Mag Lite 4 "D" Cell Flashlight Black; Follow This Light in the Dark!!

With all the calls for stormy weather from tropical storm Hanna about to give our area a drenching I went and purchased a few extra batteries for my 4 D cell Black Mag lite flashlight. Four D batteries of course.

I have had this particular Mag Lite for a number of years. It's as reliable as the batteries I put in them. I happen to use Duracell.

Payin' the Price For a Bright Beam

This flashlight gives an excellent beam but for a price in more ways than one. First, this Maglite is a bit expensive unless purchasing it in one of the double packs where it comes with a mini AA battery Mag. Another thing, this flashlight is huge at 14 3/4". That's a lot to be carried around and stored. With the length and the batteries comes weight. I don't know the exact weight but believe me, it's a handful. Just a note. Mag has a five and a six D cell flashlights too! The more batteries the brighter the light that can be adjusted from Spot to Flood. Of course it's heavier and longer too.

The Mag company does have a special holster carrier for this flashlight and other D-cell lights but it didn't come with this one and I never purchased one. The back end of the flashlight has an easy to open twist cap that allows for battery changing with ease. A rubber seal helps keep the battery housing clean and dry. It's also been easy to open after years of use.

By twisting the front ring at the point where the lens and bulb are the light beam gently changes from Spot Light to Flood Light. The Spot is quite bright at a 100' distance and more. By opening up to a Flood light there's still good light but nothing like the Spot. The light also sheds into rings of light. It's still good light but not like the beam.

The bulbs for these flashlights are easy to change and are conveniently found at stores like Home Depot.

My Experience

This flashlight is fine around the home and it was one I used when doing some security work at night. I happen to like the simple and easy to press rubber bubble that works as the ON/OFF switch. The button can be pressed part way and the light will go on without clicking it. For the beam to stay on the button must be clicked.

This is the flashlight that was often featured in law enforcement TV shows as the officers search around in the dark. I happen to know that this is a favorite of security guys who also note it makes a good, up close defensive weapon.

I like the basic style of the Maglite. There's the front lens area that's a bit larger than the rest and then the remainder is simple one and a half inch tube that extends 12 1/2" with no bends, shapes, whistles or gadgets. In the middle of the flashlight is a roughened area that helps the hand maintain a good grip. That feature adds an industrial look that's handsome. Over the years though the flashlight has lost some of its luster of a dark black coat of paint. It has many chips with the silver metal showing through.

Last Thoughts


I like the 4-D cell Maglite for it's bright lite and manly looks. There's something pretty cool about these oversized flashlights with plenty of beam. I don't recommend it for camping because it is too large and doesn't have the flexibility that smaller flashlights with shapes to be placed on tables and such might have. It is however an excellent flashlight for search in the dark. The light in Spot mode is extremely bright and able to search out into the distance well.