Dark Engine Blade heads up.

[Pellet Pinger]

As soon as @Clive Ward mentioned the Blade was going to be launched it pricked my ears up, we all have our preferred NV torches and theres plenty of choice and the reality is theres not alot between all of them but the best performers all have one thing in common, that bloody great big Yukon lens on the front. For ages now its annoyed me that i have this lump strapped to my scope, doesn’t matter where you mount them they effect the handling of the gun.
Took delivery of the Blade a few days ago and as described its tiny in comparison, build quality is spot on, tail cap has a tiny illuminated power indicator rather than the full button that blares out in darkness, the power adjustment is via a dial that stops on min/max so you only have to touch it to know if you are on max, alot quicker and easier than cycling the 3 mode jobbies! The lens is really small and the zoom is smooth with not the faintest hint of wobble.
Ive tried a few of the main players and settled on the Sirius XTL as my go to with my C50 so couldnt wait to get out and have them side by side, all i can say is my days of lugging these big torches around are over. Now im not going to blather on about it being the most powerful, too many variables regarding what its used with etc but the Blade is up there performance wise as the video shows, theres no way im going to be in a situation where ill be thinking i need more grunt, it does everything my Sirius does but its smaller, lighter and more compact and because the lens diameter is so small you can knit it right into the body of the scope so the whole set up is less bulky. Ticks all my boxes and it’s exactly what ive been looking for.
First time out in anger and christened it with 5 of this years fully grown cubs, could be a lucky bit of kit too!

 

[mealiejimmy]

I have one on loan from Clive at the moment and have tried it on a HIK Alpex
It fills the field of view nicely, without any black holes or whiting out, giving an excellent, evenly illuminated image
I agree with all your comments - it's great IR illuminator, and I can thoroughly recommend it
It also meets the new laser safety standard for consumer laser products

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Overlay]

i’m well pleased with mine on the 007v, grassed a few foxes further than i normally do,

 

[delta wolf]

As soon as @Clive Ward mentioned the Blade was going to be launched it pricked my ears up, we all have our preferred NV torches and theres plenty of choice and the reality is theres not alot between all of them but the best performers all have one thing in common, that bloody great big Yukon lens on the front. For ages now its annoyed me that i have this lump strapped to my scope, doesn’t matter where you mount them they effect the handling of the gun.
Took delivery of the Blade a few days ago and as described its tiny in comparison, build quality is spot on, tail cap has a tiny illuminated power indicator rather than the full button that blares out in darkness, the power adjustment is via a dial that stops on min/max so you only have to touch it to know if you are on max, alot quicker and easier than cycling the 3 mode jobbies! The lens is really small and the zoom is smooth with not the faintest hint of wobble.
Ive tried a few of the main players and settled on the Sirius XTL as my go to with my C50 so couldnt wait to get out and have them side by side, all i can say is my days of lugging these big torches around are over. Now im not going to blather on about it being the most powerful, too many variables regarding what its used with etc but the Blade is up there performance wise as the video shows, theres no way im going to be in a situation where ill be thinking i need more grunt, it does everything my Sirius does but its smaller, lighter and more compact and because the lens diameter is so small you can knit it right into the body of the scope so the whole set up is less bulky. Ticks all my boxes and it’s exactly what ive been looking for.
First time out in anger and christened it with 5 of this years fully grown cubs, could be a lucky bit of kit too!
View attachment 319589

Can I ask what mount you use to attach to the c50 please? Thanks

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Can I ask what mount you use to attach to the c50 please? Thanks

Just a cheapy QD scope ring, if it’s not quite centred just slip a shim in to suit.

 

[Dave_45]

Does it compare with a night sabre wraith illumination wise?

For use with tubed nv

 

[Jelen]

Does it compare with a night sabre wraith illumination wise?

For use with tubed nv

The video compared Blade to a Sirius XTL and vision wise they seemed equal, near as damn it.
The other night I compared the Sirius XTL against Wraith Night Sabre using the same rifle and 'scope and a PARD 007SP LRF.
In a nutshell:
Sirius better for wider FOV (x2.5mag scope) and ranges under 200m.
Wraith better for x4mag (and + plus) scope and ranges out to 350m.
So, from that, I'd say no it doesn't compare.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Does it compare with a night sabre wraith illumination wise?

For use with tubed nv

I’ve not used the Wraith so can’t say but if its of the same ilk as the Sirius PBIRL etc on that basis i’d say the Blade will compare favourably.

