My next review is going to be on some Malkoff products. Mainly the Malkoff MD2, switching ring, and M60/M30 P60 drop-ins.

The Malkoff MD2 can be bought either as a host or it can be bought as a ready to use flashlight. The MD2 comes in 5 different coatings. HAIII natural, HAIII Black, HAII Black, and Camo. It is meant to be used with either an M60 module or an M30 Module. The MD2 is a 2 piece design. The switch is part of the body and this means that you just remove the head to replace the batteries.

The MD2 is a single output light but can be coverted to a multi-mode through the use of the hi/lo switching ring. This ring just replaces the stock module retaining ring in the head. The switching ring works on both type of module. Once it is installed you fully tighten the head for high, or if you just barely loosen it that will activate the low mode. The bezel rings are easily changed with a very small screw driver or with a bent paper clip.

Now for the drop-ins! These drop-ins are P60 sized drop-ins which means they will fit your MD2, your Surefire C series lights (6P, C2, G2, 9P, M2, etc...) or your Solarforce L2. The M60 has an input voltage of 3.8-9 volts that means you can run 2-3 cells. The M30 has an input voltage 1-5.5 volts which means you should only use 1 cell with it, like an 18650. With the M30 you can also use 2AA's if you can find a suitable host. The modules come in a bunch of different versions. Here is a quick guide...
F = Flood
L = Low
LL = Low Low
W = Warm (warmer tint LED, these give better color rendition but less output better for draining since they will also cut through fog better)
MC-E = extremely high output LED but is almost all flood, not a good spotlight.

One of the best things about Malkoff products is the warranty and the customer service! If you ever call or email Gene or Cathy Malkoff will almost always talk to you personally. They are awesome people and very helpful! Here is a Quote from Gene from over on CPF
"If you experience a failure of a M60 for any reason. (Even if you accidentally tape some C4 to it.) Just contact me and I will replace it. Some of the team training members at Magpul Dynamics have over 100,000 rounds on their M60's with no failure. I stand behind my stuff.

Thanks, Gene Malkoff "
Like I said, awesome warranty and awesome people!



Novatac 120P, Malkoff MD2, Surefire 6PL, Olight M20


Almost forgot! All this stuff and a lot more is available at www.malkoffdevices.com

I am quite tempted by the idea of an MC-E in an L2 body

I almost bought one a while ago but I dont like lights that are too floody. I am personally longing for the MD4/MD3 Wildcat that is on sale for $199 for the next 2 days!

My $0.02 :

I used to have a Malkoff M60L in a Surefire C3. I have concerns about the heatsinking of the Malkoff drop-ins, considering that:

A ) The Malkoff drop-ins are made from brass, which has a much lower thermal conductivity than aluminum or copper.

B ) There is very, VERY little contact between the drop-in and the body of the light. Mine only touched at the base of the drop-in. It didn't touch the light along the sides or even at the front edges (unless you count the glass lens pressing against the drop-in). Mine came with a sticker around the front edge that would have blocked heat transfer at this point anyways.

Of course this would really only an issue with the higher-powered drop-ins (the full-power M60, and the MC-E version). The L and LL versions don't produce enough heat to worry about.

Posted by tick My $0.02 : I used to have a Malkoff M60L in a Surefire C3. I have concerns about the heatsinking of the Malkoff drop-ins, considering that: A ) The Malkoff drop-ins are made from brass, which has a much lower thermal conductivity than aluminum or copper. B ) There is very, VERY little contact between the drop-in and the body of the light. Mine only touched at the base of the drop-in. It didn't touch the light along the sides or even at the front edges (unless you count the glass lens pressing against the drop-in). Mine came with a sticker around the front edge that would have blocked heat transfer at this point anyways. Of course this would really only an issue with the higher-powered drop-ins (the full-power M60, and the MC-E version). The L and LL versions don't produce enough heat to worry about.

The brass is actually a great heatsink and is better than ANY other P60 drop-in out there.

The design of the heatsink is actually one of the reasons Surefire has yet to release their P61L drop-in. The Malkoff design is the best heatsink design you can possibly get with the space allowed and Gene has it patented.

The best way I can explain this is if you go get a comparable drop-in from another manufacturer and put it in your light. Turn it on for 10 minutes and then measure how hot the head is. Now do the same thing with a Malkoff. The head will be MUCH hotter with the Malkoff because the heatsink pulls so much heat away from the LED...

Heres an image comparison. Notice the surface area on the Surefire drop-in. Also it should fill almost the whole head of the light and touch all around the bottom?

Posted by tick B ) There is very, VERY little contact between the drop-in and the body of the light. Mine only touched at the base of the drop-in. It didn't touch the light along the sides or even at the front edges (unless you count the glass lens pressing against the drop-in). Mine came with a sticker around the front edge that would have blocked heat transfer at this point anyways.

Contact on dropins is one reason I dislike them. Wedge something in there and it'll probably help - Thermal compound (Not the epoxy type, unless you like chiseling dropins out) could be a good solution.

You can also use aluminum foil if you want the best contact with the head. Just be sure not to short it to the positive contact