Strike bezels on flashlights tactical or gimmick?

[JohnH1963]

The E2Defender has a "strike bezel" on the front for self-defense. As far as I can see, the "strike bezel" seems to make the flashlight twice as expensive.

Can you really use this thing as a tactical tool or is it just a gimmick to make the flashlight more expensive?

[onthejon55]

Im pretty sure that getting hit with a beveled flashlight vs. getting hit with a regular flashlight would render a way more painful experience...
And im sure they make breaking glass easier

[BuckHammer]

The thing about a beveled flashlight is that 99% of people will never necessitate the inclusion of that particular design feature. For those people, the beveled aspect only serves to make the flashlight more expensive. However, for the few people that will have to break glass or perform similar tasks will probably be glad that it is beveled.

[armedandsafe]

I was taught to flip the flashlight around and grab it near the head. This makes your swing much faster and controllable.

If you need the flashlight to see what you are smacking, you shouldn't be using the flashlight as a smacker, anyway.

Pops

[JohnH1963]

Would getting hit by a 3-cell maglight be any different then a 3.7 ounce beveled head flashlight? Im assuming that you would be carrying the pistol in one hand and then the pistol in the other. Flashlight combat would probably begin if the pistol could not be used or if at very close range and its not possible to use the pistol.

[Erik]

I've hammer-fisted folks with an aluminum flashlight sans crenellations before. The desired effect was achieved.

[onthejon55]

the difference is that you dont have to carry a heavy 3 cell flashlight

[BuckHammer]

If I'm really gonna need a beveled edge, I would rather just carry the biggest flashlight I could find and hold it near the head, such as what armedandsafe posted, and use it as a club. But in any situation like that, I would still rather be using a knife. The only problem is that I have yet to find a luminescent knife...

[Recon7]

Just throw a stiff jab using the flashlight like a roll of quarters to make your fist harder. Who practices off hand flashlight smashes enough to be good with them? Or how about an old fashioned pistol whip.

Where's the poll, I want to vote gimmick. Don't the bezels make them bigger and more prone to snag if you pull it from a pocket?

[onthejon55]

dont you usually pull a flashlight out of a posket from the back of the handle? the edges dnt come into play

[Recon7]

some have bezels on both ends, and they can flip upside down in a pocket so you should be able to grab it upside down easily.

[BuckHammer]

Recon7, in your post, it sounds as if you're using the flashlight primarily as a weapon. Like when someone comes at me, I better hurry up and draw my flashlight. I don't know if that's what you meant, or if I misunderstood (which is probably the case). But all around, no matter what features you include in a flashlight, it will never be as effective in combat as an object that is designed to be a weapon. However, the advantage that a beveled edge is trying to give you is a utility (like for breaking glass) to use in the dark, when you're gonna have to be holding a flashlight anyway, so that you don't have to dig around for a proper tool to do the job. Also, I guess it could be used as a weapon, but I would prefer the pistol in my other hand. But as to whether the beveled edge is more effective for breaking glass, I don't know because I can't say I have ever broken a window with a flashlight. However, if I were to do so, I would probably swing the flashlight into it and then rake it around the edges to clear the window. In that case, the beveled edge wouldn't help me at all. So I guess I would, overall, call the beveled edge more of a gimmick.

[Recon7]

We're talking about small 3-4 inch flashlights here, they are a bad weapon with or without a bezel. It is certainly not a primary weapon. There are times though when you want to get your light quickly, sometimes you expect a room to be bright and it isn't. A pocket clip or a holster is preferred, but I tend to carry my flashlight in my pocket.

I kinda understand the glass thing, but I don't see that as a major consideration.

[BuckHammer]

If you carry the flashlight in your pocket, wouldn't you carry it handle up for easy access so that snagging isn't an issue. I believe that this is what onthejon was referring to. I don't see much of a point in trying to carry with the bezels up, because then you have to try to negotiate that with your hand. I agree with you that they're more of a gimmick, but I don't believe that snagging is an issue.

