3-Cell Maglite: Enough?

Glenn R. McMannly · Sep 20, 2023

Bezel came in:

Really like it. Also came with a replacement glass lens and o-ring. Great product! Just waiting on my glass breaker attachment.

Bald1 · Sep 20, 2023

Those to items are kinda pricey. More than the original price of light……. At some point this winter I’ll probably get bored and decide to trick out a Maglite. My lens has some scratches so that’s how I’ll justify it lol

kbm6893 · Sep 20, 2023

Can you upgrade the maglite rechargeable? Back in the day that light illuminated an entire housing project courtyard. The skells would scatter like cockroaches when the kitchen light came on.

kbm6893 · Sep 20, 2023

Magnum_PI said:
To answer the OPs question, yes I have one. Yes, it'll work. They're tough lights and can take (or give) a justified beating.

I found that ASP batons were over-rated and ineffective. They also don't always "deploy" as you would like them to. An old style nightstick had nothing to "deploy" and was ready to rock, much like a solid Maglite.

I was never a beat cop but did private security in very rough areas many years back, before going into private sector investigations. We had to carry them. They sucked compared to an old style nightstick or blackjack, etc. That's why I also carried a Maglite. That was what I'd be reaching for if I had a fight, not the ASP baton. Most guys had their fancy little "tactical flashlights" that were small. I ran the Maglite knowing, that's my main hand to hand weapon.

You can find videos of cops beating people with them and them not having much effect on stopping the bad guy's behavior. I don't think punks of today are tougher, more so the tools aren't as effective. I think honestly, the ASP came about to limit the bone breaking power of a real nightstick. More so a political move in my opinion.

I always love talking to guys who were cops back in "the good old days" and they get a little glossy eyed recalling things like slaps, blackjacks, and nightsticks.

I still have my old issued PR24, but the ASP is a great upgrade. You can have it in your belt as you ride in the car. More than once mine was left in the little loop next to the seatbelt buckle. I once used my old 3 D Maglite to thump a guy who ran on a car stop and then reached when I caught him. Down he went. Turned out he was a famous rapper. I won’t say who but if I did many here would know him. He was cool about it after but once I found out who he was I was paranoid I was gonna get jammed up. It wasn’t the hitting that worried me. He deserved it since he ran and then reached into his inside pocket. But the NYPD does not allow using a “non approved impact weapon” unless you can articulate a real reason, and leaving your “approved impact weapon” in the car wasn’t a real reason. Thankfully, he never pursued it. He died about 8 years later of a drug overdose. No loss to society.

Moo Moo · Sep 20, 2023

As I have only medium sized hands, I prefer the Maglite C battery over the D. I wished I'd have gotten a 4 x C Maglite before they axed them from the catalog.

Rechargeable Maglite 3 x D's were standard issue to all Police vehicles in the State Department I worked for in Australia. I've only been out of the job a few years and I suspect they are still issued and installed in all vehicles.

schutz5 · Sep 21, 2023

Glad you started this thread . It caused me to check my 4-D maglite next to my bed. Dead batteries!
The 3-D is close by!

Racer X · Sep 21, 2023

Moo Moo said:
As I have only medium sized hands, I prefer the Maglite C battery over the D. I wished I'd have gotten a 4 x C Maglite before they axed them from the catalog.

Rechargeable Maglite 3 x D's were standard issue to all Police vehicles in the State Department I worked for in Australia. I've only been out of the job a few years and I suspect they are still issued and installed in all vehicles.

buy a low mileage used one on eBay. I purchased my wife's red 4D Maglite there, and added a crazy bright 3watt LED bulb.

crc4 · Sep 21, 2023

SG-688 said:
There are a couple of books on police defensive use of flashlights.
Better for blocking and such than striking.

Kel-Lite 1973.

When you made a traffic stop, your flashlight was in your weak hand, keeping your strong hand on or near your gun.

No one in their right mind would drop that flashlight to get a nightstick if trouble arose.

You used the tool at hand to do what needed to be done.

Bald1 · Sep 21, 2023

kbm6893 said:
I still have my old issued PR24, but the ASP is a great upgrade. You can have it in your belt as you ride in the car. More than once mine was left in the little loop next to the seatbelt buckle. I once used my old 3 D Maglite to thump a guy who ran on a car stop and then reached when I caught him. Down he went. Turned out he was a famous rapper. I won’t say who but if I did many here would know him. He was cool about it after but once I found out who he was I was paranoid I was gonna get jammed up. It wasn’t the hitting that worried me. He deserved it since he ran and then reached into his inside pocket. But the NYPD does not allow using a “non approved impact weapon” unless you can articulate a real reason, and leaving your “approved impact weapon” in the car wasn’t a real reason. Thankfully, he never pursued it. He died about 8 years later of a drug overdose. No loss to society.

