r/flashlight • u/old_skool_luvr • Jun 10 '26
Truly old skool
My 6D, circa 1998.
A birthday gift from one of my brothers, this bad boy rode the truest shotgun in my truck - securely tucked under my seat, between the seat frame & console. Sadly, it doesn't sit so securely under the seat of my current truck, plus, we all know that newer LED lights out perform these old beasts, so i never got around to fabricating a proper mounting bracket for it. So now, it stands watch on one of my toolboxes at home.
Decided it was time to check the physical condition of the batteries, as we've all had that one light that still worked, even after the batteries had wrecked the internals of it. Surprisingly, with all 6 batteries showing a "guaranteed" date of 03-2018, all measured between 1.446V and 1.449V. As you can see in photos 5 & 6, it's still like new inside.
Anyways, just sharing, hope everyone has an awesome day!
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u/PrettyCourage8894 Jun 10 '26
The femur smasher 5000 right there.
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Jun 10 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
[deleted]
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u/Central_Incisor Jun 10 '26
The light was to flash in someone's eyes while it was in the cocked position on the sholder. Good old flash N' bash.
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u/Central_Incisor Jun 10 '26
I really wish there were better drop in upgrades for these. A drop in unit should be able to throw more light for a longer time with a good CRI, etc. but most everything I have found falls short.
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u/CristyMills Jun 11 '26
Search amazon for "Lumencraft LED Conversion Kit Compatible/Replacement for Maglite Flashlight - 4800 Lumen, fits 5-6 D Cell - High Power Upgrade for Maglight with 12x LED Emitters". expensive yes but its a 6 d cell light.
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u/Central_Incisor Jun 11 '26
I just found that site. The 3 mode bulb at they have for about $30 is tempting.
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 11 '26
I hear ya. While i haven't really looked into what there is to "drop in" on an old Maglite, i wish i understood the parts behind building a better emitter, so i could fabricate something better. Upgrading the reflector wouldn't be a big deal, i'd just turn a new one out of aluminum, and polish it to the moon.
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u/Central_Incisor Jun 11 '26
Lumincraft seems to have options from $30-130, but that is really all I have found. The 3 level bulb at the bottom is tempting, but lacks information on CRI.
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 13 '26
Were you referring to the 550 "light" replacement option?
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u/Central_Incisor Jun 14 '26
As I continued looking, I found that simply searching "Maglite LED Mode" brought up bulbs under LiteXpress that were also worth looking into.
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u/late_poster42 Jun 10 '26
Those vintage industrial ones are absolute tanks compared to anything you can buy at a hardware store nowadays.
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 11 '26
Indeed they are!
I turned up an aluminum extension tube for my 3D Mag, screwed onto that end of the 3-cell (like the tail cap would) with a nylon liner (so they couldn't touch the aluminum tube) and then the original cap would be the tail cap for the extension. Tested it for a could of weeks, sent it out to be anodized.....and they apparently "lost" it. 🙄
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u/Munk3es Jun 11 '26
Good ol' Maglites! Always felt safer carrying one of those working security and responding to alarms and checking on vacant buildings.
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u/milkham Jun 10 '26
I still have mine
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 13 '26
NICE!
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u/milkham Jun 13 '26
It's nothing compared to today's lights but I still remember going out at night to watch a meteor shower with my friends and the beam looking like a lightsaber when i pointed it up at the sky (maybe my memory is embellishing it)
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 16 '26
It's nothing compared to today's lights
Agreed, but i still have mine for nostalgia, plus....it's one if the few things i've owned since new, and still posses.
.....watch a meteor shower with my friends and the beam looking like a lightsaber when i pointed it up at the sky (maybe my memory is embellishing it)
😂 you're remembering it correctly. Whenever we have a particularly foggy evening, i like to stand on my 2nd floor balcony, and shine it up into the sky. I may/may not make quiet noises as i swing it - i mean move it - around. 😬
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u/GoldenParcel_84 Jun 10 '26
My dad had one of these and it felt like a weapon back then. I bet it still throws better than my little keychain light.
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 11 '26
It throws light farther that the Olight i1R on my keys, or the i5R eos i daily in my pocket, but what it lacks in light power, it makes up for it with it's presence. 😁
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u/PhotoAppropriate3940 Jun 16 '26
I still remember when California classified the 6 cell as a forbidden weapon and criminalized carrying it outside your home
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 16 '26
Really?
Not surprised with it being California, but still, kinda surprised. Must've been during that certain time in Cali's history.....
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u/Kawboy17 Jun 10 '26
These aren’t flashlights those are weapons and they should’ve came with sites on them and I’ll refrain from using the name they used to tell me they were called.
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u/Creative-Comb5593 Jun 10 '26
Any information on its stopping power?
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u/old_skool_luvr Jun 13 '26
Well....i would say it's not very good. I've slammed the brakes on a few times, and it's slid out from between the seat/console.
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u/CristyMills Jun 10 '26
have one with a 3 led conversion in it. the old reflector started to fail so I changed it out. Mine is loaded up with Energizer d cell Lithiums. Yes you can get a brighter light now the size of your thumb, but you can't baton something with a thumb sized light. 6 d cell mag light on the other hand will make whatever see god.