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Maglite........Still USA?

redwrench60

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Sep 10, 2011
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East Tennessee
I bought an unused/new Maglite 2D cell for $5 at my local pawnshop. While loading it with fresh batteries I noticed it says "PATENTED IN U.S.A." on the side. I thought, ****! not you too Maglite! So I went out to the truck and got my older (15+ year) Mag and it says "PATENTED MADE IN U.S.A." Curious on a rainy Sunday, I got on the Mag website and they still say made in USA in Ontario,California. What gives with the criptic wording change?
 
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kissmeimgerman

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The two I have from lowes I bought last year , they both say made in USA with some foreign components, im assuming the led assembly is Asia
 

HandyManny

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Out West
They are still made in Ontario, California. They only removed the Patented Made in U.S.A. and replaced it with Patented in U.S.A. because the modules and certain components in the switch mechanisms are imported. About 2% to 5% of the overall complete flashlight is imported.

Sadly maglite is doing too little too late to keep it's market position. Great flashlight still, but many other makers have far exceeded their old technology.
 

mrbreezeet1

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Moundsville, WV, 15 miles South Of Wheeling WV
The 2 D cell LED ones I got on BF from lowes I like just fine, but the 2 AA battery LED one I am not so crazy about. I think the old style bulb 2 AA cell ones worked better. Only trouble was I could net seem to keep bulbs in them. Every time you turn around they were burning out.

Was the pawn shop one an LED?
 
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redwrench60

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The 2 D cell LED ones I got on BF from lowes I like just fine, but the 2 AA battery LED one I am not so crazy about. I think the old style bulb 2 AA cell ones worked better. Only trouble was I could net seem to keep bulbs in them. Every time you turn around they were burning out.

Was the pawn shop one an LED?

Nope, just a standard issue 2D cell incandecent scull thumper lol.
 

kythri

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Lebanon, OR
Sadly maglite is doing too little too late to keep it's market position. Great flashlight still, but many other makers have far exceeded their old technology.

Outside of the nutcases on the candlepower forums, seriously, what more do you need in a flashlight than something like a Maglite?

It's plenty bright, it's rugged, it's cheap, it's waterproof/resistant, it's simple and there's something that makes one feel rather secure when they're carrying a 6 D-cell baton... :D
 
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redwrench60

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It's true, men are flashlight nuts. Something primal with lighting the dark.....you know, let there be light.....and there was light.....and he saw that it was good! I've got small, large, rechargeable, regular battery, LED, incandescent, but a Maglite is a great basic flashlight. All the vehicles and my bugout kit have one. Tough, cheap, simple, I can't resist buying them when they're dirt cheap. I can always find a use for one more.
 

GrantCee

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Aug 23, 2010
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Willamette Valley, Oregon
Damn I've been away for too long I remember when 100lm on 3 aaas was good...

You would not believe the stuff coming out of Hong Kong these days...200lm from 2 AAs is common now. They've gone way past that!

A company called Sunwayman makes a 600lm light that runs on AAs, uses magnetic switching with a darned near perfect beam:

http://www.batteryjunction.com/sunwayled-m40a.html

There are several others who are pushing the envelope too. These small Chinese companies are at the bleeding edge of flashlight technology; nothing made in this country compares.

(SureFire may be more rugged, but they don't have the technology edge. Also, I stress the word MAY. This, coming from a guy with a SureFire Tactical Specialist diploma hanging on his wall...)
 
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IngyHere

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Aug 22, 2011
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The latest Maglites are totally awesome. Plenty stronger beams than the old flashlights and they adjust beam target pretty good for LED lights. They are made in Ontario, I live nearby and if I ever have an issue I just cruise down to the factory and it's taken care of same day.

I don't think Maglite is going anywhere anytime soon. They seem to have the LEO market cornered. Not in Cali due to regulations but in other states a nice 5-cell Maglite doubles as a baton. Also, Mr. Maglica is pretty conservative and won't release product until he feels it's perfect. That and a dispute with his ex beau and kids who tried to start their own LED flashlight company led to a delay in introducing Maglite LED versions. (He had their company closed down.)
 

aar0s

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I got a 2D mag for Christmas but its the old style bulb, anyone know if there is a LED upgrade available for them?
 

WR250F

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Aug 28, 2011
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481
The LED upgrade is available, but it isn't cheap. TerraLux and MAG both offer upgrade kits

It might be worth checking to see if your local Lowes has any of the BF LED two cells left for $15
 

aar0s

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My wife got it for me, if she dont see me using it then ill hear about it for years ill have to check around for the upgrade.
 

Jwrightkustomz

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Dec 18, 2011
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94
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Salt Lake City, Utah
I just bought a XL50 from Lowes the other day. Requires 3 AAA's and is brighter than all my co-workers flashlights. Not to mention it is more compact than theirs as well. I paid less than than they did too! Works well for what I need it to do.
 

Big Gus

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Aug 16, 2011
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Northwest Illinois
I bought a new 2-D cell LED MagLite a couple months ago. It's leaps and bounds better than the vintage variety one I own. It's super bright. I love it.
 

seagravedriver

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Jun 4, 2010
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Puyallup
Outside of the nutcases on the candlepower forums, seriously, what more do you need in a flashlight than something like a Maglite?

It's plenty bright, it's rugged, it's cheap, it's waterproof/resistant, it's simple and there's something that makes one feel rather secure when they're carrying a 6 D-cell baton... :D

I work for a fire dept. as a firefighter/paramedic and I was a reserve police officer. I not only want a lot out of a light, I need a lot out of one. Streamlight, Surefire have smoked Maglight in many areas. I like Maglights for multiple reasons, what the owner stands for is one of them. But we have needs on the responder level that are not being met by Maglight right now. Years ago, smacking a dirtbag with a 5 cell Maglight or a rechargeable was acceptable. Now, that could cost you a job in law enforcement. (But, not always, and they are a great impact weapon if properly used.) As they are issued batons, pepper spray and tasers. My rechargeable Maglights go in for switches every couple of years, and I no longer use them at work. A bit to fragile for FD work. The cool thing in a capitalist society is that Maglight can come up with the next great mousetrap and dominate the market if they come up with the right item. I am not a gear geek, just a guy who needs a light that is as bright as possible, is tough as can be, and works all the time.
 

Wakefield

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Aug 26, 2010
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Arlington VA (but would like to get out to country
I got a 2D mag for Christmas but its the old style bulb, anyone know if there is a LED upgrade available for them?
There used to be a Maglite brand LED bulb that would fit older D cell Mags on Bright Guy but I couldn't find it on there last time I looked. It was specific for the number of cells (not a one size fits all) I think some other brands that were supposed to work with 2,3 or 4 cells would fail if used with more than 2 cells.
Before buying a superbright miracle I want to know if it will burn all night on one set of cells. I think Maglite's official one would.
 
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