New lockhart option - Silver

JuicyG said:
Apologies in advance, not my intent to hijack the thread. Just didn’t see somewhere more appropriate to ask this question. Has anyone personally talked to Lockhart recently? Not my intent to flame them so I won’t share my story, but if anyone has had contact with them in the past few weeks please PM me and let me know how you got through to them.

Cheers.
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I ordered a product on Dec 7,

definetly took waiting and many calls but I did manage to get email responses and talk to mr. lockhart on the phone twice; he said they were crazy busy rn and having issue with responding and meeting their advertised shipping times. My product was double the time advertised but they gave me a free key chain and free trigger lock
 
So does anyone actually know the price on these? Page says sale $1399 however once you click on the rifle to build it, it starts at $1599 base. I sent them an email to which Samuel replied however, would not answer a very direct question (what is the price). I feel like talking to a rock would give me the same information Samuel did.
 
mmcintyre1220 said:
So does anyone actually know the price on these? Page says sale $1399 however once you click on the rifle to build it, it starts at $1599 base. I sent them an email to which Samuel replied however, would not answer a very direct question (what is the price). I feel like talking to a rock would give me the same information Samuel did.
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After you click on it, check your currency in the top left corner. For me, it will say $1599 but the currency is in USD. When I change that to CAN, it changes to $1399.
 
mmcintyre1220 said:
So does anyone actually know the price on these? Page says sale $1399 however once you click on the rifle to build it, it starts at $1599 base. I sent them an email to which Samuel replied however, would not answer a very direct question (what is the price). I feel like talking to a rock would give me the same information Samuel did.
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You’ll also need to go through all the drop down options and remove extras to get the base price of 1399.
 
I ordered up a Silver model as well, since I much prefer simple, smooth surfaces and standard, Right-hand AR15 controls (eg. the Bolt-Catch). Once I receive the Silver and build it up how I like, I will sell off my current Platinum model to recoup my costs. The Platinum model features extremely nice lightening cuts on every flat surface of the Receivers, however they are just not to my personal liking..

hopefully production will soon begin for the Silver edition so that those of us who have pre-paid receive our product in a reasonably timely manner. The numerous accounts of folks who ordered back in November 2023 with production still uncertain at the end of January 2024, are concerning. Especially when Lockhart Tactical keeps going "radio silence" with no communication between the company and thee outside world for weeks at a time. Some regular updates for the pre-paid customers is the LEAST that Samuel Lockhart should be providing.
 
Has anyone actually received their silver edition yet?I ordered mine in November and I still haven’t received it yet.I have emailed Samuel with no response.it’s been 5 months today since I’ve sent my money to them.
 
Edit*

Just realized I was dealing with a necro post.

A co-worker of mine recently ordered one. Looking forward to testing it out.
 
monster bow said:
Has anyone actually received their silver edition yet?I ordered mine in November and I still haven’t received it yet.I have emailed Samuel with no response.it’s been 5 months today since I’ve sent my money to them.
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Someone on the "Raven Owners Group" Facebook group posted this pic:

439336572_10161345664939220_4623033435979333342_n.jpg
 
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g36k said:
Someone on the "Raven Owners Group" Facebook group posted this pic:
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That is not a "Silver" Trigger Assembly nor Upper Receiver, both of which have the lightening cuts that are supposed to be eliminated on the Silver edition rifle. The Magazine Well is different, but could just be a "one of" so that the owner could have the "faux" M4 markings applied.

On an entirely different note, I am quite concerned about Lockhart's preference for (comparatively cheap) CeraKote over Mil-Spec Type 3 Anodizing. This is especially concerning with the move to softer 6061 aluminum alloy for the "Silver" Raven. CeraKote is a fancy paint, nothing more (or less). It WILL scratch, especially if applied to a soft alloy. CeraKote does not actually harden the surface of the alloy 2 mils deep like Anodizing does. Paint is not a chemical process, whereas anodizing is. There is a very good reason why military firearms have anodized aluminum components, and it would behoove Lockhart Tactical to follow suit with the Raven. But they don't, no doubt for cost-savings. So I will arrange to have it done instead.

To that end, I have been looking into local Anodizers who would be willing to take on small-batch jobs consisting of Mil-Spec MIL-A-8625(latest version), Type III, Class 2 black, 2.0 mil coating thickness Anodizing, applied to LTAC 6061 Aluminum Lower Receivers, Upper Receivers and Buffer Tubes. I have located such a shop in Calgary where I will be sending my stripped Silver Raven's Receiver components and Buffer Tube (whenever they arrive) off for Black mil-spec anodizing to improve the surface hardness of the 6061 alloy. IMHO this is the only way that owners will be able to expect a full service life from their Silver Ravens. Non-anodized 6061 Alloy Ravens will most likely suffer premature wear to the bearing surfaces of the Upper Receiver, especially in the Upper Charging Handle Track and along the Bolt-Carrier's travel path. CeraKote will not provide anything near the same level of protection that anodizing does.
 
