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Black Collar Arms is gearing up to introduce a new product to the firearms community – a sleek, skeletonized chassis that, interestingly, hasn’t been christened with a name just yet. This lightweight chassis is set to make its debut as a full rifle build, boasting a carbon fiber barrel, a titanium action, and an impressively light total weight of around 4 lbs 12 oz.
Now, here’s the scoop: if the demand for this featherweight wonder surpasses the popularity of the existing Pork Sword offering, it seems we might witness the emergence of this lighter chassis as the new standard from Black Collar Arms.
So, how is this marvel crafted? It’s a straightforward process. Initially, a standard chassis is churned out through CNC manufacturing. Then, the finished product takes a trip to another machine for some strategic material removal. This new skeletonized chassis maintains the same strength as its predecessor, but it sheds weight by intelligently trimming away material from non-structural areas.
To achieve this, pockets are carved into the handguard and chassis block, and M-LOK slots are widened where they’re rarely put to use. The result? A skeletonized chassis that retains the original’s structural rigidity and strength but is significantly lighter.
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Let’s talk numbers. When I say much lighter, I mean it. The chassis block sheds 25% of its weight, going from 12.4 oz to a petite 9.4 oz. The 6-slot handguard follows suit, dropping 23% from 7.4 oz to a mere 5.7 oz.
Utilizing 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum, the original Pork Sword chassis is already minimalist and lightweight. Still, this new skeletonized chassis takes it up a notch, improving the existing product by a solid 24% of average weight loss.
Expect these lighter components to hit the market as part of a full rifle build as early as next month, February 2024. Soon after, we can expect to see the individual components become available for purchase.
While the pricing details are still under wraps, considering the extra effort in crafting this lighter masterpiece, it’s safe to assume a slightly higher price tag than the current Pork Sword offering (currently $299.99 for the chassis and $189.99 for the 6-slot M-LOK handguard).
The full rifle build, however, is anticipated to land at around $5,000.00 – a figure that might raise a few eyebrows but aligns well with the promise of a premium, ultralight setup, comparable to the cost of a similar custom build. Love it or not, the price seems fair for those seeking top-tier performance in an ultralight package.
To learn more about Black Collar Arms’ products, click here.