Signature Series Folding
Stock
From Jet City Specialties
By Bill Mills - January
2004
Jet City Specialties is a custom machine
shop, which produces parts for paintball as well as for street motorcycles.
The JCS Signature Series (SS) is one
of several folding stocks they produce for paintball – each being different
in the shape of the stock as well as the way it mounts to the paintgun.
The common feature between the different models is the billet machined
aluminum hinge and locking mechanism.
The
Signature Series stock has a bottom line style mount. A pair of screws
can be used to attach it to the grip of a paintgun. Two recessed
screw holes allow it to be mounted to a grip frame with a pair of standard,
inline 10-32 screws. The mount screw holes are recessed on both sides,
which allows the stock to be flipped over so that it can fold to the left
or the right. Four more unthreaded holes are positioned to allow
mounting with diagonally aligned grip frame screws which are standard to
Kingman’s Spyder semi-autos, also allowing for right or left handed configuration.
Another pair of threaded holes give the option of mounting a drop forward
or other accessory to the stock’s mount so that the stock is sandwiched
in to the configuration.
The stock is of a simple design.
A telescoping aluminum tube extends from the hinge out to a curved butt
piece. Inside the tube section is a spring-loaded button that locks
in to one of a series of four holes. This allows the stock to be
adjusted from ten inches to twelve and a half inches, much like an adjustable
height tent pole.
A
spring loaded brass button in the hinge locks the stock in either the folded
or the open position. Its edges are beveled so that the stock can
freely swing and then effortlessly pop into the locked position.
When the stock is folded, the button is accessible. Pressing it in
unlocks the stock for unfolding. When the stock is folded the button
is concealed, but a small brass extension button presses through the hinge
to actuate the locking button.
When
unfolded, the stock lines up naturally against the shooter’s shoulder while
most paintguns will line up in line with the shooter’s eye. Field
testing of the folding stock was done on an AGD Automag with Centerflag
electronic grip frame, and on a Tippmann Pneumatics A-5 with electronic
grip frame. On the Automag, a drop forward was attached to the stock
reverse mounting an AGD Flatline air system so that the set-up was compact
with the stock folded. On the A-5, the stock bottom-line gas fittings
were removed and a Psychoballistics bottom line mount adapter was installed
in the grip frame. The adapter provides a standard flat surface with
two screw holes for bottom line and drop forward accessories. A 12
ounce CO2 tank screwed into the A5’s vertical ASA provided gas while keeping
the folded configuration compact, and the vertical tank placement prevented
liquid CO2 from feeding to the paintgun’s valve.
The Signature Series Folding Stock does
not fold forward completely parallel to the receiver, instead it angles
outward at about 10 degrees. This provided room for the vertical
CO2 tank when the tank was locked.
On
the field, the arrangement on both paintguns was compact enough for easy
use in tight situations environments, like door to door play between buildings
and large bunkers. The A5 set up was light enough for one handed
pistol style shooting. With very little practice, folding or unfolding
the stock took approximately one half of a second. In the folded
position the stock’s butt also worked as a foregrip. Unfolded, the
stock provided significant stability. Combined with using the air
tank on the Automag, and the A5’s stock foregrip as a grip for the off-hand
the stock resting against the shooter’s shoulder allowed easy and rapid
fanning of the trigger while keeping stable shot groupings.
The JCS Signature Series and other models
of folding stock provide versatility in paintgun configuration. For
scenario and big game play where the same game may roam between buildings,
huts and tight spaces, out into clearings and woods, these folding stocks
allow the paintgun to adapt quickly to its environment.
|