Testimonials

SUREFIRE Testimonials (real life experiences)

G2 IDs IED
I went to war in Iraq — Baghdad to be specific. The war was justgetting stated, when I took charge of a platoon with the 82nd Airborne.I have been deployed many times before throughout my 18 year career, soI knew of a few things that were must-have items. One of them was aSurefire flashlight. When I was a Special Forces Engineer, someone oncetold me that there are a few tools a good engineer always carries: agood multi-tool, a solid knife, and a damn good flashlight,specifically, a SureFire. Well, after OCS, I had a couple of extrabucks, so I bought myself a G2™ Nitrolon?.

One night, while doing a route clearance, I saw a wire in some bushesthat didn't look right. My platoon sergeant thought he saw somethingelse, but I shined my G2 on it and it illuminated what was the mostterrifying thing I've ever seen in my life. I was standing about 20feet away from what appeared to me to be an improvised explosive device(IED). I was so close to the device that, had it gone off, it probablywould've vaporized me. We immediately backed-off to prepare a reconparty to find a firing wire. Again, with the use of my SureFire, Ifound the detonating wire that led up to a house. The wire had a smallkink in it, which was probably the only reason it hadn't detonated.This bomb was obviously meant for some unsuspecting convoy, andwould've killed a dozen or more of our soldiers if detonated properly.If not for the keen eye of a soldier and the bright light of mySureFire, if very well might've been me who was killed that night.

Lonni J.
Iraq

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Now over 3/4 of my division owns the same model
Let me start by stating that I am proudly serving in the US Navy. I work in main propulsion, and about a month ago we were due to get underway for 2 weeks. One of the first things we do before lighting the burners in the boiler is remove the stack covers from the tops of the exhaust trunks (approx. 180 ft. above the waterline). Well when my friend Aaron went up to take them off I let him borrow my E2D Executive Defender.

Everything went as planned until he dropped it down the exhaust trunk. The E2D fell approximately 190 feet straight down until it reached the bend at the bottom, at which point it slid about 85 feet before falling into the trough used to keep water from getting into the fire box. Once he told me and we went to retrieve it (a 45 minute operation), I found it laying in the trough, covered in soot and still shining bright. I picked it up, wiped off the soot, and put it back in its holster like nothing had happened.

Until that day I had been mocked constantly for having an $80 flashlight. Now, over 3/4 of my division owns the exact same model as mine. I thank you for making such a great product, and so does the rest of my division.

Robert B.

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Sewage Inspection Saga
I am a sewer inspection technician, and on one particular job, I wasworking for the Illinois Dept. of Transportation, televising a sewer.Our $20,000 inspection camera went out, and we only had our backupcamera, which had auxiliary lights that would not fit into the sewer.So we took off the aux lights, and I duct taped my G2™ Nitrolon?to the camera, and much to the surprise of the engineer from IDOT, thatlittle light was brighter than he could have imagined. The job wascompleted, thanks to my SureFire.

Joshua K.
Ottawa, IL

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Will SureFire for Food
I am in the Navy and because of my next assignment I was chosen to goto SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) training in Maine. Iwas given a list of items I could bring, and immediately went to thelocal Exchange to buy the few things I was allowed. When I sawmini-flashlight on the list I reached for a Mini-Mag, but then I sawthe SureFire G2 Nitrolon. It was a great decision and my "mini-flashlight" almost was confiscated as being too bright.

All through training everyone wanted my SureFire, even offering metheir food rations in trade. The highlight was when we were taught howto signal rescue planes and send signals. I was chosen to show everyonemy great G2 and they said they would recommend everyone purchase thislight to put in their survival pack!

Todd S.
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Instructor Learns Valuable Lesson
One can never own enough SureFire flashlights. I have owned the practical SureFire 6P™ Original(my first light), the blinding SureFire 9P™ Original (for airsoft), a SureFire G2 Nitrolon? (to keep in the car), a SureFire E1e Executive Elite? (last ditch), and an SureFire E2d Defender? (general purpose). I bought the SureFire A2 Aviator?because the light was designed for aviators. While somewhat costlycompared to the other lights, I knew I had to add it to my SureFirefamily. This light truly served its purpose at the beginning of theyear.

At that time, I reported to the airfield to meet with my flightinstructor. We needed to prepare my Cessna 182 for take-off at 1900hours. This was my first night flight evaluation. My instructor usedhis Mini Maglite? to inspect the aircraft; I used the SureFire A2Aviator. One can guess who made a better pre-flight inspection. TheMini Maglite could barely illuminate the inside of the engine when welifted the cowling, while the SureFire A2 Aviator detailed every nutand bolt. But light from the A2 was easily manageable, and did notinterfere with our slowly developing night vision.

