When were Picatinny rails first used?

The Picatinny Arsenal developed a specification for a mounting rail called the MIL-STD-1913 rail, based on some work done by the A.R.M.S company back in the early 1980s. The specification was officially accepted by the US military on February 3rd 1995.

When was Picatinny invented?

In 1992, the US military, dissatisfied with rifle mounts being produced by domestic firearms manufacturers, tasked the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey with developing the MIL-STD-1913 — the rail that would become known as the Picatinny rail, or Pic rail.

Where did Picatinny rail come from?

The rail itself is named after the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, which was named “after the Lenape-named peak overlooking the old forge, loosely translated to mean ‘rugged cliff by water’ or ‘water by the hills’.” The Picatinny Arsenal was tasked in 1992 to develop a standardized mounting system after the U.S. Army …

Who made Picatinny rail?

Gary Houtsma
The Picatinny Rail provides a standard interface for the attachment of weapon accessories and can be found on almost every infantry weapon used by U.S. forces today. For his work in developing the Picatinny Rail, Gary Houtsma was honored at Picatinny Arsenal Oct. 27 with the prestigious Order of Saint Maurice Award.

How old is Picatinny rail?

History. The rail itself dates from work by the A.R.M.S. company in the early 1980s and Otto Repa in standardizing the Weaver design. Specifications for the M16A2E4 rifle and the M4E1 carbine received type classification generic in December 1994.

What is a Picatinny Weaver rail?

The Picatinny rail is very similar to the Weaver design, but they do not exactly interchange. The Weaver mounting rails have slots that are . 180” wide and do not necessarily have a consistent spacing between the grooves. Picatinny slots are . 206” wide with a center-to-center groove width of .

What are Picatinny rails made of?

Picatinny rails are usually made out of steel or aluminum. The main difference is the weight; steel is typically 2.5 times denser than aluminum.

When were Weaver invented?

Weaver Co. — a sight company started in 1930. Before his invention, rails paired to a specific gun or optic.

Is 1913 and Picatinny rail the same?

The Picatinny Rail A Picatinny rail has specific dimensions of grooves and notches and is built into a handgun or long gun to mount different attachments. It’s sometimes called a “Pic Rail” and is exactly the same thing as a MIL-STD-1913 rail.

Is Picatinny and Weaver the same?

The two major areas where the picatinny rail differs from the weaver style are the number of slots, the slot placement and the slot dimensions. the basic difference between the weaver and picatinny slot dimension is that the picatinny has a slightly wider, and slightly deeper slot.

Which rifles have Picatinny rail systems?

Currently, many firearm manufactures include a Picatinny rail system out of factory, such as the Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle.

What is a Picatinny rail side view?

Picatinny rail side view (dimensions in inches) The Picatinny rail (/ˈpɪkətɪni/ or /ˌpɪkəˈtɪni/), or Pic rail for short, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail, is a military standard rail interface system that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories.

What are the different types of rail systems for firearms?

The six common types of rail systems for firearms are the Dovetail rail, Weaver rail, Warsaw Pact rail, Picatinny rail, KeyMod and M-LOK . Future rails systems will have the option of carry power to supply the needs of the increasing electronics mounted to aid the shooter and/or soldier.

What is the history of the Picatinny Arsenal?

History. The rail is named after the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, which was tasked in 1992 to develop a standardized mounting system after the U.S. Army was dissatisfied with the contemporary products on the market. The Picatinny team was headed by mechanical designer Gary Houtsma (who won the Order of Saint Maurice Award in 2014…