ODS
09-04-04, 05:28 PM
Well yesterday I recieved in a couple of Beamshot torches made by Quarton.
The two models are T804 and TH10. www.beamshot.com
The TH10 is a Tactical Halogen Torch powered by 2 lithium 123 batteries. A rated 70 lumens and constructed out of 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum and a black anodized coating. Length is 5.2 inches long. They say it is waterproof and shockproof. I did not test this bit, but it does have a o-ring seal. Battery life is quoted to be 2.5hrs.
In the plastic box that it comes in you get the following:
*Instructions & warranty of one year
*push button tail cap with on/off "clicky" style tail cap. Model is S2
*extra halogen bulb
*sticky back velcro for mounting the pressure switch on
*a tailcap with a pressure switch and coiled cord which is 30 inches long model C5
(a M2 mount 7/8" Weaver base and Picatinny rail mount (gun mount)
The plastic box is a nice touch, but one thing that I noticed when running my hand across the Beamshot logo sticker on the side was that there was wording underneath. I carefully pulled this sticker up to reveal the word "Winchester" my guess this is a surplus case for a gun cleaning kit or that Winchester also sales these torches with their name upon it....makes you go hmmmmmmm.
Well after getting the batteries into it ..the first thing I noticed was rings, dark spots, starburst from around the bulb when shining it on a white wall. Now my next thought was if this is a tactical torch I would hate to be the user in a life and death situation.
Looking at the mirror is seems to be pure aluminum machined and polished with 3 bevels within it....This would produce the rings I'm seeing. Ok so I twist on the head.. now no where in the book does it say spot to flood, but twisting the head does get you a tighter beam, but still major rings and dark spots even within the center of the hotspot. So I'm not even sure I'm suppose to be doing this. Well if this bulb is 70 lumens then my Surefire E2e is 100 lumens. Side my side test it completely over powered the TH10 by at least 50%.
At this point I stopped the testing. I could see this was not even worth going on with and that I could get the same beam and light output from a 2D maglite at a fraction of the cost. Only thing I can say is this may be a entry level tactical torch for someone wanting to have a torch on their gun mount for home private use. Military or Police application though it would fail the qualification to meet such by far.
Ok so I boxed that one back up...and grab the T804 LED model.
The specs given by the manufacturer on the T804.
*Constructed of T6 Aircraft Aluminum with heavy duty black anodized finish.
*Comes with recessed on/off switch ( it's far from recessed unless you call a surefire swich recessed as well as both stick up the same height.)
*waterproof and shockproof. (Once again I didn't test this)
* Powered by 3 AAA batteries for 10hrs of constant runtime at 25 lumens
*Weight is 3.35oz with batteries
*4.4 inches long
*30" momentary coil switch
*rail mount system for gun
Well I take the tailcap off and look to see how to put the batteries into and at first thought they had to go in the other end as the tail end looked sealed off. Yet quickly realizing the head doesn't unscrew I go back to looking at the tail end...looking at the destruction (instructions) booklet I discover it has a tray system for the batteries. So I tap it on my hand to get the tray to slide out..no luck. Next I tap it on the desk..still no luck...then against my leg..nothing... on the floor and still it remained "stuck". So I reach and grab some needlenose pliers and pull the tray out with these thinking to myself this is good...just what I need a torch that requires tools to change the batteries.
Well I get the batteries in and back into the torch..now it seems to slide in and out of the chamber with out a problem. Possibly due to the weight now. Anyway I click the torch on. It has a nice hotspot at about 3 feet that is a light blue and the outer area is light green outer. Putting it up within a foot of the wall you see that the LED is off centered and when looking at it you see alot of debris within the lense and reflector housing where is was drilled out and then not properly cleaned out afterwards.
Well the surprising thing is this torch is rated at 25 lumens while the other one tested was rated at 70 lumens and this one is only a slightly dimmer. Now I tested this torch a bit more and it seems to have a throw range of about 40ft before it gives off to much side light and your eyes can't tell how far it goes after that.
Considering the package that you get with this torch it makes it worth the money for a starter kit for someone that wants it for a gun rail mount system.
I can't see the point though in including a rail mount and pressure pad switches with either of these torches though as this only adds to the cost. So I'm going to see if they offer them without such. Otherwise I would have to say stick with a Inova X5 or similar torch as it is cheaper and get about the same output and features as this T804. Another thing that I'd like to see on the T804 is some knurled texture to the body. There is none. It is smooth which if your hands are wet, have a lubricant of some sort on them such as oil if your working in the industrial enviroment, or cold this could cause some issues.
So out of 5 stars the TH10 gets 1..this goes to the body design. Everything else in my eyes failed or could be improved. Drop the Halogen bulb and get a xeon most defiantly.
Out of the 5 stars for the T804 it gets 3. LED driven and a ten hour run time, LED is not high quality, but it is of decent quality. Improvements on it could be a knurled grip, a true recessed switch, better quality bulb and reflector would help this torch out alot then you would be going in the right direction.
As for both... get a new case.. the black plastic case with the Beamshot sticker over Winchester is a bit "cheap looking" as if you was trying to cut corners and cost.
Needless to say though I don't think I'mm be stocking either of these torches anytime soon unless they go some major changes.
