Flashlight for self-defense

[esa5444]

Imagine this scenario. Night-time, city streets. Empty street. You are walking to your car. You are surprised by a mugger with a knife.

I was in this situation tonight, except the mugger part.

I have a little Surefire light. 200 lumens, but it's the size of a 2-AA maglite. It's turned on by a button on the back end. It's easy to carry around in my pocket and it's useful on it's own. But I was thinking it could be used to stun your attacker. That thing is painfully bright and I think if you shine it in someone's eyes from typical mugging distances at night, you will get a second or two when they won't be able to see.

This gives you a safe time to leave the area, forcefully apply boot to the mugger's testicles, or otherwise escape or incapacitate your attacker.

However, I've never tried this and I daresay, walking up to random people in the middle of the night and shining a light in their eyes would probably be assault.

What do you more experienced guys think about using a flashlight in this manner?

[Aglifter]

To randomly shine people in the face??? That's a very aggressive act. Unless you produce a badge, or an explanation PDQ, I'm going to presume your a mugger, etc.

[esa5444]

To randomly shine people in the face??? That's a very aggressive act. Unless you produce a badge, or an explanation PDQ, I'm going to presume your a mugger, etc.

I worded that wrong. I meant it in the sense would it be effective as a countermeasure against muggers.

[Guncrazy]

I've had my 12-year-old daughter practice this with me using some SureFire flashlights (for very bright, constant light), a MagLite XL100 (bright strobe).

In low light conditions, both of them worked quite well--lost my night vision, and she was able to tag me, either with the flashlight bezel, or a rubber knife. The strobe worked better at disorienting me, and the constant beam seemed to be more effective if she turned it off just before striking with the bezel. If I weren't expecting the light, I'd say that surprise would be another big advantage for her.

An ideal flashlight, I think, would be one that had the pressure switch activation, but could be set to stay on strobe. Anyone know of one?

[NVGdude]

I have a little Surefire light. 200 lumens, but it's the size of a 2-AA maglite.

Anything over 60 lumens will trigger an aversion response in a dark adapted individual. What that second or two gains you is up to you.

[Aglifter]

Any of the strobing lights, such as this one, are pretty disorienting in the dark.

[Steamforger]

High lumens, strobing if you can and get something with a crenelated bezel. If the excrement hits the fan, the crenelated bit makes for an effective weapon. Pairing it with a good quality folder wouldn't be a bad idea if you might find yourself unable to escape, and HAVING to fight.

[Termite]

How much are you considering spending, and what batteries would you prefer?
If you just want a really bright light, any of the 2 cell Cr123 powered Romisens will do a decent job.

If you want the light to actually be a weapon, a 4-6 cell Maglight is a decent club. The drawback is they aren't nearly as bright in stock form as the new LED lights. However, that's easily fixed.
Buy a 4, 5, or 6 D-cell Maglight, and add a TerraLUX MiniStar31M-EX LED Conversion Kit for a 1000 lumen light that will blind a goblin, or fracture his skull.

[Combat Controller]

Pretty much these days it's hard to find a flashlight that doesn't have a striking bezel.

When abroad, especially in the UK it is often my only weapon. It works well to throw people off and as a striker or to fill your fist, extra bueno.