Why are torches always held underhand by the police?

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

KINK,OH KINK,KINK,RAMMY'S PICKING ON ME.........

Oh cr*p.....I'm for it now







Wassamater......can't handle the truth? Eh?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Oh cr*p.....I'm for it now







Wassamater......can't handle the truth? Eh?

Kink's a pussycat...







OK, A lion, but a cat none the less..

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by Theodoric

The only reason that I can think of is that it prevents the police from automatically using the torch as a bludgeon and perhaps harming someone.

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

MMMmmm - I hold my maglite in a position to get ANYONE who tries to jump me while I'm at work patrolling in the early hours....

Which is why a number of police forces, when maglites first came out and officers started buying them before the type of torch became part of equipement issue, banned the torches longer than 2 or 3 cells (you could get 4 or even 6 cell versions). At that time, many police forces still used truncheons, none of these modern battons, so the maglite was far more effective. It was the dual purpose use of the maglite, good lighting and the potential defensive use that made them so universally popular.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Chimaera

Do they come with an everlasting battery too? No one here seems to understand they have to be replaced when they die!!

As well as Dilli's faraday torch, there is a company called freeplay that markets a range of wind-up products such as torches, radios and mobile phone chargers. I don't know about the other products, but the radios are good..

http://www.freeplay.net/

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Which is why a number of police forces, when maglites first came out and officers started buying them before the type of torch became part of equipement issue, banned the torches longer than 2 or 3 cells (you could get 4 or even 6 cell versions). At that time, many police forces still used truncheons, none of these modern battons, so the maglite was far more effective. It was the dual purpose use of the maglite, good lighting and the potential defensive use that made them so universally popular.

there are defensive & offensive, techniques, possible with even a mini maglite, knowledge of anatomy, 'pressure points', etc , will help - Ramrod could be a very dangerous man, we should show respect

[danielf]

Originally Posted by scastle

As well as Dilli's faraday torch, there is a company called freeplay that markets a range of wind-up products such as torches, radios and mobile phone chargers. I don't know about the other products, but the radios are good..

http://www.freeplay.net/

I heard about those. They are being put to good use in developing nations (where lack of power is more than just a nuisance).

The Freeplay Foundation recognised a need for alternative energy sources amongst the worldââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s poorest communities. As a result of this need, the Freeplay Foundation was founded in 1998 by the Freeplay Energy Group (FEG) as an extension of the groupââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s commitment to development and empowerment.

The Freeplay Foundation is committed to providing innovative, affordable and practical energy solutions to ensure sustained access to information via radio. The Freeplay Foundation seeks new applications for Freeplay's unique wind-up and solar powered technology and makes those applications real and tangible, as evidenced in the Lifeline radio. After extensive fieldwork, the Freeplay Foundation believed there was an urgent need for a radio designed specifically for the humanitarian sector. The idea for the Lifeline radio was born - a robust radio that can be operated easily by adults and children alike, heard by groups of up to 40 and powered by either wind-up or solar-powered energy. Just 24 months after the concept paper for the Lifeline radio was written, the first radios were delivered to Burundian refugees living in refugee camps in Tanzania.

from: http://www.freeplay.net/website/corp...foundation.php

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Oh cr*p.....I'm for it now







Wassamater......can't handle the truth? Eh?

You think your so sneaky writing in yellow on white.UNTIL someone quotes you.

Originally Posted by scastle

Kink's a pussycat...







OK, A lion, but a cat none the less..

Carry on! You are doing just fine.

Originally Posted by danielf

I heard about those. They are being put to good use in developing nations (where lack of power is more than just a nuisance).



from: http://www.freeplay.net/website/corp...foundation.php

I'm beginning to think that they might be a good idea for those of us who want to conserve energy in the developed countries (waits for the usual cheap comments from Ramrod) and that one day they may even a necessity when we have to learn to find cheaper sources of power because resources have diminished too far.

Incog.

[Flubflow]

Originally Posted by Theodoric

First a confession. I have just finished watching The Bill. There, I've admitted it!

In tonight's episode, DS Nixon was seen holding a torch in an underhand fashion, that is with the fist under the horizontally held torch. I'm sure that most TV shows and films show police holding the torch this way. Now, I (and I suspect most people) hold a torch overhand, that is with the fist on top of the horizontal torch. Why is this? The only reason that I can think of is that it prevents the police from automatically using the torch as a bludgeon and perhaps harming someone.

You see better with a torch if it is held nearer to your eyeline rather than down near your waistline. The most comfortable way to hold a torch up this way would be underhand. Try it and see. That's my theory anyway.
Of course, it would be even better if they fitted lights into the front of their helmets (fnar fnar ooerr missus!)

I always hold my maglite in the underhand position. And dilligaf is right, there strong things

And mine is water proof, so that's a bonus

[budwieser]

Originally Posted by Flubflow

"Of course, it would be even better if they fitted lights into the front of their helmets (fnar fnar ooerr missus!)

"
Lol!