Cheers,
Joe
The two models are T804 and TH10. www.beamshot.com
The TH10 is a Tactical Halogen Torch powered by 2 lithium 123 batteries. A rated 70 lumens and constructed out of 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum and a black anodized coating. Length is 5.2 inches long. They say it is waterproof and shockproof. I did not test this bit, but it does have a o-ring seal. Battery life is quoted to be 2.5hrs.
In the plastic box that it comes in you get the following:
*Instructions & warranty of one year
*push button tail cap with on/off "clicky" style tail cap. Model is S2
*extra halogen bulb
*sticky back velcro for mounting the pressure switch on
*a tailcap with a pressure switch and coiled cord which is 30 inches long model C5
(a M2 mount 7/8" Weaver base and Picatinny rail mount (gun mount)
The plastic box is a nice touch, but one thing that I noticed when running my hand across the Beamshot logo sticker on the side was that there was wording underneath. I carefully pulled this sticker up to reveal the word "Winchester" my guess this is a surplus case for a gun cleaning kit or that Winchester also sales these torches with their name upon it....makes you go hmmmmmmm.
Well after getting the batteries into it ..the first thing I noticed was rings, dark spots, starburst from around the bulb when shining it on a white wall. Now my next thought was if this is a tactical torch I would hate to be the user in a life and death situation.
Looking at the mirror is seems to be pure aluminum machined and polished with 3 bevels within it....This would produce the rings I'm seeing. Ok so I twist on the head.. now no where in the book does it say spot to flood, but twisting the head does get you a tighter beam, but still major rings and dark spots even within the center of the hotspot. So I'm not even sure I'm suppose to be doing this. Well if this bulb is 70 lumens then my Surefire E2e is 100 lumens. Side my side test it completely over powered the TH10 by at least 50%.
At this point I stopped the testing. I could see this was not even worth going on with and that I could get the same beam and light output from a 2D maglite at a fraction of the cost. Only thing I can say is this may be a entry level tactical torch for someone wanting to have a torch on their gun mount for home private use. Military or Police application though it would fail the qualification to meet such by far.
Ok so I boxed that one back up...and grab the T804 LED model.
The specs given by the manufacturer on the T804.
*Constructed of T6 Aircraft Aluminum with heavy duty black anodized finish.
*Comes with recessed on/off switch ( it's far from recessed unless you call a surefire swich recessed as well as both stick up the same height.)
*waterproof and shockproof. (Once again I didn't test this)
* Powered by 3 AAA batteries for 10hrs of constant runtime at 25 lumens
*Weight is 3.35oz with batteries
*4.4 inches long
*30" momentary coil switch
*rail mount system for gun
Well I take the tailcap off and look to see how to put the batteries into and at first thought they had to go in the other end as the tail end looked sealed off. Yet quickly realizing the head doesn't unscrew I go back to looking at the tail end...looking at the destruction (instructions) booklet I discover it has a tray system for the batteries. So I tap it on my hand to get the tray to slide out..no luck. Next I tap it on the desk..still no luck...then against my leg..nothing... on the floor and still it remained "stuck". So I reach and grab some needlenose pliers and pull the tray out with these thinking to myself this is good...just what I need a torch that requires tools to change the batteries.
Well I get the batteries in and back into the torch..now it seems to slide in and out of the chamber with out a problem. Possibly due to the weight now. Anyway I click the torch on. It has a nice hotspot at about 3 feet that is a light blue and the outer area is light green outer. Putting it up within a foot of the wall you see that the LED is off centered and when looking at it you see alot of debris within the lense and reflector housing where is was drilled out and then not properly cleaned out afterwards.
Well the surprising thing is this torch is rated at 25 lumens while the other one tested was rated at 70 lumens and this one is only a slightly dimmer. Now I tested this torch a bit more and it seems to have a throw range of about 40ft before it gives off to much side light and your eyes can't tell how far it goes after that.
Considering the package that you get with this torch it makes it worth the money for a starter kit for someone that wants it for a gun rail mount system.
I can't see the point though in including a rail mount and pressure pad switches with either of these torches though as this only adds to the cost. So I'm going to see if they offer them without such. Otherwise I would have to say stick with a Inova X5 or similar torch as it is cheaper and get about the same output and features as this T804. Another thing that I'd like to see on the T804 is some knurled texture to the body. There is none. It is smooth which if your hands are wet, have a lubricant of some sort on them such as oil if your working in the industrial enviroment, or cold this could cause some issues.
So out of 5 stars the TH10 gets 1..this goes to the body design. Everything else in my eyes failed or could be improved. Drop the Halogen bulb and get a xeon most defiantly.
Out of the 5 stars for the T804 it gets 3. LED driven and a ten hour run time, LED is not high quality, but it is of decent quality. Improvements on it could be a knurled grip, a true recessed switch, better quality bulb and reflector would help this torch out alot then you would be going in the right direction.
As for both... get a new case.. the black plastic case with the Beamshot sticker over Winchester is a bit "cheap looking" as if you was trying to cut corners and cost.
Needless to say though I don't think I'mm be stocking either of these torches anytime soon unless they go some major changes.
Cheers,
Joe