asaint
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 2094
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MX-991/U Army Flashlight
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gordon
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/15/03
Posts: 886
Loc: England
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I still use one of these that I was given in the military many years ago. it still works fine.After 19 years I have yet to change the bulb.
it really is indestructable.
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I paid Al Naglers Mortgage.
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microbes
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/12/04
Posts: 1217
Loc: Romulus, Sector 12
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I've used these before and agree that they really are almost indestructable and would not hesitate to recommend them.
Currently I'm using a German Military flashlight that IMO is just as good and has an added feature. The lenses will slide in and out of place at the flick of a button, instead of having to unscrew the head of the flashlight when you want to change from white light to red. It also has a "blackout lens" that is simply a slit that aims a small amount of light toward the ground in the same way blackout lights on military vehicles do.
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Dirt Cheap Astronomy
Voyager 114X900 Newt EQ2 * Sky Chief 60X700 EQ1 * Cometron 62X300 EQ1
Sears Ultra Wide 7X50 Binos * Vintage 16X50 Binos EQ1
Books, Barlows, Eyepieces, Camera Adaptors & Other Esoteric Junk.
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spaceydee
Postmaster
Reged: 04/16/04
Posts: 17311
Loc: Where the Kittens Are
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This is the type of flashlight my dad gave me before going to camp. I don't think I have it anymore but that was the best flashlight I ever had!! Maybe it's partially sentimental value, but it was the first flashlight I ever had with a red filter on it!
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Dee
space-scientist
student violinist
Nexstar8i,SV80S,80/9D,FC100,94 Brandon,TMB92SS,GM8
8" f/7 Discovery,12.5" Portaball, PST
Edited by spaceydee (03/01/07 12:37 PM)
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 5966
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Mine has served me well for many years. 
 Wouldn't it be great if they made an LED upgrade kit for it like they now have for the mini-mag lights?
Preston Smith
Eureka, Pa
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
Stellarvue SV115T & SV70ED
Vintage: Asahi-Pentax, Celestron, Criterion, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
My Telescope Gallery
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m0bius
member
Reged: 03/30/06
Posts: 49
Loc: Sacramento, CA
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Preston,
There are all sorts of 'drop-in' replacement bulbs for almost every style of flashlight! Just need to match the bulb-type: is it a screw-base or flange-base bulb?
For example:
http://www.led-replacement.com/
I hear good things about the red LED lights that everLED manufactures, but I have not tested them... they are voltage regulated meaning they can run on between 1 and 6 AAA, AA, C or D batteries (1.5 to 9 volts). [I believe that there are quite a few manufactures now, so might want to shop around.]
Technology marches on - I've replaced all of my filament type bulbs with LEDs, I have a bad habit of dropping my flashlights at inopportune moments. No worries now 
- Mike
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 5966
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Hi Mike!
This is great stuff! I have the flange type in my MX-991/U. I always carry it in my scope box. Getting an LED adapter for it will greatly extend the battery life.
Thanx for the tip! 
Preston Smith
Eureka, Pa
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
Stellarvue SV115T & SV70ED
Vintage: Asahi-Pentax, Celestron, Criterion, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
My Telescope Gallery
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Dan Dabson
sage
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 251
Loc: Minot, ND
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Wow, I would never have imagined so many favorable comments about this flashlight. I am a 21 year veteran, still serving on active duty. I can tell you the number one piece of equipment that troops ditch. Troops are much happier with newer lithium battery models. In my opinion another example of government equipment supplied by the lowest bidder.
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Dan Dabson
Minot AFB, ND
http://www.dabsonastronomy.com
Orion 8"/F5 Newtonian
Synta 120mm/F8
Synta 102mm/F10
Meade ETX-70
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spaceydee
Postmaster
Reged: 04/16/04
Posts: 17311
Loc: Where the Kittens Are
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maybe it's better as a piece of astronomical equipment
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Dee
space-scientist
student violinist
Nexstar8i,SV80S,80/9D,FC100,94 Brandon,TMB92SS,GM8
8" f/7 Discovery,12.5" Portaball, PST
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smitty
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/27/04
Posts: 776
Loc: Georgia, USA
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The Navy version was exactly the same but without the bend of the 90 degree head, it was straight just like a normal light. I thought the Navy could have done better because that angled head was another benefit of these flashlights. I can confirm that these are very rugged lights, dropping them onto the steel deck of a ship attests to that.
