doesn’t add a lot of width or mass to the front of your pistol.

Lightguard is a US designed and manufactured rugged 100 lumen white light controlled by a patented pressure pad located under the trigger guard. Due to its low mass, the Lightguard has a minimal affect on the pistol’s balance and function, while its slim profile makes for easy holstering. The Lightguard platform allows the user to operate the light with one hand, which in a defensive situation, can be a decisive advantage while the support hand is free for other tasks. Lightguard features a polymer housing and uses three screws to attach it to your pistol, 100 lumen white light and uses one CR2 3.0v lithium battery giving you over two hours of illumination.
Initial designs are being released for Glock, Springfield XD and Smith & Wesson M&P handguns, additional models will be introduced for other firearms. Retail price is $150.

Gerber’s hands-free reconnaissance light is coming soon

By: Dan Lamothe

20-01-2011

Product Announcement

A visit to Gerber Legendary Blades at SHOT Show 2011 showed that the company displayed most of their newest material at AUSA and other recent shows.

There is this, though: Gerber’s hands-free reconnaissance military light, or HFR-M, will be in production next month. The company already is taking orders, although they say its MSRP price hasn’t yet been sorted out.

It looks like a reasonably nice piece of gear to have in the toolbox. HFR-M mounts to helmets and MOLLE-compatible vests, and it smoothly pulls off the helmet mount for hand-held use while the user keeps his helmet on.

The light’s multi-lens works with white, red, night-vision and infrared light, reaching 59 Lumens with 100-Lumen burst capability. It measures three inches by three inches by two inches, and weighs 4.19 ounces when fitted with a AA battery. It also runs with C R123 batteries, which will keep it going for up to six hours without a need for more juice.

Leatherman just got a lot brighter

By: Rob Curtis

06-01-2011

Business News

Leatherman just bought a controlling interest in the company that produces LED Lenser flashlights. In buying Zweibrüder Optoelectronics GmbH & Co., Leatherman picks up a large, mature company with German design and Asian manufacturing capability that could affect the landscape of the handheld lighting market.

LED Lenser isn’t a well known name here in the States, but they have a diverse line of lights that runs from hardware-store value up to CandlePower Forums lumen-geeking levels. Mostly, you’ve seen them marketed under the name COAST at Lowes.

According to Leatherman, LED Lenser will not be rebranded and the company will run autonomously after Rakesh Sridharan, formerly Vice President of Operations at Leatherman, takes over as President of LED Lenser and takes a seat as a Managing Director of Zweibrüder Optoelectronics. There is also no plan to bring LED Lenser production into the USA.

The deal should go through in late February, though sources tell me that COAST will hold on to their previously inked distribution agreement through the spring of 2011. After that, look for the LED Lenser brand to appear here in the US.

What does this mean for Leatherman’s own Monarch line of lights? It makes sense for Leatherman to concentrate on it’s core tool business and let it’s Leatherman lights peter out as LED Lenser comes online.

New Haley Strategic Thorntail SBR version and more

Surefire goes green-ish

Crimson Trace Lightguard

Gerber’s hands-free reconnaissance light is coming soon

Leatherman just got a lot brighter

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