Take off, climb, and cruise went without a hitch. When we turned backtowards the field, the in-cabin red light flickered and then burnedout. My instructor handed me his Mini Mag-Lite to continue mynavigation. I pulled the A2 from my pocket and as I started to twistthe tail cap, he shielded his eyes from the blinding blast of light heexpected to receive. However, when he moved his hands, he was treatedto the gentle glow of red LEDs from the same flashlight that I had usedto perform my preflight check. The look on his face was priceless. Itwas one of admiration, jealousy, and surprise that I don’t think I'llever be able to get again. He reached into the bulb/fuse box at theback of the aircraft and changed out the bad bulb in the cabin. Theremainder of the flight went without a hitch.

When we returned to the flight school, my instructor asked me to showthe senior instructor my light. As I began to show him my flashlight,he pulled his A2 out of his pocket. My instructor ordered his A2 withred LEDs later that week.

Ryan S.
Fayetteville, GA
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Anything but Bored While Out on the Farm
I live in a city, leading a life in the fast lane, but once a month Itake a break to visit my grandpa who lives in a rural palm oilplantation area 20 miles from my home. He owns a private farm breedingducks, chickens and a couple species of tropical fish. I like to spendtime there because of the clean air and cool breeze, especially whennight falls.

On my most recent trip, I brought along a friend from the office.During the day we did a couple of activities including feeding theducks, the chicken and the fish. When night came, we had dinner with mygrandpa. I always hang out at the front of the farm house with mygrandpa after dinner to chat, enjoy the cool breeze, and have a coupleof beers and cigarettes.

My friend and I were given a "mission" this night by my grandpa towatch over the livestock, as well as a neighboring house. Our missionwas to be alert to any possible intruder, or anything approaching thefarm that posed a threat to the livestock.

When night falls, one can imagine how dark the farm is — almost pitchblack I would say, with just a little light coming from inside thefarmhouse. The three of us were smoking and having beers outside (wewere absolutely alert and sober of course), when my friend suddenlythought he heard something near the chickens. He asked my grandpa andme if we heard the same thing. My grandpa said he was drunk, and it wasjust his imagination.

But a couple minutes later my friend heard that noise again, somethingroaring, and this time I heard it as well. It came from about 150 feetaway from where we were sitting. This time, my grandpa agreed with us.He took out his trusty 4 D-cell Maglite? and pointed the light wherethe noise came from. We could see only a dark patch there, so mygrandpa said it was nothing and almost quit on the search.

That's when I took out my SureFire G2 Nitrolonflashlight, which I always carry in my waist pouch whenever I travel. Iturned it on and pointed at the spot where the noise came from. Jeez!All of us were in shock to realize that the dark patch we looked atbefore was actually a wild boar checking out the chickens!! My grandpaowns a double-barrel shot gun, and he took it from the house and fireda warning shot to scare off the boar. It did indeed flee upon hearingthe shot.

The bright beam of the G2 clearly illuminated the wild boar, even at adistance of 150 feet. I was surprised at how amazingly bright the G2is. For its size, it's very bright and throw a beam pretty far too. Onehas to see a SureFire in action to believe what is being packed intothese small, solid and rugged powerhouses. It has never failed me sincethe very first day I purchased it.

I'm an absolute believer in SureFire, and now so are my grandpa andfriend. My grandpa has been nagging me to get him one, and I plan togive him a 6P Original for his upcoming 78th birthday.

Eddie C.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Ditching Drugs Foiled by G2
I carry my G2 onduty as a Sheriff's Deputy. One night, the two-man unit I was part ofwas called to assist a Special Operations team in the search for avehicle and several suspects that they'd witnessed leaving a knownarcotics area. I was acting as a cover officer for one of the plainclothes officers while he searched one of the suspects.

I was illuminating the suspect so the other officer could search forweapons and drugs, when I noticed something fall from the subject'spant leg. The suspect shifted his position to cover the object with hisfoot, and the plain clothes officer missed this, but I stopped thesearch, cuffed the suspect, and repositioned him. We then found twobaggies of narcotics that had fallen to the ground. The subject waspresented with the evidence and confessed. Had I been using mydepartmentally issued light, I would have undoubtedly missed the drugsfalling to the ground.

I use this light for everything from building clearing to lighting awheel well to helping change a flat. I have also turned many otherofficers on to the G2. Its combination of power and price make it idealfor law-enforcement officers who are usually on a tight budget. Now I'madding a SureFire L2 to my duty belt, too!

Brian H.
Lexington, SC

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Marine's Mother More at Ease
I just spoke to my son in Iraq. He is a machine-gunner and rides in the crow's nest on the convoy vehicle when they ride patrol. They are looking for IEDs (roadside bombs), and my son said the bombs are buried, but there is a thin copper wire that runs atop the ground to detonate it.

My son had to buy your flashlight with money out of his own pocket, but his life is well worth it. Your flashlight is so powerful that, from atop the crow's nest, it picks up the fine copper wire in the dead of night, allowing his patrol to neutralize IEDs.

I just want your company to know how many lives are being saved because of this powerful light. Thank you, SureFire, for making a product that is literally saving the lives of our brave servicemen and women so they may come home to their families.

