Pop Cults and Creative Obsessions

The Spring is within the blossom of the Plum and has entered a picture. (from Shōbōgenzō: On the Plum Blossom) 

The loving diligence of nature finds its ultimate expression in small, fleeting things. Dangling from a single branch of blossoming plum, the world is as real as it gets.

submitted by Mikey Bautista

When gear has the word “warrior” in its name, that’s when you know it means business. And for Olight especially, who have released some excellent lights under the “warrior” banner, it’s also an indicator of quality. The new Warrior X celebrates 10 years of flagship flashlights, each showcasing how far flashlights have come for their time, and in the case of the X, how much Olight have mastered their own. It’s a powerful light with the latest features you would want from a modern light, while also paying homage to the simple efficiency of Olight’s design history.

Designed first and foremost to be a weaponlight, the Warrior X is built for the part. A beefy, IPX8-rated aluminium shell and a 3 mm tempered glass lens allows the Warrior X to endure harsh drops up to 2 meters, as well as the maximum impact and water resistance you could get from a flashlight. Its weaponlight designation also informs some of the design features of the light, including being built for throw with an extra large ridged head and smooth reflector, two types of grip rings to suit your un/gloved preference, and a simpler UI with a single tail switch to control its two configurations and two respective outputs.

Speaking of outputs, this is where the Warrior X starts to bare its teeth. Making full use of a new Cree XHP35 NW LED paired with a high-drain 1850 battery, the X is capable of dishing out a maximum of 2,000 lumens for up to 560 meters of throw. It’s one of the most powerful outputs and ranges you can get from a light of this size and battery, effectively doubling the output of previous generation lights, though it does have a rather large stepdown to 600 lumens on High after a minute and a half.

The X’s other key features make up for this jump, however. First is a built-in vibrating power indicator rather than an LED to notify you of low power (power ≤30%: vibrate once every 5 minutes, power ≤10%: vibrate once per minute, power ≤5%: vibrate 6 times per minute). It’s a first of its kind, and a clever compromise for losing the signature Olight side switch/indicator. Its tail comes with Olight’s latest magnetic charging button, compatible with their recent magnetic chargers as well as the world’s first magnetic pressure switch when in a mounted configuration.

Though a duty light first, the X comes with some great EDC features too, including a custom holster with space for an extra battery, knife, or even backup light, as well as a stainless steel clip for pocket or bag carry with a manageable 7.69-ounce weight. You also get a rechargeable 3000 mAh 18650 battery and magnetic charging USB cable to spare you from having to carry around a charger, which can also charge your other compatible Olight models. Finally, a 5-year warranty ensures years of reliable service to come.

Celebrate 10 years of Olight’s finest with the Warrior X by picking one up from Amazon at the link below.

Tomb of Lorenzo de Medici, Michelangelo Buonarroti

“Halflang” Sword from Scotland dated to 1410 on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow

This hand and half sword (Halflang) were supposedly used to break armour, mainly chainmail, of opponents in battle. A late 17th Century manuscript covering the history of Clan Montgomery records the the swords used by the 15th Century clans soldiers:

The old people used no other; for these swords could cut through a sleeve of mail and break the arm bone.

This seems to be backed up by contemporary chroniclers such as Blind Harry (author of The Wallace) who describes the effects of Scottish long swords “Shearing” and “Decapitating” English soldiers.

Though many swords in Scotland have blades from Germany, Solingen primarily, tentative analysis of the blade here suggests it was made from local ores in Scotland. The hilt is similar to the larger two handed Great swords (Claidheamh-mór) and can be seen on grave slabs in many parts of Scotland such as the grave of Robert de Greenlaw in Aberdeenshire who died at the battle of Harlaw in 1411.