What makes a light "tactical"?

[Tasky]

I do actually have a proper 'tactical' torch around somewhere... It's the old Personal Combat one we got issued in the Army. Olive green 2-AA Maglite, essentially. Twist-collar switch in the tailcap, twisty dial where you'd normally have a sideswitch which changes the colours. Uses bulbs, and is about bright enough to read a map, but that's it.

Everything else is just a mis-spelling of Tacticool.

 

[Olumin]

I have no idea why im even replying to a 14 year old thread, but here it goes.

A tactical light is defined to be: A single output flashlight with a minimum output of at least 60 Lumens and a rear, momentary switch.

Whether or not that switch can be used to constantly activate the light or whether it needs to be twisted like on a 6P is not important for this classification. Neither is its color, self-defense or strike-capability, throw/flood or special modes like strobe.

Thats about it. There you go.

 

[bykfixer]

Nuf said Olumin. Nuf said.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Hard anodized black for stealth and long wear resistance, 1 inch body diameter for gun mounting, springs on both contacts for shock absorption for gun recoil, tailcap switch (preferably forward clicky), optional remote pressure switch, quick access to turbo and strobe, non dimming regulation, runs as bright as possible for an hour or more, runs on 123As, 18650s, or 21700s, has no cheap plastic battery carriers or alkaline batteries (those are in tactical-like flashlights).

 

[Tasky]

Don't forget - In order to be tactical, it must have the big glassbreaker/DNA catcher crenellations, so that you can strike an assailant with it... while it's mounted to your assault weapon, with the head set behind the muzzle, of course!!

 

[Katherine Alicia]

DNA catcher crenellations, so that you can strike an assailant with it.

Soooo gross! though I am wondering why some places call them strike bezels now? I just thought it was something to do with putting them down on a flat surface or something so the lens doesn`t get hit and damaged.

 

[Tasky]

Soooo gross! though I am wondering why some places call them strike bezels now? I just thought it was something to do with putting them down on a flat surface or something so the lens doesn`t get hit and damaged.

I didn't realise the forum times out your login, and just lost the long post I was typing...!!

In short - Flat surface, yes. Crenellations are so that, if you've left the torch on, light shines out the gaps so you notice. Gaps also provide ventilation/airflow, to help stop you from burning the surface or setting something on fire.

"Strike" bezels and glass breakers are things imagined by armchair warriors, who saw the crenellations and imagined some sort of tactical CQB type use, resulting in the oversized spiky versions. Same sorts of people came up with the idea of using them in self defence, which might work but would not be a good idea to rely upon and is far more likely to just get you hurt.
Nobody really uses such things like that in real life.

 

[nbp]

* Check the Remember Me box when you log in to prevent the timing out issue.

 

[idleprocess]

A Surefire G2 is more tactical than >95% of the lights out there marketed as such. Required: compact, foolproof momentary operation under duress - generally with a tailswitch - durable, tight high-intensity beam, reasonably resistant to environmental intrusion. Optional: 1" diameter for compatibility with weapon mounts, continuous operation using a method physically distinct from momentary operation requiring conscious effort, HA aluminum body, 123A cell fueled. Unnecessary: multiple modes, programmable anything, secondary lights, kung-fu grip.

Once you get outside the ... romantic ... imagery around SWAT teams and secret squirrels delivering candygrams to baddies at 2AM, actual tactical lights are boring, utilitarian, and of somewhat limited general use. But the term was cool with males in the 18-24 demo for years so it was applied to anything remotely resembling gear the aforementioned groups might use.

 

[Tasky]

* Check the Remember Me box when you log in to prevent the timing out issue.

Cheers NPB. I went and did that as soon as I realised the feature was active, heh heh!

But the term was cool with males in the 18-24 demo for years so it was applied to anything remotely resembling gear the aforementioned groups might use.

And it has resurfaced with the surge in the EDC culture.
EDC in itself has been around for many decades, but now it has an official name and a glossary, and so a whole 'culture' and 'identity' has sprung up around it... kinda like how the vaping 'culture' happened, too, except with things like Shot Show, EDC already had a world in which to belong. Interestingly, as also with vaping, Tactical/EDC people also have a 'uniform' of sorts, in that many of them all dress the exact same! :D

TBH, while I am a fan of a fair bit of EDC/Tacticool stuff as some can be quite useful, I personally avoid the Walting Dork embarrassment by replacing the term with the word Technical.
My 'tactical' jacket is made of technical fabrics. When people ask what I'm talking about, I start by saying "Gore-Tex™" and "Thinsulate™"... and because so many outdoor brands also use known fabrics like that, they immediately think of camping, hiking, cycling and so on... rather than combat cabbages who play CoD while wearing MTP/Crye kit festooned with Velcro™ patches that say "Major League Doorkicker"!

So, my 'technical' torch is basically like a normal one, but with multiple modes for different purposes. Nothing 'tactical' about it!

 

[knucklegary]

Tasky, I thought the British Army issued a right angle style flashlight similar to a Fulton?

 

[idleprocess]

... rather than combat cabbages who play CoD while wearing MTP/Crye kit festooned with Velcro™ patches that say "Major League Doorkicker"!

Space Shuttle Door Gunner is so much cooler.

So, my 'technical' torch is basically like a normal one, but with multiple modes for different purposes. Nothing 'tactical' about it!

Reality is that for the last ~15 years the multimode LED flashlight has been the tool of choice for pretty much everyone that's not LEO nor a subset of MOSs.

 

[Tasky]

Tasky, I thought the British Army issued a right angle style flashlight similar to a Fulton?

Growing up, so did I... and they may well have done, once upon a time. WW2, perhaps?