Cheryl A.
Pinedale, WY

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Angry dog’s brakes and reverse gear tested by G2
I'm an Animal Control Officer and as part of my duties I occasionallycover nighttime calls. Last month the Sheriff’s Office called me outafter dark for an aggressive dog. When I arrived I met with a deputywho was watching the dog. He told me that he had chased it home, so hehad seen it off the property. That was all I needed to legally removethe animal. Plus, the dog was aggressive and the owner was not home.

I have used a SureFire G2 Nitrolon?for a couple of years now so I put that on my head with a strap,grabbed my catch pole and went to work. There weren’t any streetlightsin this neighborhood, and there was no moon to help, so everything waspitch black. I first approached the dog in the driveway. Of course thedog stood its ground and lunged at me until I turned on the sun on theside of my head. The dog ran toward the backyard and I followed at afast walk. Then I heard another dog barking so I slowed down notknowing what to expect. In the backyard I found a dog that was tied upto a tree with no shelter; I made a mental note about that.

I started to hear a clanking/tapping sound and didn't know for a fewseconds what it was until I noticed another cable tie out and followedit with my SureFire. Hiding behind a tinted sliding glass door that ledinto a laundry room was a puppy, scared to death so he was not going tobe a problem. Then I heard the sound of four paws galloping onconcrete, a couple of seconds later it was the sound of four paws ongrass. I turned around when the dog was about ten feet away and put mySureFire light right in the dogs face, my catch pole in between us. Thedog was growling, snarling and snapping his teeth, but when I hit himwith the light he put on all four brakes, turned around and ran away asfast as he had come at me.

I never did catch that dog that night. I lost him in a wooded/marsharea. But the night ended with me going home to my wife and kids, notto the hospital. Score: 2 for SureFire and me, 0 for the dog.

I went home and woke up my wife and told her the whole story. We bothagreed, thank god we put the money into a SureFire instead of a cheaperlight. The next morning, when the owners returned home, they got aticket and two Orders to Provide Care for two adult dogs tied outsidewithout shelter. They complied with all three. Sometimes I have towonder how I ever did this job at night without my SureFire.

Gordon G.
St. Augustine, FL
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Michael, Row the Boat Ashore—Toward that G2!
In August of 2005, my wife and I went on our first vacation in threeyears or so. We’d been invited to a semi-primitive cabin on a beautifullake in central Ontario. Naturally, we packed our his-and-her G2™ Nitrolon? flashlights.

The evening of our arrival, our host wanted to take us all out for amoonlight ride on the lake. I begged off, as did some of the teenagers,but the others, including my wife, all went out. I chose instead to sitin a lawn chair on the dock and watch them disappear into the darkness,listening to the sound of their engine grow fainter and fainter untilit disappeared altogether. I was soon to discover that the silence wasnot so much due to the fact they were over two miles away, but becausethey’d run out of gas.

After an extended period of silence, a white pinprick of light from outon the lake began to flash in an inconsistent pattern of random bursts.I flashed my G2 back at the flash, and over the next five minutes wesettled into matching flashes, establishing an impromptu form ofcommunication (neither my wife nor I know Morse code). I then sent afew of the older teens out with the other boat to investigate andassist, if needed, while I continued the flashing-light dialogue andestablished a beacon for the rescue boat to follow.

A short time later, the rescue boat was in sight, towing my wife’sboat. All of the passengers were in good spirits, mercilessly teasingour host over having run out of gas, and enthusiasticallycongratulating my wife for carrying the light, (her G2) that saved themfrom a chilly night on the lake.

Out matching set of G2’s functioned perfectly for the entire ordeal(about an hour). Never a flicker or any diminishing of light. As mywife now says (to anyone who will listen), “It’s a very fine light atan extremely reasonable price.” As for me, I use the G2 every day andkeep it with me as religiously. Now I’ve got my eye on a 9P™ Original.

Anyway, thanks for a great product. The icing on the cake is that it’s made in the USA.

Mark M.
Willoughby, OH
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Wall of Light More Effective than Block Wall
Returning home from work one night, I took my dog for a walk, my new G2™ Nitrolon?strapped to my hip. Down the block, a neighbor owns a large, aggressivepit bull that enjoys scaling 5-ft block walls. Having encountered thisterritorial bully before, I fully expected the usual posturing,yelling, and kicking to fend off the canine attacker.

I've carried a 4-cell Maglite before but found it about as useful as aclub. Even at point-blank range, the Mag beam had no effect stoppingthis dog. So, as per usual, the pit bull hops over the wall and lingersin the shadowy shrubs, growling, ready to charge at any moment. My dogand I take a defensive stance, ready for the battle. But this time Ipull my G2 from my holster and take aim. Running towards us, Mr.Personality gets a brilliant, concentrated beam directly in his doggyeyes and decides he's had enough. He turns and scrambles back up andover the wall.

I was floored. I didn't even have a chance to utter a word — my littleSureFire did all the talking. Your product has earned you guys acustomer for life.


Adrian P.
Desert Hot Springs, CA
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