Review: Smith & Wesson CS-20

The Smith & Wesson® Delta Force CS-20 flashlight is a very small flashlight that generates 215 lumens. It is billed as a tactical flash but at 3.5″ I consider it too small to be used as a practical, tactical flashlight. I prefer a flashlight that extends past my palm when held tightly in my hand. However, the CS-20 is a good choice for those who need a bright, rugged, waterproof, and very compact flashlight. It has high, low, and strobe modes available in both momentary and sustained ON. It also has a crenulated front strike bezel. The XPG2-R4 Cree LED generates a 215 lumens beam that extends to 120 meters and lasts for nearly 2.5 hours.

  • Construction: Machined from aircraft grade aluminum, fairly aggressive front strike bezel (no rear strike bezel), hard anodized finished, and steel pocket clip
  • Size: 3.5″ (88.9 mm) long, head 0.81″ (20.6 mm), 2.54 oz. (72 g).
  • Waterproof: IPX7 (waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes)
  • Durability: Withstands 1-meter drop
  • Features: High/low/strobe modes in momentary or sustained ON
  • Light Output: (high) 215 Lumens for 2.4 hours, (low) 25 lumens for 7.25 hours
  • Beam Pattern: 42″ x 10″ at 3′ (Beam Scale)
  • Power: 1 CR-123 lithium battery

Recommendation

I prefer flashlights that are larger and fit across the palm of my hand. But if you want a very compact and bright flashlight with a reasonably long runtime then the CS-20 would be a good choice. I would NOT use this flashlight as a tactical everyday carry (EDC) light but it would make a good utility or backup light especially if you need small size and light weight.