[onthejon55]

it may not me a good weapon but im pretty sure if were about to go toe to toe with someone id rather one up them by having a beveled flashlight instead of bare fists

[KLRANGL]

I used to carry my surefire 6P defender into DC all the time. Best I could do since I couldn't carry a knife or firearm...
Never had to use it, so I cant say to its effectiveness, but for the extra $10 I paid for it I think it was a wise investment. Definitely hurt more on open skin than a flat bezel... Learned a few neat moves with it in martial arts class, but never practiced it enough to do me any good in a fight. Cant think of a negative to having one though...

And they are much more practical than a D battery flashlight... Both in transport and in a fight... Maybe if you are fighting an amateur, you could do well swinging, but people who swung in sparring always got taken out fast... Stick to jabs and strikes....

[BikerRN]

I'd rather have a pen in my hand than the flashlight, if it's for self defensive purposes.

A good pen can be a handy "shank" in a pinch.

Biker

[JohnH1963]

Stabbing someone may not work the way you think. That may just feed more adrenaline into their system and then they become even stronger then before.

A self-defensive action has either 1 of two outcomes which is making the person weaker or stronger. Stabbing them with a pen will probably make them stronger.

[GetYerShells]

I am glad that we have brought to light (no pun intended) the old bevelled ege flashlight ploy. I'll be sure to avoid marketing gimmicks when I am looking for a flashlight for self defense purposes.

[BikerRN]

Stabbing someone may not work the way you think. That may just feed more adrenaline into their system and then they become even stronger then before.

A self-defensive action has either 1 of two outcomes which is making the person weaker or stronger. Stabbing them with a pen will probably make them stronger.

The "kicker" is I probably already have my pen in hand. No, it's not a writing pen and it's designed for defensive use. The big difference between the pen and the flashlight is, I already have it in my hand. I also have trained in it's use. It's not my "preferred" weapon, just one of many in my Tool Box.

I don't expect the pen or flashlight to STOP the attack, just something to use that is "handy" until I can flee or grab a more appropriate weapon. It may or may not buy me some time and is an option. Also, when walking downtown at lunchtime it wouldn't be "strange" to have a pen in my hand. It would however be considered "strange" to be carrying a flashlight in my hand.

Biker

[hogdogs]

If I ever go back to flash lights I will get a bezel like on them Borealis as I think it would be nice to stand the light on the head letting some light out the holes. I would also like an offering similar to a shortened shade on a scope to keep the lens free of scratches from briars etc. I never plan to strike with a light. That is what my big dogs are for... they bark here and bite over there...
Brent

[Erik]

"If you carry the flashlight in your pocket, wouldn't you carry it handle up for easy access so that snagging isn't an issue. I believe that this is what onthejon was referring to. I don't see much of a point in trying to carry with the bezels up, because then you have to try to negotiate that with your hand."

Many lights are designed to clip bezel-up into pants pockets. My Surefire E2E is one of them. It is always there and always accessible; to the point that it practically appears in hand on demand.

As to the effectiveness of deploying them as improvised weapons, again, I've done so and the desired effect was achieved. Some times good enough is what it is.

[Wildalaska]

if you dont think that strike bezels are effective, let me rake one across your eyes

WildowAlaska TM

[Double Naught Spy]

Well, by that logic, even the rubbery button on the bottom is going to be "effective."

[Shane Tuttle]

The E2Defender has a "strike bezel" on the front for self-defense. As far as I can see, the "strike bezel" seems to make the flashlight twice as expensive.
Can you really use this thing as a tactical tool or is it just a gimmick to make the flashlight more expensive?

Tactical tool? Depends on how you look at it.

My opinion is a resounding "Yes". The thinking is your adding more concentrated force on a smaller area compared to a normal bezel. This may be negligible to some, but I think a strike to the face with one will be more convincing....not that I want to be struck with a normal bezel....

The problem I see is that people view a flashlight as a viable secondary defensive tool. Then, it gets evaluated as such with criticism when a manufacturer has an idea that might give a victim an edge on some form. If it costs an "x" amount that some may see wrong, then I say don't buy it. If I were a business man, I would charge as much as I can on my product if sales were there. It's called Economics 101. It doesn't make it a gimmick.

My wife uses the E2D Defender and I was willing to be the sucker that payed up a few bucks. I have no regrets now. I definitely won't regret it if God forbid she somehow has to effecively use it on an assailant.