Knob Creek 2008
Written by Jason M. Wong Tuesday, 21 October 2008 00:00
After the cancellation of the spring 2008 shoot due to flooding, the Fall 2008 Knob Creek machine gun shoot was graced with beautiful weather, rare machine guns, hard to find parts kits, and innovations in the small arms industry. Innovations in the small arms industry has typically been developed by individuals tinkering within their shop. Evidence of innovation by firearm enthusiasts were in full display at the show.
Fusil USA
Fusil USA of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, displayed newly manufactured magazines for the AR-15, M-16, and M4 weapon systems. The magazine bodies are produced from a single piece of 1050 steel on an 18 stage progressive die and assembled using robotic MIG welders. In addition, the floor plate, retainer and follower are also manufactured from 1050 steel. During the construction process, the steel parts are surface hardened via a nitride process, providing increased durability to the magazine.
Several distinct characteristics distinguish the Fusil magazine from the traditional aluminum magazines and other steel magazines. At the request of a U.S. Marine Corps solicitation, a lanyard loop has been incorporated within the floor plate. In addition, the magazine weighs six ounces, half the weight of the Heckler and Koch steel M-16 magazine. The magazine is reportedly designed to withstand an infinite number of 500 pound loads, and has passed corrosion tests in excess of 200 hours. Fusil USA representatives indicate that the unlike plastic magazines, the Fusil USA magazine passed the Picatinny desert sand testing requirement, and is NTOA approved.
Fusil representatives indicated that they are currently producing 5,000 magazines a week, and will be capable of producing 60,000 magazines in the future. Custom colored magazines are available if a minimum quantity is ordered. MSRP is $40. Additional information on the magazine may be found online at http://www.fusil-usa.com/.
Armadynamics
Armadynamics introduced a new ambidextrous charging handle for the AR-15, M-16, and M4 weapons systems. The patented system separates the rib of the charging handle from the pull tabs, allowing for truly ambidextrous function. As a result, the charging handle can be manipulated and unlocked by left or right handed shooters, from any aspect. Any rearward pull on the pull tabs will unlock the charging handle.
The newly designed charging handle has additional moving parts that the originally designed charging handle did not. As a result, failure testing was performed in conjunction with the University of Colorado at Boulder. During the testing, the cocking handle reportedly performed in excess of 60,000 manipulations without failure. Designed for use in sandy and other harsh environments, the moving parts are designed to be self-cleaning and self-lubricating.
As a drop in part, the charging handle replaces the existing charging handle without tools. While the Armadynamics charging handle does not incorporate gas diverting cuts within the design, representatives from Armadynamics indicate that “gas buster” cuts are planned in future production runs.
Suggested retail is $75. Additional information can be found online at www.armadynamics.com
BarrelXchange
Troy Edhlund of BarrelXchange displayed two new products. The first product modifies an Uzi machine gun or semiautomatic firearm to accept Glock magazines. The original inspiration for the conversion was based upon a similar conversion completed by the Israeli military in the 1980’s. Uzi micro-pistols were converted to use Glock magazines, but allegedly, only a handful were manufactured, and the project was never pursued on a large scale.
As a drop in replacement, no cutting or modifications to the firearm receiver is required. Instead, the trigger control group is removed and replaced with a modified trigger grop. Given the current difficulty in importing parts, BarrelXchange is planning to modify or exchange customer’s trigger groups for a modified trigger group. Estimated cost is about $400.
Barrel Xchange also displayed newly designed .45 ACP drum magazines manufactured from 9mm Soumi drums. Intended for the Reising and Thompson submachine guns, the drums have a 50 round capacity. Due to the spring pressure within the Soumi drum and the increased weight of .45 ACP ammunition, the reworked drums are capable of a maximum 850 rounds per minute cyclic rate; at higher rates of fire, the rounds cannot be presented fast enough to allow for effective feeding.
Small Arms Review was not able to test fire the drums, however the drums appeared to be well made. Estimated cost for the .45 ACP BarrelXchange drum magazines will be about $400.
Frankford Arsenal
Frankford Arsenal is alive and well. Old timers will remember that the original Frankford Arsenal was located outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was closed by the Government in 1977. Some readers may even remember that Frankford Arsenal registered a number of AR-15 receivers as machine guns in the early 1980’s. While the new company is not related to earlier companies, the new Frankford Arsenal of Fort Lauderdale, Florida is dedicated to manufacturing quality product. On display was a newly designed AR-15 lower receiver. Manufactured from a forged billet of 7075-T6 aircraft aluminum, the receivers are heat treated and Teflon anodized. The receivers allegedly meet all mil-spec requirements. Sounds like most standard receivers, doesn’t it? Two characteristics differentiate the Frankford Arsenal receivers from other AR-15 receivers. First, the Frankford Arsenal receivers are manufactured to original dimension specifications, including the rear internal receiver shelf. For those seeking maximum accuracy, the added space within the receiver allows for bedding and increased accuracy from the lower receiver. More importantly for licensed manufacturers, very little material needs to be removed from the receiver when converting the receiver to a post-sample machine gun. All NFA rules apply, of course.
The second major improvement to the receiver is the addition “Tactical Receiver Grooving,” milled into the front receiver magazine well strap. The added grooves enhance grip when using the magazine well as a forward grip, strengthens the front receiver push pin ears, and allegedly increases the structural rigidity and crush strength of the AR-15 receiver. Look for a more detailed review of the Frankford Arsenal receivers in a future issue of Small Arms Review.
Receivers are distributed by Carolina Mountain Tactical of Waynesville, North Carolina. More information can be found online at www.carolinamountaintactical.com, or via telephone at (828) 456-6034. Complete rifles and bare receivers are available for sale; the estimated cost for a bare receiver is $189.99.
Frankford Arsenal also displayed a new buffer pad for the Heckler and Koch family of .308 rifles. Originally designed and manufactured in South Africa, Frankford arsenal is now manufacturing the butt pads within the United States. Available in ½ inch, 1-inch, and 1 ½-inch lengths, the buffer pads are intended as a permanent modification to the HK butt stock.
Installation was easy, but requires basic tools and knowledge of how to disassemble the HK butt stock. After removing the butt stock from the rifle, the end cap of the butt stock is removed. (Note: removal of the end cap from the stock will require the careful use of a bench vice or something similar.) Once the end cap is removed, two 5/16-inch holes are drilled through the end cap, to allow installation of the butt pad. The butt pad is then bolted onto the end cap, and the butt pad is reassembled for use.
The butt pad appears to be well made. Although the pad increases the length of pull, the recoil impulse from an HK-91 or HK-21 rifle is notoriously abusive on the shooter. This pad seeks to tame the recoil felt by the shooter. Suggested retail price is $40.
As one of the largest shows of its type, Knob Creek is always a great opportunity to find unusual, uncommon, and rare guns and accessories. The next show is scheduled for April 3 – 5, 2009. Additional information on location, dates, admission fees, local hotels, and camping can be found online at www.knobcreekrange.com.