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Bartok5 said:
That is not a "Silver" Trigger Assembly nor Upper Receiver, both of which have the lightening cuts that are supposed to be eliminated on the Silver edition rifle. The Magazine Well is different, but could just be a "one of" so that the owner could have the "faux" M4 markings applied.

On an entirely different note, I am quite concerned about Lockhart's preference for (comparatively cheap) CeraKote over Mil-Spec Type 3 Anodizing. This is especially concerning with the move to softer 6064 aluminum alloy for the "Silver" Raven. CeraKote is a fancy paint, nothing more (or less). It WILL scratch, especially if applied to a soft alloy. CeraKote does not actually harden the surface of the alloy 2 mils deep like Anodizing does. Paint is not a chemical process, whereas anodizing is. There is a very good reason why military firearms have anodized aluminum components, and it would behoove Lockhart Tactical to follow suit with the Raven. But they don't, no doubt for cost-savings. So I will arrange to have it done instead.

To that end, I have been looking into local Anodizers who would be willing to take on small-batch jobs consisting of Mil-Spec MIL-A-8625(latest version), Type III, Class 2 black, 2.0 mil coating thickness Anodizing, applied to LTAC 6064 Aluminum Lower Receivers, Upper Receivers and Buffer Tubes. I have located such a shop in Calgary where I will be sending my stripped Silver Raven's Receiver components and Buffer Tube (whenever they arrive) off for Black mil-spec anodizing to improve the surface hardness of the 6064 alloy. IMHO this is the only way that owners will be able to expect a full service life from their Silver Ravens. Non-anodized 6064 Alloy Ravens will most likely suffer premature wear to the bearing surfaces of the Upper Receiver, especially in the Upper Charging Handle Track and along the Bolt-Carrier's travel path. CeraKote will not provide anything near the same level of protection that anodizing does.
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Do you intend to anodize your regular 7075-T6 Raven as well or is this mostly a concern with the "Silver" due to the softer aluminum alloy?
 
alvais said:
Do you intend to anodize your regular 7075-T6 Raven as well or is this mostly a concern with the "Silver" due to the softer aluminum alloy?
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The 7075-T6 Raven would certainly benefit from anodizing, but I expect that wear will be conparatively minimal with the harder alloy. I once had a thinly-anodized 6061 alloy AR and found that the aluminum was quite a bit softer, easily prone to surface scratches, etc. The two levels of aluminum alloy are certainly different animals between 7075-T6 and 6061. In my opinion (and it is just that - an opinion), the "Silver" Raven will very much benefit from Mil-Spec Type III Anodizing. The "Platinum" and "Gold" Ravens less so, given their harder grade of aluminum alloy to begin with.

To answer your question, I intend to have my Silver Raven anodized because I plan for it to be my primary shooter until such time as our AR15s are let out of "gun jail". I am a right-handed shooter, so do not require all of the ambi controls offered by the Platinum version. Nor do I much care for all of the lightening machine-cuts on the Platinum Receiver set. I much prefer the slab-sided simplicity that the "Silver" grade of Raven offers. I plan to sell my Platinum Raven once I have the anodized Silver in-hand. It is worth noting that at approximately 700 rounds downrange, there are no idications of accelerated wear to the bearing surfaces of the 7075 T-6 Upper Receiver of my Platinum Raven. This reinforces my opinion that the 6061 "Silver" will greatly benefit from anodizing, whereas the harder 7075 T-6 alloy of the "Platinum" and "Gold" variants are fine as is.
 
Bartok5 said:
The 7075-T6 Raven would certainly benefit from anodizing, but I expect that wear will be conparatively minimal with the harder alloy. I once had a thinly-anodized 6061 alloy AR and found that the aluminum was quite a bit softer, easily prone to surface scratches, etc. The two levels of aluminum alloy are certainly different animals between 7075-T6 and 6061. In my opinion (and it is just that - an opinion), the "Silver" Raven will very much benefit from Mil-Spec Type III Anodizing. The "Platinum" and "Gold" Ravens less so, given their harder grade of aluminum alloy to begin with.

