"Fort-17", the characteristics of which will be presented in this article, is a model of a self-loading pistol developed by NPO "Fort". This is the advanced development of the Ukrainian pistol, which was first demonstrated in 2007 to the appropriate audience.
In fact, the Fort-17 pistol, the price of which is about 30,000 rubles, is a more elaborate version of the Fort-12 weapon, which was created by the same weapons company.
Outline about the gun
The 17th model differs from its predecessor (which, incidentally, is currently in service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine) . It, by the way, is made of high impact polymer. The back of the handle is interchangeable. A design was applied that allows you to fit the gun under any shooter. For example, as in the German Walther P99.
Perhaps another difference from the 12th model can be called the presence of an integral guide. It is located under the trunk, on the frame. This Picatinny rail is designed to attach a laser pointer or flashlight to it.
One of the advantages of the Fort-17 pistol compared to its predecessor is its easier assembly, which reduces the costs required for the production of weapons. The internal device of the 12th and 17th models is almost the same.
History
In the early 2000s, Ukrainian engineers of NPO Fort completed the process of creating a new model of the pistol, which had a frame made of plastic materials. The weapon was ready for production. The first, as you know, plastic in the manufacture of pistols began to be used by specialists in Germany. A company called Heckler & Koch was engaged in this business, which is familiar to anyone who is even a little versed in weapons.
Some historical facts. At the end of the 60s of the last century, Hackler and Koch engineers introduced two models of pistols to the world arms community. These were the VP-70 and P9S. Composite materials, which were then used to design pistols, were at that time truly innovative. A lot of details were made of reinforced plastics. The main emphasis was placed precisely on the frame.
Debut
We must pay tribute to the Ukrainian gunsmiths who designed the new Fort model and prepared it for mass production. The fact is that these processes took place in the shortest possible time. Probably, it’s not worthwhile to remind once again that every new product that enters the arms market is enormously attractive to world experts.
Actively interested in such things and amateurs. Especially if it is a development made by domestic engineers. Interviews were also taken from the chief designer of NPO Fort. He told a lot of interesting things related to the topic of the newly made pistol.
For example, that the idea of creating weapons, which would be partially made of plastic materials, has stuck in the minds of gunsmiths not only in recent years, but from the very beginning of the existence of the company itself. But it became possible to manufacture only due to the fact that the work on CNC machines was studied. Up to this point, it was not possible to put weapons from plastic materials onto the conveyor. The road, so to speak, was opened by programs written by specialists for machine tools in the course of studying work.
The main difficulties
Interestingly, a special electrode made of graphite was required. Only with its presence, it was possible to burn out the corresponding molds, which are required for the process of casting the frames. The electrode itself could be made only on CNC machines.
As mentioned earlier, this is a rather time-consuming process, during which very complex tools are used. That is why the manufacture of such a kind of help has become difficult for gunsmiths. By the way, there were no alternative solutions, since the frames are made precisely with the assistance of molds.
Interesting Facts
In the structural plan, the pistol frame consists of 6 surfaces at once. They have a very complex shape. So, they mostly have a bevel. Surfaces intersect at some points. Some people think that implementing such a design is simple. But in reality, everything is quite different.
“Fort 17” - what they have been waiting for
As mentioned earlier, the idea of creating weapons with a plastic frame was on the note of gunsmiths for a long time. But the technical difficulties they encountered simply did not allow the realization of such an idea.
So, the first thing the model was recreated on the computer. After that, specialists began writing special programs designed for each tool. And there are many of them in CNC machines, it should be said. And only when all this was done, experiments to create such a framework were successful.
But by the time this was done, the Fort company, one might say, was ripe for this event. And in technological terms, and in others. This also includes the fact that special materials and technologies are used to make the frames. For example, polyamide is used in the manufacturing process. It, in turn, is reinforced with fiberglass.
Moreover, the company's specialists have gone a little ahead, having developed some technologies that can improve the consumer characteristics of polyamide. It turns out to be quite resistant to mechanical stress and damage, and also has high thermal strength.
The design in which the frame was developed was specially selected by specialists. The trends in the development of short-barreled gunshot development were taken into account. For example, looking back was made on the Walther P99, Heckler & Koch P 2000, SIG SPC 2009 models. By the way, “Fort-17” fit into this series very well in its appearance.
Variations
In the weapons market, one can easily find the “Fort-17” traumatic. It is currently officially banned for import into the territory of the Russian Federation.
As an accessory to the weapon, a holster for “Fort-17” is produced.