Randy,
This is indeed the model I've been researching. I definitely want to end up with Red and White for night vision preservation (and because a red LED wont' disturb my chickens when I'm out dealing with predators at O Dark 30..in the rain...)

I would actually prefer AA due to some other gear running on them. I don't like carrying two sets of rechargeable batteries.

I agree, I've had mine for years. They do lose brightness as the voltage drops, BUT it's been run over with a tow truck (twice) and still good to go. the rubber has worn off of the switch end as well, since I hold it with my mouth all the time. not a bad deal at all for 10$

Gary, you might try Fenix head lamps. They ain't cheap, but Fenix is quality.

I've been using this Princeton tec for about five years. Works great and has a slide down red filter and a holder for a second filter. It comes with red, blue and green. It has deployed with me on quiet a few operations and has been very helpful here in Nepal. Drawback ... AAA. I try to keep everything AA as well. [img]https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0xOz8n4Bb2ReGlQTzEyc1RUalU/edit?usp=docslist_api[/img]

Diasharp makes tiny folding sharpeners. I've been carrying them for years with a Dogbone ceramic sharpener to finish off the edge.

I EDC a the latest Maratac stainless AA as well. I'd prefer a push button, but haven't found one as solidly built.

Woobie. I'm partial to the newer G.I. zip up poncho liners. You can find them retail for about $60. Uncle Sam's Retail is about $40 when they have them in stock.

I'm not a Surefire flashlight snob as the brand is generally way overpriced, but I have used the E2L AA Outdoorsman as my edc in a nylon maglite pouch now for about 4 years and love it. The slightly larger tube of this model has excellent retention in the maglite holster, but you might want a flap to cover it if you think it might come out. I have only ever had it yank out once when the clip caught on an exhaust stack on a semi truck right by the door. The batteries last over a week of nights on the low setting with eneloops and one full night on the high setting which is enough to light up over 100 yds away. There are brighter lights out there, but none that I find as handy as this one. The flashlight also worked well as an emergency jack handle for a flat tire in the badlands of Wyoming on the way to Blade at 3am.

I figured I might as well take a pic of my simple setup for you to see it. The nice thing about the maglite pouch is if it ever tears the stitching it is very easy to sew back up and put back into use.

Oh, for sharpening, I find the top edge of car passenger windows makes a very good improvised sharpening device if they are of the typical rounded slightly abrasive design. I get funny looks doing it in town while waiting for the wife to come out of whatever store she may be in. With my edc meaner hack I just strop it on the rough inside of my leather belt a majority of the time. Several times I have used the little Smith's plastic pinch grip pocket sharpening rod sets with white rods on one side and gray rods on the other with pretty decent success, but if they get too warm they can come apart and have to be glued back together with gorilla glue. I also carried a telescoping diamond sharpening rod for a couple of years too, but that was kind of a nuisance as it rubbed holes in stuff. Before I found INFI and SR101 I used to have to sharpen stuff a heck of a lot more than I do now.

For sharpening all I use any more are diamond hones and steels. Oh and a Spyderco medium ceramic stone. Just got another EZ-lap model M rod at Smokey Mtn. Knife works.