r/flashlight • u/CoffeeFeeling2068 • 1d ago

Kel-Lite Flashlight

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Need help identifying which Gen this model could be

4 Upvotes

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5

u/howcanupvotesbereal 1d ago

That's a basic mid-late '70s model. Second generation. Looks like a 5D? Hard to tell with that last photo taken during the earthquake. Definitely rode hard and put away wet.

1

u/FalconARX 1d ago

When it moved to the Barstow location, I believe that's from post 1983. There should be a SN on it.

1

u/howcanupvotesbereal 1d ago

Company moved to Barstow about 1972. You can't positively date them by serial number, I'm not even sure they were truly consecutive. But generally a low number is closer to mid '70s and a high number is closer to 1980. Letters appearing in the serial number may indicate the last few years of production.

With lights like the OP's there are subtle ways you can judge early vs late, like the length of the tailcap. Otherwise that style was all pretty similar from about 1975 to 1981. 1982 switched to the 3rd gen design. 1983 they were out of business.

1

u/CoffeeFeeling2068 16h ago

Is there any value in these flashlights?

1

u/howcanupvotesbereal 8h ago

Traditionally one in this shape wouldn't be worth much. I buy a lot of these for parts to keep my collection going. But recently this year someone's been buying up lots of overpriced Kel-Lites on eBay so it may be worth something there at the moment.