Garda Flashlight - Where can I get one?

Berty

Hello.

I noticed the other night the Gardai had a fairly good torch that had a good range and the light was quite good.

What is it and where can Joe Public buy one?


Before anybody ask's why I did not ask the Gardai, they were busy attending to a callout.

lehanemore

it was probably a LED lenser

google is your friend for your local stockist

or amazon

Mr Jinx

Berty wrote: »

Hello.

I noticed the other night the Gardai had a fairly good torch that had a good range and the light was quite good.

What is it and where can Joe Public buy one?


Before anybody ask's why I did not ask the Gardai, they were busy attending to a callout.

Its an LED Lenser, can get online
http://www.torchesandbatteries.co.uk/products/LED-Lenser-P17.html#

not sure if thats the exact model, but close enough

Berty

Thanks guys. There appears to be many many LED Lenser models.

The P17 seems expensive on that link for my liking. I will head off to the power of Google/Ebay/Amazon to see what I can find.

We have the V2 Tatical which does not seem to be listed anymore. It's the same design as the one in the link but only has one LED.

http://www.zweibrueder.com/ENG/produkte/html_classicline/html_profilampen/v2triplex.php?id=v2triplex

kjbsrah

It probably was a led lenser - each garda buys their own torch. They will usually buy 2 - one longer one for doing traffic stops and then a smaller one for 'general use'. If you look on ebay it can be as good a place as any other to buy them. I bought one of mine on ebay and they engraved it for free!!

da__flash

get a P7 its a small version of the P17 and it only costs about 30 euro... Amazon is the best one to order off..

Berty

kjbsrah wrote: »

I bought one of mine on ebay and they engraved it for free!!

What did it say?

"Dear hippie, if you can read this you are too close"

Discodog

Ok trust me on this one. The two choices are Lenser P14 or Lenser P17. Amazingly a store in Galway was as cheap as the net !.

The P17 is bigger & takes 3 D Cells but I went for the amazing P14 which takes 4 AA's & is just as powerful as the P14 but much smaller.

I too have an old Lenser V2 Tactical & the P14 is literally twice as bright. Even better it focuses one handed from flood to spot & has three power settings. DO NOT point this at someone's eyes when it is on maximum.

I did a little test to compare it with an old 6 cell Maglight with the Krypton Bulb. It is about the same as the P14 on it's low 15% setting !.

If you look on you tube you will find lots of actual tests of the P14, P17 & the utterly amazing X21. A P17 or P14 will cost you about €65 & believe me they are worth every cent. Oh & they come with a really top class belt pouch. It's so funny to see peoples reactions at so much light coming from a pocket sized torch.

Btw. Do not believe the publish run times of any Torch. The P14 gives about 2.5 hours on the main setting & the P17 about 4.5 hours. The P14 will give nearly 80 hours on the low setting.

Berty

Discodog wrote: »

If you look on you tube you will find lots of actual tests of the P14, P17 & the utterly amazing X21. A P17 or P14 will cost you about €65 & believe me they are worth every cent. Oh & they come with a really top class belt pouch. It's so funny to see peoples reactions at so much light coming from a pocket sized torch.

The cheapest on Amazon.co.uk

is €52 That is if this is the same thing. I assume by the look of it that it is a copy of the other one below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ledco-8414-Black-Torch-Gift/dp/B001FSZISK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=diy&qid=1260044505&sr=1-1

Then there is this on Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.ie/LED-Lenser-P14-professional-high-power-quality-torch_W0QQitemZ150386923377QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches?hash=item2303c25771

Discodog

I have not heard of Ledco but in the USA Lenser have the brand name Coast. I would be wary as there is a warning on the Zweibrudder site about fakes.

The ebay torch is the right one but there is a 200 Lumen upgrade. So if you go through the ebay lists some will say 200 Lumen - the one in the link is 180.

One seller is selling them with "Police" engraved on the side & you can also have any message engraved.

Just for fun check out the youtube video of the X21. Duffy's have one in stock & have sold 3 at about €250 !.

Discodog

I was going to buy here but he ran out of stock - now has them back in & he emailed me to say that postage would only be £3.70 so that must be the cheapest overall & it is the 200 Lumen model.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P14-LED-Lenser-Black-In-Gift-Box_W0QQitemZ390126268211QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches?hash=item5ad5566f33#ht_1399wt_941

pvt.joker

kjbsrah wrote: »

It probably was a led lenser - each garda buys their own torch.

No , they don't. Theyre issued.
You may buy a small one if you like, but the long one is issued

the locust

There's a shop that sells them (led lensers) at the bottom of grafton/dame st in dublin. Can't remember what the shops called or prices (i can only imagine!) but it also sells cigars/pipes and has the torches in the window

Discodog

pvt.joker wrote: »

No , they don't. Theyre issued.
You may buy a small one if you like, but the long one is issued

I would be surprised if they are the latest Lensers.

djtechnics1210

I use the surefire, think its a very good small torch

the locust

They aren't the latest models but yes they are the latest lensers

Discodog

Blimey don't say that they are getting the Guards decent kit !. What's next radios that work ?.

da__flash

no they are gettin us plastic cups wi strings attached i hear they worked real well in DMR :pac:

CJhaughey

Forget Lensers they are only OK, A really good torch is the Jetbeam M1X or the Fenix TK11/30 If you want the mother of all torches the TK40 is the daddy 1000 lumens.
Let there be light!
Have a look at candle power forums for real cutting edge lighting.

Discodog

Depends on your need. I have tried a number of specialist torches & many have restrictions - try buying a 4.5 lithium in the West of Ireland. The CP forum boys are obsessed with Lumens which is not necessarily the best guide to the usefulness of a torch. They are also very anti Lenser & pro USA.

I use my P14 on low power 90% of the time because I want to illuminate an area but I do not want to blind my night vision. The 15% setting is perfect for walking on difficult ground as you can set the beam width to illuminate the path & nothing else. Also low power is superb for reading, checking a map etc. If I were a Guard I would not want to broadcast my presence with a searchlight beam. The power is there at the push of a button when it is needed.

Whether you have a range of 200 yds or 400 yards is pretty irrelevant for most uses. It's all about what you use the torch for. I wonder at what level Lumens become dangerous. I accidentally got a blast from my P14, luckily only for a second & in one eye but I could still see the effects for about an hour. If the Gardai were packing 500+ Lumens there would be a lot of blinding.

Specialist & modded torches are great fun but I will always take the P14 as a versatile, dependable light. Given that the eye reacts to bright light by closing the iris I can often see far more without the torch than with it. One good blast at high power & your night vision is wrecked for about 15 minutes.

source

the exact light issued, same box and everything

Discodog

That is an old model - I bought mine 3 years ago. The P14 or P17 are in a different league. The closest new model is the P17 which is slightly bigger as it takes 3 D cells whereas the old model took 3 C cells. The P17 has a similar switch to the old model which can be tricky to locate especially if you are wearing gloves. The P14 has the switch on the end cap & it's chunky enough to use with gloves.

the locust

the locust wrote: »

There's a shop that sells them (led lensers) at the bottom of grafton/dame st in dublin. Ca...

I know that shop, does Maglites of all sizes. I got my AAA minimag there. Use it for pupil dilation testing, among other uses