To answer your question, I intend to have my Silver Raven anodized because I plan for it to be my primary shooter until such time as our AR15s are let out of "gun jail". I am a right-handed shooter, so do not require all of the ambi controls offered by the Platinum version. Nor do I much care for all of the lightening machine-cuts on the Platinum Receiver set. I much prefer the slab-sided simplicity that the "Silver" grade of Raven offers. I plan to sell my Platinum Raven once I have the anodized Silver in-hand. It is worth noting that at approximately 700 rounds downrange, there are no idications of accelerated wear to the bearing surfaces of the 7075 T-6 Upper Receiver of my Platinum Raven. This reinforces my opinion that the 6061 "Silver" will greatly benefit from anodizing, whereas the harder 7075 T-6 alloy of the "Platinum" and "Gold" variants are fine as is.
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You're a wealth of info. Thanks for laying out your experience and thought process here... it's given me something to ponder.

How much is the cost to anodize your "Silver" at the shop you've narrowed down to?
 
Full credit where due, it was actually CGN buddy of mine "Dirtroad" who located the Anodizer we are going with. They quoted a price of $100 (shop minimum) to strip off the CeraKote in preparation for the anodizing. The quote is based on us handing the anodizer stripped Raven components.
 
Bartok5 said:
That is not a "Silver" Trigger Assembly nor Upper Receiver, both of which have the lightening cuts that are supposed to be eliminated on the Silver edition rifle. The Magazine Well is different, but could just be a "one of" so that the owner could have the "faux" M4 markings applied.

On an entirely different note, I am quite concerned about Lockhart's preference for (comparatively cheap) CeraKote over Mil-Spec Type 3 Anodizing. This is especially concerning with the move to softer 6061 aluminum alloy for the "Silver" Raven. CeraKote is a fancy paint, nothing more (or less). It WILL scratch, especially if applied to a soft alloy. CeraKote does not actually harden the surface of the alloy 2 mils deep like Anodizing does. Paint is not a chemical process, whereas anodizing is. There is a very good reason why military firearms have anodized aluminum components, and it would behoove Lockhart Tactical to follow suit with the Raven. But they don't, no doubt for cost-savings. So I will arrange to have it done instead.

To that end, I have been looking into local Anodizers who would be willing to take on small-batch jobs consisting of Mil-Spec MIL-A-8625(latest version), Type III, Class 2 black, 2.0 mil coating thickness Anodizing, applied to LTAC 6061 Aluminum Lower Receivers, Upper Receivers and Buffer Tubes. I have located such a shop in Calgary where I will be sending my stripped Silver Raven's Receiver components and Buffer Tube (whenever they arrive) off for Black mil-spec anodizing to improve the surface hardness of the 6061 alloy. IMHO this is the only way that owners will be able to expect a full service life from their Silver Ravens. Non-anodized 6061 Alloy Ravens will most likely suffer premature wear to the bearing surfaces of the Upper Receiver, especially in the Upper Charging Handle Track and along the Bolt-Carrier's travel path. CeraKote will not provide anything near the same level of protection that anodizing does.
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The owner of that photo confirmed that this is the Silver Magwell only.
 
g36k said:
The owner of that photo confirmed that this is the Silver Magwell only.
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OK, is Lockhart rolling out the Silver edition one component at a time? What's next week's part? The Silver Barrel Nut?!?

On a somewhat related note, I contacted Lockhart to enquire why they do not offer anodized Receivers, Buffer Tubes and Handguards with the switch to softer 6061 Aluminum Alloy. This is particularly puzzling when LTAC is offering anodized minor parts (Cocking Slot Cover, Casing Deflector, Dust Cover) but not major components with use-related wear. Lockhart stated that they have no intention of offering anodizing beyond their minor parts, period. I find this very disappointing, as large-batch anodizing would obviously be more efficient and less costly than small-batch custom work for individual rifle owners. This is particluarly important given the switch to the less costly and considerably softer 6061 alloy. CeraKote is just fancy paint - still subject to rapid wear and scratches, etc. It does not provide a protective, hard-coat layer to the alloy as anodizing does. This is all the more reason that Lockhart should offer anodized "Silver" grade rifles as an up-sell option if not as a standard feature. Ah well - I will simply proceed with having my key components anodized by the coatings company that my buddy "Dirt_Road" discovered in Calgary. It will definitely be worth the additional effort and hassle to have done as a protective measure, both inside and out.
 
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I received my "Silver" today. It looks like a normal receiver with the additional machining, but with a flat magwell.










 
weight with the gen 2 ambi charging handle, no muzzle device, and the MOE-style stock = 7.3lbs

I also noticed that the charging handle does not clear the stock and started to shave plastic off when the stock is collapsed:


 
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