Though I have some nice variable intensity LED astronomical flashlights, these military lights are my back ups. They've also served very well "roughing it" on many, many outings with the Boy Scouts and in less than ideal weather conditions.
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Steven "Saratoga Smitty" Smith
10" & 16" Dobsonians
Coronado PST
10x40 & 11x70 "opera glasses"
2 ton eyepiece case
http://www.saratogamuseum.org
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Bruce MacDonald
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/12/06
Posts: 1126
Loc: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK
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Quote:
I can tell you the number one piece of equipment that troops ditch. Troops are much happier with newer lithium battery models.
Personally I use a Petzl Tikka Plus headtorch with a red lens on it as I like to have my hands free. But there's a lot to be said for old-fashioned technology like this.
I suppose GIs complain about this as they have enough kit to haul around without a dirty great D-cell torch as extra weight.
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Bruce MacDonald
Devizes, Wiltshire, UK
Per Mare Per Terras
Schneider (dkl) 10x80 Flakfernrohr, Canon 10x30 IS binoculars, Synta 80mm f/5 refractor, Televue 24mm Panoptic
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CalAstro
member
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 43
Loc: Comanche, OK USA
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Here's an Infantry mod...
If you just need a small amount of red light, simply create a slit by covering the red lens with pieces of olive green (or black) duct tape to produce a slit of the appropriate size. Standard practice in recon.
Philip E. Evans
Research Astronomer
California Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (CalAstro)
calastro@usa.com
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Scott Beith
SRF
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 42898
Loc: Frederick, MD
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I have the "L-Beam" with the red insert in my observing kit right now.
Very useful and reliable tool.
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   SLAP Observer --- TMB130SS, SV102V(LOMO Lens), SV80ED Deluxe
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
"The measure of a man’s greatness is not determined by what he accomplishes for himself, but by what he accomplishes for others.” -- Some Bald Guy
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Deep13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 2510
Loc: NE Ohio
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I bought mine in the 1980s when they came with additional filters of a diffuser and an opaque white thing that I have been told is for IR optic use.
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That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
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RichNH
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/06/05
Posts: 557
Loc: Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
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I like mine, they used to come with other filters. Over the years I've accumulated an assortment of filters including a number of red ones, blue, green, white opaque & clear dispursal (makes the light into a bit of a flood light instead of a spot light, great when combined with the red filters).
The only way I've found to destroy these lights is to store them for years with the batteries in them.
Rich
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Meade LXD75 AT Schmidt-Newtonian 10"
Meade DSI Pro with filters, LPI
Celestron 8X56mm Ultima binoculars
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smitty
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/27/04
Posts: 776
Loc: Georgia, USA
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By the way, these Army flashlights are also available in smaller versions powered by 2 AA batteries - light enough to hang on a shirt pocket or collar for hands free use.
For those who have never browsed there, check out your local Army/Navy surplus store for these lights and other items such as cold weather gear. Sometimes you can come up with some handy items you'll never see anywhere else.
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Steven "Saratoga Smitty" Smith
10" & 16" Dobsonians
Coronado PST
10x40 & 11x70 "opera glasses"
2 ton eyepiece case
http://www.saratogamuseum.org
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2164
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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I'm currently in Baghdad, and use it alot when I go out in the "Red Zone" oh yes, I also use it when viewing as well
Fred
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Trixie
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Preston Smith
The Travel Scope Guy
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 5966
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Quote:
I'm currently in Baghdad, and use it alot when I go out in the "Red Zone" oh yes, I also use it when viewing as well Fred
I just returned from there in January - I was stationed at Sather Air Base. Keep your head down and powder dry!
Preston Smith
Eureka, Pa
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
Stellarvue SV115T & SV70ED
Vintage: Asahi-Pentax, Celestron, Criterion, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
My Telescope Gallery
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Bonco
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/17/06
Posts: 3036
Loc: Florida
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Good review and I agree 100%. There is a smaller C cell version that works nicely too.
Bonco
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Phrozin R/T TT
sage
Reged: 02/22/05
Posts: 288
Loc: USA-Florida-Bay Area
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Yep had mine since boot, and I don't leave home without it.
Quote:
Mine has served me well for many years.
Wouldn't it be great if they made an LED upgrade kit for it like they now have for the mini-mag lights?
Preston Smith
Eureka, Pa
Yeah, my son bought me a bunch of those LED replacement 2 years ago for X-mas. One of them was for my "L", works great, but I had to insert my opaque white filter before my red because the LEDs were to bright.
Joe
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