Specna Arms SA-E19 EDGE™ Daniel Defense® MK18 M4/AR-15 AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU

The MK18 platform is the current issue rifle for the US Navy SEALs and is used by a whole host of other Special Forces organisations including Delta Force and US Army Rangers. MK18-style rifles are also very popular in their civilian form on the US tactical shooting scene, and the Specna Arms example is styled to match these customised platforms with its modern, angular receiver design. 

It may not be KeyMod or M-LOK, but the straight-talking Daniel Defense® quad rail on the MK18 makes it ready for 20mm Picatinny accessories without the need for adapters and allows an M203 grenade launcher to be mounted directly to the barrel by removing the lower section of the handguard. Let's see a Key-LOK rail do that!

Starting at the tip of the alloy outer barrel we are met with a birdcage flash hider which conceals 14mm CCW male threading beneath. The birdcage suits the MK18 build well, but if you are going full SF with this rifle you will be happy to learn it can accept any tracer unit or suppressor which mounts to the common 14mm CCW male threading. A KAC or SF-style suppressor or tracer would be perfect on this rifle!

The Daniel Defense® handguard begins practically immediately following the flash hider. This handguard is practically identical to the real steel MK18 handguard and boasts 20mm Picatinny rails machined in at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions along the full length of the handguard. The lower section of the handguard can also be removed, leaving the bare outer barrel exposed to allow an M203 grenade launcher to be mounted in the most realistic way possible, just like the real thing. Whatever you plan on mounting to your primary, this MK18 can take it!

The upper rail of the handguard meets the receiver rail seamlessly, providing a massive 16 inches of uninterrupted rail space along the top, perfect for optical sights of any length! As you will receive it, the SA-E19 EDGE™ has a set of polymer flip-up aperture iron sights pre-installed on this rail which are fully adjustable and can either serve as primary sights to tide you over until you get a red dot on this machine, or left flipped down to act as back up sights to your primary sight.

The receiver follows the common M4 design, all the controls are in a familiar place so adjusting to this AEG shouldn't be a challenge. Immediately, you will notice the Daniel Defense® trademarks on the left side of the receiver. The logo and trademarks have been laser engraved into the alloy receiver, so they are sure to never scratch off. Also adding to the realism of this AEG are the bolt release and forward assist, neither provide a function on the Specna Arms SA-E19 EDGE™, however, they are moveable parts to reduce the common tell-tale signs of a replica.

The fire selector lever can be found just above the pistol grip, on the left side of the AEG, providing 3 modes of fire, SAFE, SEMI, and AUTO, with a 90-degree throw between each. The fire modes are helpfully marked in recessed text on the receiver and the selector switch clicks positively into each mode with the help of its textured surface. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is accessible for a right-handed user with their trigger finger or by a lefty using their off-hand thumb.

Located at the rear of the receiver you will find the extended charging handle, pulling back on this will pop open the steel dust cover on the right side of the AEG and retract the mock bolt. When retracted you can access the rotary HOP-up adjuster. This is the latest HOP-up unit design for the M4/AR-15, provides finer increments of adjustment, and holds its setting more effectively than the older gear-style HOP-up unit. The extended design of the charging handle allows gloved users to access their HOP-up, though you may need to remove your glove to adjust the unit!

The pistol grip provided on the SA-E19 EDGE™ is an "A2" finger-ridged type, with diamond checkering on either side and linear grooves on the rear to provide a comfortable grip. The A2 grip is exactly what an M4A1 MK.18 replica needs, matching the real steel US Army and SOCOM-issued variant perfectly.

Moving to the final part of this AEG we find the AR buffer tube and M4 Crane Stock. After the receiver, we find a steel buffer plate, which allows you to sling your Specna Arms SA-E19 EDGE™ on a single-point sling. The steel construction ensures that it will have the strength to support the weight of the platform, even with all the extra attachments! The buffer tube is of the common design and has 6 positions of extension, this allows you to sit the SA-E19 comfortably on your shoulder no matter how much body armour you're wearing.

The battery compartment is inside the crane stock, accessible by squeezing the two tabs at the toe of the stock together, after which you can lift the butt plate off, remove the battery plug and make use of the stock's built-in battery compartment to house a nunchuck/crane-style battery. Being equipped with the Kestrel Basic ETU, we are also treated to a Deans/t-plug battery connector. For the SA-E19, we recommend a 7.4v 2600mAh 25C LiPo Crane Stock Battery for a great fit in the stock.

Inside the SA-E19 EDGE™, we are treated to the same solid internals as the original,  reinforced polymer piston with a steel rack, an aluminium nozzle, an aluminium cylinder head, an aluminium piston head with bearings, and 18:1 steel gears running on 8mm bearing bushings. It also has a quick change spring so you can turn this MK18 into a DMR if you're that way inclined.

The highlight of this SA-E19 EDGE™ is its Kestrel Basic ETU/MOSFET, offering 6 levels of adjustable pre-cocking, options for 3 round burst and binary trigger along with low battery warning, cycle completion, active braking and low/high voltage cutoff. This means you can crank up the trigger response for super-fast double taps. Also inside is a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up unit, giving you superb accuracy potential and the latest HOP-up design for M4/AR-15 platforms.

If you want an iconic rifle silhouette, but need something a little more compact for CQB skirmishes, then the Specna Arms SA-E19 EDGE™ Daniel Defense® MK18 M4/AR-15 AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU is exactly what you are looking for. With its full metal construction, Daniel Defense® trademarks, preinstalled programmable Kestrel Basic MOSFET and plenty of handguard rail space, this rifle is definitely worth its price tag!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Daniel Defense® Trademarks - Improves realism and style!
• Quad 20mm Picatinny railed Trademarked handguard - Looks incredibly realistic and high-quality
• Birdcage style flash hider - The classic MK18 look
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Accepts most common suppressors and Tracer Units
• Flip-up aperture iron sights pre-installed - Adjustable for windage and elevation, 2 apertures to choose from
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights, PEQ lasers or scopes to be mounted
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - The latest M4/AR-15 design, holds its setting well and allows for fine adjustment
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Comfortable for most hand sizes, textured for extra traction
• 3-Position fire selector switch - SAFE, SEMI AUTO & FULL AUTO, 90-degree throw between each mode
• Extended charging handle - Fast access to the HOP-up unit for quick mid-game adjustment
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock quickly and easily to suit your body type or loadout
• Crane stock pre-installed - Plenty of battery space, QD sling sockets built-in
• "A2" Finger ridged pistol grip - Accurate to the real M16A4, comfortable for most hand sizes
• Version 2 gearbox:
  • Quick change spring system
  • Steel spring guide
  • 8mm Ball bearing bushings
  • 18:1 Ratio steel gear set
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3-Round burst
  • Active braking
  • Low/high voltage cutoff
  • Low battery warning
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU programming instructions are available here
• Rear wired - Deans battery connector
• Recommended battery - 7.4V 2600mAh LiPo crane/nunchuck battery
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares and styles available!

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-E19 EDGE™ Daniel Defense® MK18 M4/AR-15 AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU
• 2x Specna Arms 125rnd Mid Cap Magazine