When I actually got there, nothing like that was on issue, at least not for the likes of us, or that the QMS was willing to admit he had in stock.
However, in those days Maglite was about the best (and only) option, unless you wanted a crappy plastic Duracell one. So, if you needed decent light, you went and bought your own 2AA Maglite, plus a backup Solitaire for your pockets/keys/map case, and wrapped some spare cells in gaffer tape.
Some went for the 2-D, 3-D and even the 6-D cell Maglites (wrap the batteries in paper to stop the rattle), but they were generally too big and bulky for Infantry use.

I guess somewhere along the line the MoD cottoned on that everyone was buying those, and the Torch, Personal, Combat was devised. We got a few from the first issue, I believe, and they also came with a cheap Army copy of the Maglite elastic headband - Instead of a stitched in side-sleeve, they just added two elastic belt sliders. I could make a better one than that myself, right this minute!

You can still buy these things from surplus shops - https://preppersshop.co.uk/british-army-personal-combat-torch-17287-p.asp
We live in a world where you can sell some 50p standard issue underpants for £30, so long as you include the term "Tactical boxer shorts, as used by the SAS", even though the SAS only use them because everyone in the Army does... but even in that world, these torches still cost less than an ice cream from the van, which shows what cheap cack these really are!!

Space Shuttle Door Gunner is so much cooler.

Oooooooohh...... what's the age limit for applicants? Asking for a friend.... ;)

Reality is that for the last ~15 years the multimode LED flashlight has been the tool of choice for pretty much everyone that's not LEO nor a subset of MOSs.

Also assuming they are young enough to know how to operate the VCR... I had to find "a decent torch" for my in-laws this Christmas. They had enough sense to ask the torch geek of the family, but I wouldn't trust them with an 18650, or anything that includeda Strobe mode!

 

[slumber]

...actual tactical lights are boring, utilitarian, and of somewhat limited general use.

Your entire post was spot on, but this bit should not be overlooked. [emoji106]

 

[Scott-S6]

I have no idea why im even replying to a 14 year old thread, but here it goes.

A tactical light is defined to be: A single output flashlight with a minimum output of at least 60 Lumens and a rear, momentary switch.

Whether or not that switch can be used to constantly activate the light or whether it needs to be twisted like on a 6P is not important for this classification. Neither is its color, self-defense or strike-capability, throw/flood or special modes like strobe.

Thats about it. There you go.

Multiple output modes are acceptable as long as the light always goes directly to max output on the first press of the primary button.

 

[Buck91]

Sorry but the last thing I want to deal with in a force on force situation is fooling around with levels. All my WML or “tactical” hand lights are single mode.

 

[Katherine Alicia]

I was looking to buy a second sewing machine, and was reminded of ths thread when I saw quite a few of them labeled as "Semi-Industrial" for no other reason than they were made of metal! but for some reason It seems to sell, these are NOT "Industrial" or even "Semi-industrial" whatever that means!? LOL
I have an all metal sewing machine that was my grandmothers and it`s all metal too, it`s for Home use because they were all made like that once upon a time.
it seems "built to last" now = Industrial! :D

 

[Erick Tamberg]

I understand that "tactical" is a somewhat vague concept for a flashlight.

For a soldier, a fairly weak flashlight (just enough for reading distance) might be considered "tactical," since the idea is to avoid attracting the enemy's attention. During a robbery, however, it's necessary to combine maximum power with minimum volume.

Each type of service has different needs. That's why they invented these multi-mode flashlights, which end up confusing the user more than helping. It's the same difference between carrying a Swiss Army knife and a toolbox. I've never seen a mechanic or electrician work with just a Victorinox knife.

I learned, the hard way, that it can be better to carry multiple specialized flashlights than just one that claims to do everything ("toolbox" concept instead "Swiss Army knife" concept).

I spent 13 years in Homicide. "Tactical" flashlights were usually inefficient when searching for corpses in remote locations, as the search time often exceeded the battery life. Therefore, a 4D flashlight (even the old Mag-Lite) was much more suitable for that job. Even so, there was always a "tactical" flashlight in my equipment, for when it was necessary to make an arrest.

 

[dc38]

I understand that "tactical" is a somewhat vague concept for a flashlight.

For a soldier, a fairly weak flashlight (just enough for reading distance) might be considered "tactical," since the idea is to avoid attracting the enemy's attention. During a robbery, however, it's necessary to combine maximum power with minimum volume.

Each type of service has different needs. That's why they invented these multi-mode flashlights, which end up confusing the user more than helping. It's the same difference between carrying a Swiss Army knife and a toolbox. I've never seen a mechanic or electrician work with just a Victorinox knife.

I learned, the hard way, that it can be better to carry multiple specialized flashlights than just one that claims to do everything ("toolbox" concept instead "Swiss Army knife" concept).

I spent 13 years in Homicide. "Tactical" flashlights were usually inefficient when searching for corpses in remote locations, as the search time often exceeded the battery life. Therefore, a 4D flashlight (even the old Mag-Lite) was much more suitable for that job. Even so, there was always a "tactical" flashlight in my equipment, for when it was necessary to make an arrest.

Tactics, by definition, is an adaptive sequence of actions to accomplish a task. You're 100% correct, "tactical" is a marketing term catered to the run and gun/mall ninja community, and is usually preceded by "with extreme prejudice".

You must have alot of interesting experiences as a cop in Sao Paulo. I imagine that cybercrime has been a rapidly increasing issue because of the pretty new fiber lines now? (brazlian hackers and all)

 

[Erick Tamberg]

Yes, you are correct about the second paragraph. Our previous Governor created a specialized unit for cybercrimes.