3-Cell Maglite: Enough?

[WardenRoss]

Got me to thinking...

I located my old 5 cell in the garage. Surprised to find my late Dad's 6 cell beside her. Big smile.

His was empty, but of course my 5 cell had the dreaded corroded/frozen/stuck batteries. Yuck. Big frown.

They are very, very old. Fond memories about my 5 cell. Remember chasing after an escapee all night through the woods with K9's. Circa 1989. Those 5 D cell's would go an easy 12 hours thru the night.

Time to get a long lag bolt, drill the first battery and make a battery puller.

Why do we let thing sit and ruin? Can't blame anyone but me-self....LOL

I converted over to Surefire many moons ago and almost forgot about these beauties till I read this thread.


,

 

[Bald1]

Warden, don’t you just love rediscovering something! If you’re like me you immediately want to clean it up and put it into action. Good luck with battery puller.

 

[rockquarry]

I don't know how long MagLite has been around, but in the early to at least the mid-'70s, you seldom saw any flash lights used in law enforcement that weren't Kel Lites. I never had one of the huge ones, maybe a 3- D cell model. It was hard on batteries as I remember and you bought them often. Batteries and bulbs have come a long way in fifty years.

 

[Xfuzz]

How many old coppers here put a passel of rubber bands around the tube
of your old Rayovac silver flashlight.
The rubber bands would grip the light under your arm as
you wrote a report of traffic citation.

 

[old bear]

Are the 3 D cell maglites good enough for baton strikes?

Believe me they they sure are. Just don't take a head strike unless you believe your life is in danger, cause it could get ugly if you kill someone.

 

[rwt1405]

I don't know how long MagLite has been around, but in the early to at least the mid-'70s, you seldom saw any flash lights used in law enforcement that weren't Kel Lites. I never had one of the huge ones, maybe a 3- D cell model. It was hard on batteries as I remember and you bought them often. Batteries and bulbs have come a long way in fifty years.

I am 95% certain MagLite started selling flashlights in 1979.

My first MagLite was in 1981, a 4D.

If you are looking into MagLites these days, might I suggest the ML300LX (D cells) and ML50LX (C cells) series.

 

[rockquarry]

I am 95% certain MagLite started selling flashlights in 1979.

My first MagLite was in 1981, a 4D.

If you are looking into MagLites these days, might I suggest the ML300LX (D cells) and ML50LX (C cells) series.

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.

 

[WardenRoss]

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 can go to Wikipedia and read how Mag Lite improved on the Kel Lite design and by one of original guys.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

The LED bulb as installed in the 3 cell D maglite.

It’s a lot brighter.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Here’s the bezel and cap I ordered:

The bezel is to allow light to escape when the light is put on end, to act like a lantern. The cap is to break glass in a vehicle emergency. These are just for those purposes of course.

 

[sw702]

dont leave home without it !!!!!!!!

 

[Drm50]

I still have four 3-cell Maglites. I had one in under dash bracket in truck, one in tool bag and two in house. They now have no batteries in them.
I didn’t know about LED conversion, have to check that out.
Not interested in club value, cause anything optional for whack with a Maglite is eligible for a bullet. I quit the Maglites for rechargeables that you can carry in tool pouch or pocket. They are more powerful than 3cell and much nicer to tote around.

 

[jsbethel]

I didn’t know about LED conversion, have to check that out.

I have upgraded several older krypton Maglites to LED - makes a world of difference.

 

[Bald1]

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.

The Founder of Kel Lite is also a co-founder of Maglite. Physically they appear similar

 

[Bald1]

I still have four 3-cell Maglites. I had one in under dash bracket in truck, one in tool bag and two in house. They now have no batteries in them.
I didn’t know about LED conversion, have to check that out.
Not interested in club value, cause anything optional for whack with a Maglite is eligible for a bullet. I quit the Maglites for rechargeables that you can carry in tool pouch or pocket. They are more powerful than 3cell and much nicer to tote around.

For me it’s about more than convenience and performance. There’s a nostalgia factor to an old school American made Maglite. Same reason we all like vintage S&Ws instead of the new stuff.

 

[majick47]

3 D Cell Maglite

Old companions, have two of them, one in the car and another on the bottom shelf of the nightstand. Came in handy for busting out quite a few vehicle and building windows. Was good for banging on doors would wake the dead. Never used it as a weapon but just the sight of it was enough to give anyone looking to be uncooperative second thoughts. When the compact brighter Surefire 6P came along that stayed on my belt day and night. Another plan B was the older big/heavy Motorola portable radios.

 

[Magnum_PI]

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.

and then came "ASP."

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.

 

[twistedtippet]

Reminded me to check the batteries in my 4-c cell thumper. Dead so I need to replace them tomorrow.
tt

 

[mauser9]

Still got one from eons ago. Been using a small Lux-pro lately with 630 lumens. Takes 4 AAA batteries and is bright! Can't believe how many lumens some put out these days.

 

[kbm6893]

Our uniform pants had a sap pocket next to the back pocket. You could pull out the sap, thump a head, and have it back in the pocket before they could yell, "Wuddidoo, Ossifer?"

Yep. That little slit of a pocket under the right back pocket was made for the sap. I never carried one. But I have my uncle’s he gifted me when he retired. God only knows how many skulls it’s cracked. A flick of the wrist and turn in the pain.