Okluma

Okluma was founded in early 2015 in Oklahoma City by Jeff Sapp. Before diving into manufacturing, Jeff spent 15 years as a successful software engineer. Feeling burnt out and wanting to build something physical, he enrolled in a local machine shop school to learn the trade of a machinist.

The idea for a flashlight came after a trip where his own light failed him. Determined to build a tool that would never let him down again, he used his new machining skills to craft a flashlight in his garage. He made one for himself, then 4, then 20—and a premium business was born.

What's in a Name?

The company wasn't originally called Okluma. When it debuted in mid-2015, Jeff named it "OKLumen"—a blend of "Oklahoma" (OK) and "Lumen" (the unit of light measurement). However, a friend who was designing the company logo suggested a change to "Okluma." Jeff, a machinist at heart, loved the suggestion because it sounded remarkably like Okuma, the legendary Japanese brand that manufactures high-end CNC lathes and mills. Because our lights sell as fast as we can make them, the best way to purchase a light is to sign up for our mailing list here. We'll only send you an email to let you know new products are available. Promise.