Edit. Jelen posted at the same time, appears the Wraith could have extra legs but to what extent the extra bulk and weight justifies this is very subjective.
A no brainer for me.

 

[Clive Ward]

That's a really good review by @Pellet Pinger.

We've made a large 50mm lensed IR for a long time, but I've never used one simply due to ergonomics. The original Dark Engine is good with it's smaller lens, but the BLADE is just where is should be in terms of size and weight without compromising the output.

We can tell people how good they are, but in the world of torches, it seems that everything is better than everything else depending on who's mate or out of date echo chamber you are talking to.

So real world user experiences like these from the OP, Bruce, Overlay, etc. are massively helpful to others trying to get past that wealth of rhetoric.

Most importantly, soap box aside...

It's hugely gratifying seeing people enjoy and have success with any product we have designed and manufactured and then sharing their experience with fellow shooters.

It's designed to be as good as possible and of the highest quality. Solve the issue of beam uniformity properly, without a diffuser robbing efficiency. Be very small. Be as powerful as possible and be suitable for both dedicated and add on systems without having to buy different products. I think we've cracked it.


Cheers





Clive

 

[Clive Ward]

The video compared Blade to a Sirius XTL and vision wise they seemed equal, near as damn it.
The other night I compared the Sirius XTL against Wraith Night Sabre using the same rifle and 'scope and a PARD 007SP LRF.
In a nutshell:
Sirius better for wider FOV (x2.5mag scope) and ranges under 200m.
Wraith better for x4mag (and + plus) scope and ranges out to 350m.
So, from that, I'd say no it doesn't compare.

If it helps to round out the information, this is the BLADE with an NV007V 16mm (similar sensor and lens to the 007SP)...illuminating a treeline well at just over 1000 yards and watching a Fox at 350 at full magnification.


Here's another with it set up as I have it for normal shooting, Around 8-10x magnification. Easy ID at 350 yards and the ability to see well into the backdrop 800-1000 yards with no need for adjustment or faffing.



Cheers





Clive

 

[Clive Ward]

I’ve not used the Wraith so can’t say but if its of the same ilk as the Sirius PBIRL etc on that basis i’d say the Blade will compare favourably.

Edit. Jelen posted at the same time, appears the Wraith could have extra legs but to what extent the extra bulk and weight justifies this is very subjective.
A no brainer for me.

Thanks again for the review by the way. Keep the videos coming.

On the subject of power output...

Legislation is catching up with how laser technology is progressing and being used.

The Dark Engine BLADE is essentially as powerful as allowed and legal for sale to consumers. That is more than enough power in my experience. I can see a target in detail further than I can shoot, and also see far into the backdrop because we can deliver all of that allowed power exactly and uniformly at range. I would hope every other manufacturer would be the same if they had any sense. Especially with the recent shenanigans of someone grassing up one torch builder that they had fallen out with to trading standards who then, in turn grassed up everyone else.

With illuminators there is a diminishing return for power. To see twice as far, or to have an image that seems twice as bright / good at a given range and beam diameter (once below the threshold of the camera or IIT systems exposure compensation) you need FOUR times the output power. So something with more power, even 50% more for bragging rights / marketing (and illegal for sale) would be almost unnoticeable in the field and of no advantage. It would just use the batteries up faster.


Cheers





Clive

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Thanks again for the review by the way. Keep the videos coming.

On the subject of power output...

Legislation is catching up with how laser technology is progressing and being used.

The Dark Engine BLADE is essentially as powerful as allowed and legal for sale to consumers. That is more than enough power in my experience. I can see a target in detail further than I can shoot, and also see far into the backdrop because we can deliver all of that allowed power exactly and uniformly at range. I would hope every other manufacturer would be the same if they had any sense. Especially with the recent shenanigans of someone grassing up one torch builder that they had fallen out with to trading standards who then, in turn grassed up everyone else.

With illuminators there is a diminishing return for power. To see twice as far, or to have an image that seems twice as bright / good at a given range and beam diameter (once below the threshold of the camera or IIT systems exposure compensation) you need FOUR times the output power. So something with more power, even 50% more for bragging rights / marketing (and illegal for sale) would be almost unnoticeable in the field and of no advantage. It would just use the batteries up faster.


Cheers





Clive

No problem Clive, like i say the Blade is exactly what ive been looking for and im sure theres plenty like me that have been waiting for a torch thats smaller and lighter with a performance thats up there with the bigger jobbies.