Let’s hear from the hard core AAA users!

[kaichu dento]

There's a reason I adopted, supported and was a very vocal advocate of the 1xAAA from the start, long before others jumped on the bandwagon (just check my post history from a couple decades ago).

I'm pretty sure that describes quite a few of us here. Output, UI and runtimes are the main things that got me even interested in gigantic lights like the HDS offerings.

I really wish we could have the original L0D with a better engine and wider spacing between modes. There were three levels, but none of them was actually a low brightness mode and an L0D with 1, 10 and 100 lumens could find itself back into my pocket pretty quickly.

Ironic that I had to go to larger lights to get the lower levels that I like so much.

 

[Schokokeks]

I'm pretty sure that describes quite a few of us here. Output, UI and runtimes are the main things that got me even interested in gigantic lights like the HDS offerings.

I really wish we could have the original L0D with a better engine and wider spacing between modes. There were three levels, but none of them was actually a low brightness mode and an L0D with 1, 10 and 100 lumens could find itself back into my pocket pretty quickly.

Ironic that I had to go to larger lights to get the lower levels that I like so much.

As fiddly as the QTC is, you might like the Peak Eiger. It's a GREAT AAA light, and the QTC allows for some crazy low outputs (though, again, it's quite fiddly).

 

[kaichu dento]

As fiddly as the QTC is, you might like the Peak Eiger. It's a GREAT AAA light, and the QTC allows for some crazy low outputs (though, again, it's quite fiddly).

The Peak lights and QTC have been out so long that they're pretty common knowledge all across the forum and much as I got interested in the QTC, it quickly faded once I got some of them. Don't even know where they are now. I do know that I ended up selling the few Peaks that I'd bought. Even sold my much anticipated McGizmo AAA light and came to realize that much as I enjoy titanium lights, I prefer my AAA lights in aluminum.

 

[Schokokeks]

I tend to agree. Titanium is neat (I remember it being almost mythical and exotic before the Soviet Union collapsed), but aluminum with good anodizing is kind of the perfect material for flashlights. In summer, I much prefer aluminum, as those lights become so small and light that I don't notice them.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Just a question of curiosity...what kind of changes or improvements would you have implemented to the c01 family? thicker threads, tighter tolerances, that kind of thing?

That's a tough one. Honestly, I love it the way it is, thus it's EDC for me, for as long as I can remember.

High CRI
Perfect Tint
Tailstands
Trtium
Magnet

I don't use and don't care for 10440 cells, so whether they're supported or not has been meaningless to me.

This is my c01s, as my c01 is on my keyring.

 

[lampeDépêche]

That's a tough one. Honestly, I love it the way it is, thus it's EDC for me, for as long as I can remember.

I'm a big fan of the Sofirn C01 with the 5mm emitter. I snapped up 4 of them back when they were available, and I'm glad that I did.
What's the slimmer cylinder between the Sofirn and the SAK? Don't answer if it's none of my beeswax.

 

[lampeDépêche]

Even sold my much anticipated McGizmo AAA light and came to realize that much as I enjoy titanium lights, I prefer my AAA lights in aluminum.

I generally agree about titanium lights -- they are heavy, and they offer lousy heat-sinking. I don't carry them.
For some reason, the Sapphire is a different thing. I don't carry it, either, I just love owning it. What can I say? It's my only piece of flashlight-as-jewelry. A perfect object, even before it shines light.

 

[dc38]

I'm a big fan of the Sofirn C01 with the 5mm emitter. I snapped up 4 of them back when they were available, and I'm glad that I did.
What's the slimmer cylinder between the Sofirn and the SAK? Don't answer if it's none of my beeswax.

looks like a safety whistle

 

[this_is_nascar]

I'm a big fan of the Sofirn C01 with the 5mm emitter. I snapped up 4 of them back when they were available, and I'm glad that I did.
What's the slimmer cylinder between the Sofirn and the SAK? Don't answer if it's none of my beeswax.

A whistle.

 

[Schokokeks]

I generally agree about titanium lights -- they are heavy, and they offer lousy heat-sinking. I don't carry them.
For some reason, the Sapphire is a different thing. I don't carry it, either, I just love owning it. What can I say? It's my only piece of flashlight-as-jewelry. A perfect object, even before it shines light.

Hahah, I have 3 Sapphires, and I also do not carry them.

But, like you, I LOVE owning them. They are just a wonderful light.

It's kind of similar to my Haiku. I think I use my MDC AA's much more, but I really love having the Haiku, and it's just very nice.

"A perfect object" is really kind of a great way of describing them.

 

[lampeDépêche]

I will say that back in the day I owned and EDC'ed one of David's limited edition titanium Quarks for several years. Usually EDC'ed it with the 1xAA tube. That was a great light, too, and I'm sorry that I lost track of it.

ETA: as good as it was, the titanium Quark's threads were still gritty. Part of the magic of the Sapphire is the smoothest threads ever tapped in titanium.

 

[Monocrom]

Ti threads are notorious for galling. You have to polish those threads to an extreme degree to get any measure of smoothness. Brass is the exact opposite. Buttery smooth threads without even trying.

 

[JP031716]

Ti threads are notorious for galling. You have to polish those threads to an extreme degree to get any measure of smoothness. Brass is the exact opposite. Buttery smooth threads without even trying.

My first Ti light was a FourSevens Mini Mkiii and the sensation of threading the head on was equivalent to cringing sound of nails in a chalkboard.. at least to me.

 

[kaichu dento]

Part of the magic of the Sapphire is the smoothest threads ever tapped in titanium.

Ti threads are notorious for galling. You have to polish those threads to an extreme degree to get any measure of smoothness. Brass is the exact opposite. Buttery smooth threads without even trying.

Remember the threads on the lights from Modamag? Absolute perfection on the titanium Draco and Drake.

 

[archimedes]

Remember the threads on the lights from Modamag? Absolute perfection on the titanium Draco and Drake.

Yes, those were most impressive

 

[lampeDépêche]

Remember the threads on the lights from Modamag? Absolute perfection on the titanium Draco and Drake.

I have been in and out of the game over the last 20 years, so I missed the rise and fall of Modomag and their Draco and Drake. Names that I have never heard before. What years were those in production?

 

[archimedes]

I have been in and out of the game over the last 20 years, so I missed the rise and fall of Modomag and their Draco and Drake. Names that I have never heard before. What years were those in production?

Some classic CPF reading available, starting here ...

Thread '"Introducing "Draco" [Accepting Deposit].'

May 21, 2006

Introducing Draco - The "innie winnie little" light that breath out fire.
... well at least the thought :nana:

Image scale are:
2.92:1 on 800:600 resolution monitor
2.29:1 on 1024:768 resolution monitor
1.82:1 on 1280:1024 resolution monitor
1.44:1 on 1600:1200 resolution monitor

This project has been on-again, off-again since my last birthday. There are so many beautiful and bright limited...

• modamag

 

[archimedes]

That thread even discusses addressing the titanium thread galling issue in the first post there

 

[JP031716]

Do we know of any current manufacturers that treat the threads on their Ti bodied offerings to specifically address galling?

 

[troutpool]

I don't know about special treatments, but my ti Prometheus Beta is quite smooth to operate when the threads are clean and lightly lubed with NyoGel.