Since around 2004, toward the end of the Assault Weapons Ban, the firearms industry in the US has seen a boom of product innovation, such as the AR-15 Handstop, from a variety of new companies vying to bring their own solutions to an entirely new market space. As the AR-15 platform began to make its way into civilian hands, there began to be a push for products to improve or enhance comfort, efficiency, shooting performance and much more that military use simply didn’t help to drive innovation around. Exciting new products became commonplace, as new methods for attaching accessories went from proprietary rail systems that only allowed one manufacturer to build products for, to the more industry standardized Keymod and later MLOK rail systems. Items such as drop-in triggers and high power weapon lights were soon standard, and it wasn’t long until the idea for an “indexing” stop or “handstop” style accessory started to become a needed addition. One of the earlier iterations of this, the S3 Handstop in Keymod by RailScales, would help to drive the industry in this direction, and their modern version called the Karve has become synonymous with “handstop” in the industry.
The Quest For The Best AR-15 Handstop: S3 and Karve
RailScales has been in business since 2014, and are well known in the industry for their namesake AR-15 rail panels which help to add grip texture and mitigate heat coming off of the barrel during shooting. With the introduction of their S3 Handstop, RailScales was initially setting out to make an indexing point for a shooter to bring their hand back to a repeatable section of the rail to maximize comfort and time to aim. A lengthier option at 3 Keymod holes, the S3 was the first evolution of the AR-15 handstop to become a popular choice among sport shooters, and as the modern rail system continued to evolve, so too did the handstop. Once it became clear that MLOK would overtake Keymod as the industry standard, RailScales anticipated a need for an option similar to the S3 Handstop that would work on both platforms. The Karve, which would replace the Keymod only S3, ended up being even lower in profile than it’s predecessor, taking up a paltry 1 MLOK slot of rail space. In addition to that, users who still had a Keymod rail system could take advantage of RailScales patented COG system which allowed users to incorporate the Karve regardless of rail system.
Karve: For Keymod or MLOK Rails
The Karve by RailScales utilizes the COG system for mounting to Keymod or MLOK rails all within the same product footprint. The idea behind this was to be able to use the Karve for any future mounting methods, as well as existing legacy methods. The machined pocket for the COG system could realistically be updated to incorporate any new rail attachment methods that may be developed in the future. This in and of itself adds a lot of value that other industry offerings simply don’t have available, as with any other AR-15 Handstop on the market, there would need to be a separate piece for each rail type. RailScales has made an effort to future-proof this product with these steps, giving the Karve a much longer lifespan than many similar accessories in this product space. Additionally, those customers who are still using legacy rail systems can rest easy knowing that they will be able to take advantage of a great product even if they aren’t able to upgrade their rail to a more modern system.
Seamless Low Profile Durable AR-15 Accessory
In addition to the COG mounting system, the Karve has an extremely low profile off the rail (1.125 inches). This has given the Karve the smallest footprint possible for an AR-15 handstop, making it feel like part of the rifle as opposed to another bulky add-on. The Karve is machined out of lightweight, but durable 6061 aluminum to give it both strength and options for color anodizing, all in an unmatched 0.4 oz package, including the hardware. With all of their products manufactured in the US, RailScales ensures a quality product that clearly stands above other options available. Looking for Karve or other award-winning AR-15 accessories? Visit our collection page now.
