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Posted: 1/6/2007 12:40:13 PM EDT
| I have a couple of Gladius lights and am very pleased with them. I was waiting for the Xiphos to get a strobing handgun light, but since that's dead, are there any other alternatives out there? Any rumors of anyone coming out with one? |
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Yes...I think there is another handheld Strobing Light out there....Can't remember the name though... Somebody like BlackHawk/Night-Ops makes it...Some obscure name like "Gladius" or something like that...It will eventually come to me... I heard they will eventually build the next generation of it as well...Who knows??? They will have pistol light that strobes too....But who needs that anyway? 
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there really is another company that came out with one, I just can't find the ad I seen for it. It is made by one of the top light manufactuers and I think the name kind of was a copy off of your light, it's not the same name but something similar I think. |
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+1 on the Insight Technologies Gladius CLone. I just got mine it is called the "H2X Typhoon" and is an exact clone of Gladius. It is very sweet and is currently on sale at botachtactical.com for $139.00 and change and includes 10 free 123 batteries. Though this deal is awesome, I must warn that botachtactical is the absolute worst company in tactical accessories as far as customer service. The light was on backorder and took a week and a half to get it even though they will tell you it is in stock, it isn't, they must be selling 100's a day. Another option that some other members of my department have went with is the "lightsaver mini blitzer" sold on gunfightersltd.com. It is $75.00 with 2 123 batteries and has optional pressure pad available for sale as well. Hope this helps and my 2 cents is that this type of light is absolutely aaawwwwwsssssooooommmeee. My Typhoon by insight is mounted on my M4 in a DD offset flashlight mount to my right so I can access the tailcap button with my left hands thumb while holding my Tango down foregrip. The light makes you sick to your stomach when flashed at you and definitely does what it says "intimidation!" **NOTE** Anyone who orders the Insight Typhoon should be aware that you need to make sure you screw the end cap on just as directions say and when screwing it down make CERTAIN that it is screwed down all the way for proper battery contact (Almost thought I was gonna break the light screwing it down so tight) but this is absolutely the first thing you should check if you put it together and push the button and nothing happens. I believe in Insight's products and will continue to use them. I am also using their M6X on my M4 using a special undermount from Brownells (stock #100-002-594 made by "Custom Defense Products") that slides over the bayonet lug and attaches with screw threw hole after drilling out stock sling. This is a gem of an option and the M6X is absolutely awesome and it even has ambidextrous sling mounts on it. It doesn't look too bulky by mounting on and through sides of front sight post like some others, just looks nice and neat, installs easily after drilling out stock sling rivet (Carefully) and functionality is sweet. Just don't order the M6X from Botachtactical even though they are advertising it for $279.00 and $359.00 with rifle and pressure pad accessories. They do not have it in stock and probably never will, I ended up cancelling my order for it after waiting for 2.5 weeks for the item that they said for 2 weeks, would be shipping in 2-3 days (Botach tactical are evil h Hey all, hope this info. serves well. Later, Redburn |
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I talked to Ken Good about this briefly at SHOT and the assumption that the Typhoon IS the same Gladius is not at all fair. My brief understanding is ITI was a licensed contractor to produce the Gladius but the Typhoon is not a 100% clone of the Gladius. NightOps had strict q.c. that were to be maintained and that's why there is a cost difference, not to mention the fact that NightOps beared the load of R&D for production. Please understand, I'm not at all knocking the Typhoon, having more choices or being more affordable means more people can have better gear, that's always a good thing. ITI does a great job and I have always loved the M3X/M6X lineup. Also, NightOps is not done, keep your eyes & ears open for a Gladius II! 
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Fenix makes a small strobing light that has a higher output than the Gladius. I have both and they are both great lights, but different purpose. The model is P1D CE and it's advertised output is 135 lumens, vs. around 80 for the Gladius. I don't know if you would want to mount it on a handgun for the strobe however. You must rotate the head to switch between modes, and the strobe is mode 4, so not all that handy for CQB. Maybe someone will come up with a modificaton that will allow the switching to be done with a tape switch soon. BTW, it's a single cell CR123 battery size and is on my keychain it's so small. Here's a link. fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_51&products_id=158 |
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Let me clarify. Insight is licenced to make the Typhoon, a re-branded Gladius. Once again, insight DID NOT design, develop or conceive of the Gladius. Any statements or language that would indicate otherwise are inaccurate. You will not find any Insight personnel, representatives or assignees on the patent application for this product. Insight is the manufacture of the Gladius and now the Typhoon. The manufacturing agreement made with Insight was made well into the manufacture and distribution cycle of the Gladius. We wanted a proven, professional company making our product within the United States. Since that time, Insight has been granted the right to produce the Typhoon under their name by permission through agreement. Also for clarity sake, as far as I am aware the Typhoon maintains the same specifications as the Gladius, but you may want to check with Insight on that. I have never told anybody otherwise. I hope for the best for Insight and the Typhoon. Here is a farily large defense contractor using our design for their premire flashlight. So story is clear. The Gladius is a Blackhawk product, period. The Typhoon as currently produced is a clone of the Gladius, period. Oh yes, BTW we have a 1-cell strobing handgun light...The original starting point of this thread. Ken J. Good Night-Ops Illumination Tools |
Ken, Where is it? I received a reply from www.strategosstore.com implying it would be available for order 01/15/07...but I can't find it on your website. Would I be better served picking up the phone?  Thanks! |
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Yes, please call and do the pre-order thing... We've all been getting ready for SHOT Show and the website is not up to speed with respect to the Xiphos NT. Pictures from SHOT. Keep in mind this will not go into production for another 90 days. We are in the middle of a several hundred, pre-production proto unit test phase. We have quite few changes internally, and minor changes in the switch setup that will be implemented in production. These changes will probably include: - Symetrical positioning of the ambidextrous digtial switch levers - Higher output emitter (latest generation) - User programmable features - Easier attach/detach lever - Minor changes in the mold - Other stuff...     
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