Two Poc!!!!!! I knew it. Biggy didn’t get him. He died of complications related to previous head trauma.

rwt1405 · Sep 21, 2023

rockquarry said:
Thank you for clearing up the fact that they came along much later than Kel Lite. What happened to Kel Lite? Did they go out of business?

I'm not a flashlight enthusiast and have no need for a large flashlight or collection of flashlights. A few compact flashlights are more than adequate these days.

You might find this of interest......

DesertFox · Sep 21, 2023

Have the 5 and 6 D cell rookie cop flashlights here mostly doing vehicle duty. Effective at the end of the night when loading out band equipment amongst the lingering drunks.

Even a drunk gives way to a 5 or 6 D cell thumper.

Echo40 · Sep 21, 2023

Nope, you need a new rechargeable tactical flashlight like THIS!

You don't so much strike them with it as you do blind them with a strobe light setting then stab them with it!

But seriously, I don't think that flashlights are well suited for the role of melee weapons, improvised or otherwise.

rockquarry · Sep 21, 2023

rwt1405 said:
You might find this of interest......

Thank you, it is interesting, but I'm not a flashlight enthusiast...

Bald1 · Sep 21, 2023

Well it happened again. About a year ago I read a thread about BPS knives made in Ukraine. OP went on and on about their quality. AND it was a $25 knife. Well thanks to my wife’s Amazon Prime account I had a $22 jewel in my mailbox 3 days later. Took the handles off. Lightly sanded and applied a couple coats of linseed oil. OP was right. The sheath alone is worth the cost. Fast forward to today. I just bought 2 3D cell Maglites for $17 a piece on Amazon. Last 2 they had. They are old school not LED. But for $17 C’mon. I’ll be modifying them at some point. Probably after deer season.

Cal44 · Sep 21, 2023

ImprovedModel56Fan said:
You might find a C-cell Mag-Lite or Kel-Lite to be a more secure fit to your hand than a D. Obviously, depends somewhat on the size of your hand.

I agree. I have a 4 C cell maglite.

Easy to get a good grip on.

Also a couple 3 18650 cells metal LED lights that are nearly as long and heavy.

The D cell size lights are hard to get a good grip on and I think a bad guy might grab it out of my hand

kbm6893 · Sep 22, 2023

Bald1 said:
Two Poc!!!!!! I knew it. Biggy didn’t get him. He died of complications related to previous head trauma.

I wish! This guy was not quite as big, but certainly very well known on MTV. Funny thing is he had no reason to run. He was just a nut who didn’t like listening to cops. He was parked with a woman in his car in a well known hooker area. Had him step out to answer a few questions while my partner took the girl out to hear their separate stories. He ran immediacy. Tried to get into a hospital but the inside door required a buzz in and that allowed me to catch up to him. He reached into his jacket and POW with the maglite. It was actually very convenient where it happened since we were already at the hospital. Car was legally his and nothing in car. Girl was a pro, just one of his many Baby Mama’s from the area. He was very affable once he was in cuffs.

I had no idea who he was until I walked him into the precinct. Some of the black officer recognized him immediately and called him by his rap name. I knew the name and thought I was screwed. But nothing ever came of it. This was over 25 years ago. I think he qualified for a desk appearance ticket. I remember he did refuse medical attention.

wood714 · Sep 22, 2023

You guys can have your wimpy Maglite's. My cell phone has a pretty good flashlight.

I keep this between the door and seat of my truck, and carry it everywhere. I get funny looks at places like Publix and the post office, but there ain't been anyone ask me about it yet!

crc4 · Sep 22, 2023

Forte Smitten Wesson said:
Nope, you need a new rechargeable tactical flashlight like THIS!

You don't so much strike them with it as you do blind them with a strobe light setting then stab them with it!

But seriously, I don't think that flashlights are well suited for the role of melee weapons, improvised or otherwise.

Don't think of a Mag-Lite or Kel-Lite as a flashlight. Think of it as a legal pipe that shines light when necessary and a defensive/offensive tool when necessary.

Those who have used it as such know their value. Those that haven't . . . . . .

Bald1 · Sep 22, 2023

CRC4…. Exactly. But it shouldn’t be that hard to figure out. I don’t want to get shot with a wimpy 22 and I don’t want a Maglite up side the head.

Magnum_PI · Sep 23, 2023

wood714 said:
You guys can have your wimpy Maglite's. My cell phone has a pretty good flashlight.

I keep this between the door and seat of my truck, and carry it everywhere. I get funny looks at places like Publix and the post office, but there ain't been anyone ask me about it yet!

Ha!

I don't carry it around with me, but do keep a bat in my vehicle. Ya just never know... The riot season a few years ago taught us all, you never know what to expect. Good to have options.

3-Cell Maglite: Enough?

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