Forward Controls Design ESF (End plate, Sling adapter, Forward Controls Design)

[Duffy]

The concept and products like this have been around, KAC was the first, then there was DD, LWRC, Tangodown, Tacticallink, etc., TD's PR4 and Tacticallink install over existing end plate and castle nut, for agencies that don't allow parts like these to be substituted. KAC's and LWRC's are quite similar. ESF is definitely not an original concept, but we're rarely the first on the scene, not being first doesn't matter and doesn't bother us. I think this may be the first end plate/sling adapter in the form of an end plate that has side facing and rear facing sockets, which explains its shape, it is a little different looking from the KAC and LWRC end plate/sling adapters.

Here is a first look of the ESF prototype. Don't mind the nut that's holding the ESF and RE to the lower, it's not a an AR spec castle nut or AR spec anything. A standard castle nut will come flush with the rear of the ESF. A bit of last minute development is we're likely to develop our own short castle nut wrench in conjunction with the ESF. In most cases, a 3 lug castle nut wrench can be used to torque down the ESF, but since the QD socket housing masks 1/4 of the castle nut's circumference, a 2 lug castle nut wrench will ensure it will always be able to engage 2 notches.

ESF uses standard carbine castle nut, allows the castle nut to be staked and the carbine stock to fully collapse. It is incompatible with A1 and A2 fixed stocks.



There will be two production versions, one with limiters on the side facing sockets, and one without limiters.

The addition of an elongated end plate does give the AR15 receiver an AR10/SR25 like silhouette, that's kind of coincidental. I've always thought the AR15 carbine receiver's rear looks abruptly chopped off, and it is. AR15 receiver flows into an A2 or A1 stock, but with a carbine, the receive end suddenly with the receiver extension sticking out of it. We didn't create ESF for looks, but it's nice it helps the aesthetics of the AR carbine. If you use a very high hold on the pistol grip, the extra length in the rear can provide more support for your hand.