The Blade.
https://shockwavetechnologies.com/
With all the controversy surrounding the SB15 arm brace and its lookalike clones, I was more or less done with the whole pistol stabilizing brace movement. I had lost interest and found myself looking over my back every time I used a brace (“correctly” or not). They just left a uneasy feeling in the back of my mind. Looking for an alternative to the painful class 3 stamps, I scoured the net for options. Just as I gave up all hope, I found the Shockwave Technologies Blade Pistol Stabilizer.
Features
The Blade fits all pistols equipped with a standard AR-15 pistol buffer tube (up to 1.25″ in diameter)—AR pattern, Glock, CZ Scorpion Evo 3, HK9X pattern, etc. It is available in black and flat dark earth, and weighs a scant 5.0 ounces. The ATF has approved The Blade for pistol use. Shockwave is a veteran owned company, and The Blade is made in U.S.A.
Notice the set screw which secures the brace onto the tube.
Design
Filling the same roll as the SB15, this device takes on the task of stabilizing your AR style pistol or any pistol with a 1.25” diameter buffer tube. Yet the Blade does it all that much better. Slim and constructed of hard glass reinforced polymer, the blade offers much more to the tactically minded shooter.
The Blade allows the shooter to fully extend the length of the device to the end of the buffer tube as well as change its angle on the tube. Locked into place with a setscrew, the Blade creates a lockup that is absolute. Once you torque the setscrew into place the Blade isn’t going anywhere.
The Blade allows for the use of retention straps for securing the Pistol Blade to your arm. But oddly enough, it didn’t ship with a Velcro strap or any other way to achieve that extra level of retention. When the slots aren’t being used for retention, they could easily be used as sling attachment points.
The cheek-weld looks awkward but is stable, and the stock doesn’t have to touch your shoulder.
Shooting with the Blade
Running my POF-5 pistol with the Shockwave Blade, I found new interest in the firearm. The old SB-15 is functionally solid, but it looked a bit chunky. The Blade looks like it is designed to be on the gun. The SB15 looks like an afterthought.
Legally, there are two ways to utilize the Blade: either using a cheek-weld or angling it into your forearm for support. Given that it is very adjustable, the Blade does both well. It isn’t as firm as a true stock, but it is much better than nothing at all.
Ergonomics
Given that the blade is adjustable in both length and angle, ergonomics are all up to the end user. You can pull it in on the buffer tube for a short OAL, or pull it out for more. It’s also important to note that the finish of the polymer is smooth but gives a firm hold on your skin.
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Or you can brace it against your forearm.
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The Standing Question
The Blade is legal and ATF approved, so long as you follow the rules. And just on those merits alone, the Shockwave Blade Pistol Stabilizer knocks the brace concept out of the park. The real appeal, as I see it, is it does everything the other braces do, but has none of the bulk and more length of pull. And if the ATF ever changes their mind about shouldering pistol braces, the Blade will be even more versatile.
The Blade retails for a real world price of $50. Head over to their website for more. We’ve certainly liked what we’ve seen so far.
Notice not only do the millions of blade style braces not come with a strap but the majority of the slots for the strap have not even been cut out. It is 10 year in federal prison to have a brace with no strap on it if the cop or agent wants to ruin your day. I spent an hour and a half face down on the pavement in handcuffs as 8 cops argued over whether they wanted to ruin my life because my blade brace not only had no strap on it but the manufacturer hadn’t cut out the slots for a strap and neither had i.
What end cap and folding apater is being used in the vid? i have the kak tube and blade already.
Great read Dave and Jacob- I own SB15 and just put a Shockwave blade folding setup on aMossberg Cruiser 12ga. The blade is far and away more comfortable, the gun points better, and you hit the nail on the head re: it’s adjustability. The cruiser PGO was a little hard to control for follow-up shots. With SigBrace was awkward to point correctly. The Shockwave blade makes it very manageable- No More bloody noses!-even one handed! I will be putting one on several more of my rifle caliber pistols and have already ordered one for my Black Aces Pro5 ShortDT to replace the SigBrace it came with.
Don’t need one, bought one anyway..now to resist a pistol version of a carbine.. HEY… CZ Bren 805 is coming right? Unless they build a factory stateside, we’ll not get a carbine, so pistol is all that’s coming AND I am really interested in it.
Anyone wanna donate $2k to me for a good cause?
…Anyone…
Wow and I thought the 5c was steep for my m92yugo lol.maybe start a gofundme page??
So sick of this dancing around crap! There needs to be a movement to eliminate the anti short longgun tax NOW!!
One here
I too am sick of sbr/s crap its time to add that to the other rights we regained!.
Thank you for the nice write-up Dave and Jacob. Great review. To answer Maciej’s question, it’s not a stock. It’s a pistol stabilizer and has been classified by Tech Branch as a pistol stabilizer.
Again, Dave and Jacob, thank you tremendously,
Marty
Hi Marty, where can I buy the Velcro straps? I’ve bought 3 blades & none of them came with straps.
The cheek-weld looks awkward but is stable, and the stock doesn’t have to touch your shoulder. So it is a Stock?
Maciej, never claimed to be a stock. Made reference to not being as firm as a stock. Heavy reading for you I guess. I’m being nice and not saying what I got from your comment/question but could make an unfair judgement. I’ll pass.
He quoted the caption from the picture. Way to give him hell when it is you that apparently has the reading problem.
moron