FCD: Forward Controls Design
Forward Controls Design ("Forward Controls" or "FCD") is a firearm accessory and upgrade manufacturer that designs and builds with the mantra of function over form constantly in mind.
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SIMPLEX SIGILLVM VERI: Simplicity is the Sign of Truth
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The company is headquartered in Midlothian, TX, just southwest of Dallas, which might explain why it has such close ties to Sons of Liberty Gunworks (SOLGW). On their website they explain themselves thusly:
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Forward Controls Design's mission is simple: create user-centric, form fitting and logical suite of purpose driven AR, duty/defense handgun components with reliability and ergonomics as top design goals. A simple change in location, shape, or direction of serrations can make a great deal of difference to the way a user interacts with his firearm. Skills can't be bought, we endeavor to help trained and skilled users more efficient at their craft.
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FCD "Modern Minuteman" loadout.
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Established in late 2014, it was founded by Roger Wang, who continues to run the company today. Wang was the co-founder of Battle Arms Development, which he started with a partner in 2009. He espouses utilitarian, no-nonsense designs with modest aesthetics, possibly due to a background in IT and networking. This mindset and a sharp focus on ergonomics inform everything his company creates.
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FCD's MCF-A is an aluminum MLOK cover on the Hodge Defense PLOK rail. Their rail covers were designed to provide additional surface traction and control while simultaneously heat dissipation. (In fancy terms, that's an increase to "thermal capacitance"!)
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As you can imagine, a lot of thought goes into everything they do. Take this seemingly simple castle nut, for instance.
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Here's some commentary FCD made on social media explaining it:
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The TDP spec castle nut is a simple and durable fastener that is well-suited for its intended purpose. However, the staking notches on the nut are shallow and short, which makes it challenging to properly stake the endplate. In contrast, our CN5F castle nut has changed from a 45-degree angle to a 30-degree angle. This change results in longer and deeper notches compared to the TDP castle nuts. Additionally, the CN5F castle increases the number staking notches from 3 to 4. While the castle nut should be staked in two places, we are not suggesting staking in more than two locations. The presence of 4 staking notches on the CN5F means that, at all times, 3 notches will be visible and available for staking. This simply provides the user with more options for staking locations.
The additional serrations are not meant to be aesthetic. At FCD, we always operate with a purpose in mind. When it comes to the TDP castle nut, we avoid using the castle wrench notches for hand-seating during installation because they are often sharp and uncomfortable. We added the additional serrations to simplify the installation process. Will you only use this feature once? Most likely. However, we saw an opportunity to improve our castle nut and provide users with a refined experience. As with all FCD products, it is proudly made in the USA.
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FULL CONTROL. FCD products are designed to maximize intentional manipulations and mitigate if not outright prevent unintentional ones.
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In addition to parts and accessories, FCD recently began a line of dedicated firearm maintenance tools. Among these are their FCD castle nut wrench, a muzzle device wrench designed for suppressor mounts, and a gas tube pin tool. Will there be more? Almost certainly. More on that soon.
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"Forward Controls Design is an extension of my core beliefs. We don't do fashion, nor do we follow fads. The company exists to make a difference to end users. We are pro-customer, pro-law enforcement, pro-military, and pro-conservative values.
The site's layout is very much in keeping with our design philosophy, understated, elegant, and functions driven, sans varnish and drama. The Latin phrase "simplex sigillum veri" (simplicity is the sign of truth) resonates with us in profound ways, for we've found it consistently true and unyielding. We've given our design language a name: Elegant Simplicity. It governs not only understated aesthetics, but also dictates form follows function, and prioritizes function over form. Elegant Simplicity can be found on every product we have designed and produced.
Forward Controls Design is a fairly new company started in the fall of 2014, I trust most will find the way I run it familiar. Eschewing conventional wisdom, finding ways to improve something that most deem unimprovable, superb design and execution, exceptional customer service and support, these are among the easily recognizable characteristics with which folks can identify from my days past. It's a different kind of company, we may be in the R&D and hardware business, our friends, customers and dealers always come first, and are the most important things to us. Forward Controls and our products are loyal to our friends and customers as they are to us. " Roger Wang
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Check out everything FORWARD CONTROLS DESIGN here at Rainier Arms.
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