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Posted: 6/15/2005 2:54:56 AM EDT
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OK, in the beginning there were straight prong Vortices, like the ones in Mongo's pic. They are called Vortex because of the offsets on the INTERIOR of the tines. Look at Mongo's first pic for a clue. They worked really really well esp considering the competition available in the late 80's. The only problem they had was the couter rotation created by the propellant gasses eventualy loosened them. This was a bigger concern with the shorter barrels. Much Loc-Tite and torque was needed to keep them in place. Smith Enterprises (SE) changed the design to incorporate helical flutes that off set the counter rotation. The helical flute model worked very very well and didn't come loose. They worked so well that SE couldn't keep up with demand. SE changed the design slightly to increase production. I've always called this design change the "straight flute" model because the cuts don't appear to curve around the circumference of the FS. On this changed model the flutes are just cut at an angle to the bore line. The manufacturing change caused the prongs to be undercut at their base. There are the models that failed. SE claimed faulty heat treat on them but after checking several new ones against several known good ones the only difference found was the undercut tines. Here's a close up from a recently posted pic showing the undercuts.  Photo courtesy of M4A2_LO73754 of FIN There was also a FS called the Brennan Nil-Flash. It looked somewhat like the Vortex but wasn't as aesthetic being just a cylinder with 4 internally curved prongs and straight flutes. Many of these were modified to look more like Vortices by shortening them and turning a groove into the ends. There was no way to modify the prongs so they still lack the triangular profiles used on the Vortex.
www.entreprise.com/ www.smithenterprise.com/0100_Vortex_Page.htm
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Excellent write-up. I appreciate technical posts such as this which help to renew my faith in the site after browsing the Active Topics section. Recently created an M4gery with a Colt 6921 HB upper and a permanently attatched (blind pin & weld) Vortex G6. Beautiful and effective. |
.50beowulf 
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Here's a pic of my first Vortex. I put paper in the tines so you can see the shape. I sold it on the EE, and run the new G version now. I would like to see this Brennan NIL-Flash. I have the pics from the mushroomed Vortexes (Vorteci?) if you need them. I'm also missing the pic of Sonja Summers all decked out. |
Pics for your (dis)pleasure. As you can see material is taken way too much.  Here is couple of more pics of Vortex´s I made myself. Diameter of tool cutting the flutes should be exactly half of the inner diameter of Vortex. Otherwise results are as on the earlier model.   MN |
I wish I could find one, they are engraved Brennan Nil Flash on the side tho, hard to miss if you find one.
Cool, if you want to ship them to me I'll host them. I'm trying to port some of these good threads into the Content Server but haven't yet cogitated a way to do so.
I just saw that in a thread not too long ago, pretty sure it was a Vortex thread. I'll keep and eye out for it. |
if you need them. 
cold, so cold
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Ok folks I moved this to the Conserv so if you posted pics it would help if you'd keep hosting them as I just quoted your posts and changed the URL tags to IMG. a better link for what's been added hopefully now this info will be forever enshrined in the ARF server 
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looks like the Vortec has straight prongs and lacks the annular groove in the end found on the early straight prong Vortex, can't tell about internal geometry from the pics I've found. POF is using the Vortec on their gas piston uppers This one is for Kisara Before ANYONE makes any comments about this pic, Ron and Sonja are good folks and all the proceeds from this calendar went to disabled vets. Last time this pic was posted here some of the adolescents lets their alligator mouths overload their jaybird asses and it got all the way back to Smith Enterprises. Let's not let that happen again. nah skip it, not worth the trouble, Kisara you got an IM. OK, couldn't find the thread I was looking for, seems to be in between the Search and Archserv http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=6&t=222229 google cache version
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