This is the best response that Ive ever read on a forum, this coming from a competitor in a highly niche market with a low profit margin. He could have bad mouthed his competitor, touted his design as the best, and attempted to sway opinions. I was actually leaning toward OBS, this professional response has almost swayed me to the crank fire. Well done sir!!!!!Thanks to Belt Fed Frog for his fine clarification of the differences between the Crankfire Systems design and the ohioblacksheep model. Both cranks offer the same fun for the 1919 shooter, but are by intent very different designs. The Crankfire was deliberately intended to mimic the profile of the 1919 receiver, while the OBS crank is deliberately smaller in profile. Depending on the tastes of the shooter, certainly one system or the other will be the appropriate choice. While only the economy "CR" model of Crankfire is currently being produced- those were the only parts remaining when the product and patent were acquired- samples of the earlier Crankfire models have been acquired as reference samples for study. The spring-tension crank handle/safety feature was deleted by the inventor for the CR model, so that does not appear on what we currently offer. It its place is a simple ambidextrous design that makes switching sides as easy as loosening a cap screw on the handle's shaft collar, swapping sides and tightening the screw again. The sprung assembly was a bit more complicated to switch sides with, but even that takes only a couple of minutes. One feature that remains is the natural, built-in rotation of the cam roller out of direct engagement. The crank does need to be rotated slightly to re-engage and, while we don't consider this a "safety" mechanism per se, it does make it very difficult to fire the gun by bumping the crank handle.
One thing we are looking at is reintroducing the spring handle feature in a way that is easily adaptable to the CR model as is, rather than adopting the exact specs used in the past. That means we have to be a bit creative, but we are determined folk here, with only time to devote to such things in short supply. We are pricing out the special components for the Spade Grip model as well, but that's not going to hit until sometime in the new year. Meanwhile, we are happy to see the OBS product in the market as an alternative to the Crankfire Systems product. Choice is a good thing for the marketplace. We do own the Crankfire Patent, and if someone were to directly copy and infringe on that, we would take that seriously. But this is absolutely not an issue with the OBS crank, and we believe that Mr. Lou Murtha is a tremendous asset to the Browning world. Crankfire Systems fully supports his efforts, and anyone who purchases his crank will find it a very well made, and highly functional accessory. Whichever product you choose, you can't go wrong.
Not much to say, both systems available are highly effective at allowing your 1919 to make a lot of noise in a short order of time. Im leaning toward the obs as it is more of a low profile design albeit one that require a tiny hole to be drilled in the bottom plate. Once I get my refund Im getting the OBS.Hi, I was curious if you fellows had any passing thoughts regarding 1919 cranks? There seems to be a few out there. I am leaning towards the black sheep.
Thank you,
kevin
I own both an Emory first gen and an OBS . Of the two i like the OBS even though you have to drill a 7/32" hole in bottom plate for the actuation pin .
The Ohio Black sheep is a very small form factor 3 lobe crank that clamps to the bottom plate out of the way and leaves the trigger totally un-obstructed for single fire ,i discovered that if i half the crank handle length (set screwed ) i can easily attain the same ROF as the 6 lobe Emory crank :tongue::tongue: But it has no safety like the Emory ,however it is out of the way and i have never had an ND with it!!
Because the OBS is so small most never notice it on the gun that is why it is big with the reenactors firing blanks . Only on close look can you see your gun has "Balls ":rofl: it is a stealth crank!
The Emory /Crankfire Systems clamps around the buffer tube and is rather large ,it does have single fire thumb toggle in later /current versions and has a safety ,you have to push in on the spring loaded crank handle to engage it .You can change sides of the crank handle R or L (OBS offers this with the ambi model ) . But it is Very apparent you have one mounted on your gun!! It changes the appearance of your gun noticeable .
Both work well ,the most fun you can have with your clothes on and no tax stamp !!
Both are made of steel while the lessor known ones like the Weasel Winder (Egay or www.weaselwinder.com/) contain a lot of plastic so durability is a consideration ! I do like the attachment method ,uses the LSP sight bracket screw holes but it is a left hand only design along with the cog being Delrin Plastic !
Of course i am old enough to remember the Whamer Hammer crank from decades ago.
P.S. One member used the OBS drill jig to make a pod adapter for a non 1919 compatible pod!!