Seriously, fuck Manticore Arms... And I say that with all the respect for their quality and love I can muster for a company.

Why you may ask? Because these guys brought out one of the single best products for the AK ever commercially made and then just dropped it. Back in the beginning of 2018 I was running Magpul handguards on all my AK's and I was perfectly happy. Then on a whim I decided to give MA's Transformer AK forend set a try. BIG FUCKING MISTAKE!!! Like an addict who gets their first taste of heroin I was hooked. These turned out to be the best handguards I have ever come across! Lightweight at less than what the OEM handguards weigh, and approximately the same size and shape. These things are fucking sexy and the top handguard sits low enough to co-witness a RDS. While everyone drools over the Zenitco handguards, these are essentially the same thing but BETTER! How you ask? Their 'Transformer' plates allow you to mount any accessory you have no matter how it mounts. You want to use a standard picatinny, they have a plate for it. KeyMod or M-Lok, they got plates for those too. You wanna be a douche and run one of each, knock yourself out!! But I don't mount a much on my AK's anymore (tho I like having the option) and the handguard had a great option for that too in their grip plates... Again, sexy and comfortable.

But unfortunately, when I purchased my set from AIM Surplus I must have got one of the last available anywhere. Within a week of me mounting the handguards I tried to order another set only to be told AIM was out. I googled and searched everywhere in a desperate attempt to find someone else selling them, but to no avail. I contacted Manticore and asked what the lead time on there next run would be only to be told they cancelled the product. After that I spent almost a year looking at the marketplace here and other places, even Gun Broker, trying to find someone selling even a used set. I posted threads begging for someone to sell me theirs... Finally after a year I found someone willing to part with a set. Due to the required fitting it's not a perfect fit but I finally got another set for one of my other AK's.

How you gonna bring a product this great to market and only do a limited run!? I know they sold cuz you couldn't find them anywhere a year or so after their release. I know people like em cuz nobody is willing to give theirs up and you never see them on the secondary market.

Seriously Manticore, BRING THIS SHIT BACK!!!!

Where are the pictures?

This is all I currently have in my imgur account. I'll snap some more tonight...

Manticore is actually an industry partner here. You might be better off asking Sven if he has an extra set laying around he'd sell you or posting your thoughts in their industry forum.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/Industry/Manticore-Arms/611/

OP might be better off not cursing them out and understanding the economics of supply and demand involved...

It isn't really about one. I'm looking at two, possibly 3 in the near future. It's less about looking for one [right now] and more about REALY wanting them to bring these back.

Don't take it too seriously... It's tongue in cheek frustration. I obviously really like the company and product, and any time I've contacted them they've been fantastic about helping me out. But I really want these to be available again. Of all the AK products I've ever tried, and I've tried most of them, this is among the best and the only one that I don't feel there's a close substitute for.

I love manticore.  I wanted a of green forend for a tavor. None were in stock, so I posted on their Facebook page asking when they would be available.

This was on father's day, Sunday.

I got a reply in an hour. Shocked the hell out of me on that one.

He told me he had one in QC for color testing or something.

Shipped it the next day.

That's customer service!

In the last 20 years of being in business, we have discontinued over one-hundred products.
None of which were discontinued because they were making lots of money.

Usually it is one of these issues.

1. Lack of sales volume
2. Raw material, supply chain problem(s).
3. Cost to manufacture is too high compared what customers are willing to pay.
4. Fitment problems due to extreme variances in the host guns.
5. OEM continually changing the host guns.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

P.S. #4 was a huge problem with our line of Saiga-12 parts.  All of which are now discontinued. 85 items.

It's also frowned upon in a tech forum.

Man, you're really, really obsessed with those handguards.

I get that it's supposed to be a little tongue in cheek OP but the title it itself could probably use some polishing (just my 2 cents which is worth nothing). I agree manticore makes amazing stuff and Sven is one of the most pleasant guys on this forum.

1) I'm sure they had a reason for discontinuing
2) You should probably try and contact him on here. I'm sure if they have some left lying around they will get you one or if not then will recommend something else that is equally as good to you.

Not really appropriate for a tech forum, so I'm going to move this to their IP Forum. Hopefully they can help you out.

@GerryOwen

I know the language was meant in jest, but cursing out a company on a forum doesn't usually come off as humor...

We stopped making the Transformer AK forend as quie simply it didn't sell.  We in point of fact had to reduce the price of them just to clear them off the shelves.

There are many products that are great products, but if they aren't great sellers they ultimately get retired- we, like any other company, can't afford to let product sit on the shelf and collect dust, we need product to move, and if it doesn't move it gets liquidated so we can turn those liquid assets into new products that may be more successful.

I agree the Transformer AK forend is a great product, and I really wish it had been successful, but for whatever reason it just didn't catch on and the vast majority of customers preferred the ALFA Keymod forend- go figure.

I did check and unfortunately we do not appear to have anymore, even blems or backroom leftovers, left in the shop, sorry.

Sven
Manticore Arms

My apologies for the language then, no harm meant... If I remember correctly the Transformer handguards came out between when Magpul released their handguards and when the Zenitco products became easily available here in the States. I think yours just got lost in the mix and excitement, which is unfortunate as I really do feel they were the best and most versatile ever brought to market. I suppose if nothing else you should take pride in that, even if they didn't succeed. I think perhaps just the wrong time, not the wrong product.

Unfortunately I don't use Keymod, but I also don't hang a lot off my AK's to being with so maybe I'll give them a try. Perhaps you could come up with a way to mount the grip panels on the Keymod? Also, I didn't see them on your sight, do you still make the topcover for the lower?