Amastol
25-05-2008, 00:50
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/guns/ARGUSSent.png
Argus Promotional image
Origin-
Released in February of 2008 Argus’ Sentinel Holosight was designed on the specific request of the staff of the Mountain Special Combat School located in Stackhouse, in Lungeon County, Amastol. The school had gone to a dozen different manufacturers over the years both foreign and domestic with a request for a holosight or optical gun sight that just could handle the abusive rocky and whitewater environments the soldiers were being trained to operate in. Many soldiers were forced to rely only on iron sights alone after all other weapon sights had quickly met their match slammed against rocks or dragged in the current while crossing any substantial stretch of rapids. The staff at the school was obviously worried. They were glad such mishaps were happening in the controlled environment of the school, but in a combat encounter such a loss could potentially decrease a squads potential, the sights having been a proven force multiplier for the small professional army of Amastol.
Argus started what would become the Sentinel in earnest in June 2006; working closely in conjunction with the MSCS they went through seven prototypes before they reached a satisfactory design in late August of 2007. With approval and blessing of the staff of the MSCS, Argus began the first production run on January first 2008. As of the publishing of this article, the Sentinel is in the process of being distributed to all rifle carrying non-specialist infantry, and vehicle crews in the Amastoli Royal Guards.
Construction-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/work/sentassembly.png
Sentinel Milling and First assembly room
The Sentinel due to its strict ruggedness requirements is constructed quite differently from the majority of ‘off-the-shelf’ gun sights currently available. Construction begins with two die cast pieces of TiAL alloy, referred to as the inner and outer assembly. This two-piece construction allows for better strength and impact resistance while providing for accurate sight placement. The inner assembly is designed to secure the primary optics and as such once cast is milled to its final dimensions and fitted with the Sentinels crystal clear Aluminum Oxynitride optics. Lighter and stronger than traditional glass, AlON unlike glass is actually a transparent ceramic and when used in conjunction with the Sentinels shockproof construction is nearly indestructible. Secured inside the inner assembly is the end point of the fiber-optic cord, which acts as the light transfer source for the reticle. The end of the cord is specially polished and shaped for maximum light transmission and reticle clarity This cord is shielded for the majority of the its transfer through the external housing (both to reduce wear and increase light transmission) but is left exposed for a section on the top of the sight to allow it to automatically adjust to changing light conditions. The inner assembly once fully constructed is filled with nitrogen gas and sealed to make it fog and waterproof, then fitted with a thermoplastic-elastomer sheath to shock isolate it from the rest of the assembly.
The inner optics of the Sentinel are specially treated for their performance in field. Instead of coating the outermost lens, the secondary optic contains the majority of coatings so as to protect them from the elements. This lens is both polarized and treated with a ‘hunter’ green coating increasing contrast in both low and day light. The outer lens is coated with a water and oil shedding protectorate, reducing the glare from water droplets. A must have feature when operating in the whitewater or exposed to the elements. This lens is also coated in a proprietary anti-reflection coating that reduces the glare of the lens significantly and is assisted by the forward sunshade. This is also applied to the inner side of the outer lens further decreasing reflected light and increasing the brightness of the sight tube appreciably. The inner assembly then is fitted with o-rings and set aside till the outer assembly is completed.
The outer assembly requires a bit more milling than the inner assembly due the tight fit of the final components and the standards for properly waterproofing the sight. An inset within the left side of the assembly is fitted with a shock isolated Tritium-phosphor lamp and the rotary gradient filter (which controls the lamps intensity) as well as the IR filter plate assembly inline with the culminating lens that will attach to the fiber optic cord. The rotary control rod and the fiber optic cord are the only penetrating components of the outer assembly. The shielded fiber optic cord is then looped once to give it some slack in the case of tugging due impact or other shock. At this time the unshielded section of cord is left hanging from the assembly as the Inner assembly is installed. The sight adjustment bracket is installed and calibrated with a laser system for proper calibration and fitting. Once satisfied the mounts milled locking bars are installed as well as their heat-treated cross springs.
Once both assemblies are installed, an outer ‘boot’ of thermo-plastic is slid over the housing. This shockproof ‘boot’ is composed of front and rear shock buffers, and the roof ribs, it also acts as the support for the fiber-optic coil. Once secured the fiber-optic wire, which was, left hanging out of the outer assembly is wrapped among the various posts on the top of the boot so that it can collect ambient light to adjust the brightness of the sights reticle. Once in place flat against the top of the housing, and secured via a set of molded ‘pegs’ a frosted piece of clear polycarbonate is set above it and secured to the boot. Now nearly assembled the sight is fitted with corrosion resistant rubber cover and sealed to keep out water. The sight now only requires the two-piece setting drum to be installed and the sight is packaged and sent to Quality Assurance.
Operation-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/guns/sentparts.png
Sentinel control diagram
The Sentinel is an extremely lightweight weapon sight designed for use with both eyes open for a wider field of view, its parallax free optics allow for unlimited eye relief making the weapon comfortable to shoot in any position. Designed for indefinite or long term mounting on service weapons, the Sentinel at under 200 grams in weight has very little to any effect on weapon balance and should not interfere with existing iron sights. Installation is simple only requiring the user to squeeze the two side plates and either sliding or lowering the sight onto the rail. The sight will retain its zero to one minute of angle when removed, and was often tested as infantry quickly discovered it titanium locking jaws designed for a death-grip secure mounting of the sight to a weapons rail system worked well as bottle openers when returning to their barracks from long patrols. Though the design team never the intended its use as such, it has never been advised against.
The weapons reticle is a laser precise 3 MOA diameter dot that is adjustable in both elevation, and windage in half MOA increments allowing the user to put the weapon on target with rifle scope like precision. The reticle also features eight brightness settings that allow for the user to find their ideal balance of brightness and contrast with their surroundings. The reflected reticle is assisted by the use of an etched reticle on the reflecting plate, which prevents ‘bloom’ commonly associated with reflection style sights. An open section of fiber optic cord is wrapped along a series of posts under a matte piece of polycarbonate on the top of the sight. This exposed section of tubing collects ambient light and brightens the reticle when shooting in bight light increasing reticle contrast instantly to changing conditions. Due to the tube construction however they do not emit any visible light decreasing nighttime observation issues.
A patented ‘One-Touch’ infrared filter system is installed between the gradient system that at the touch of the center button on the brightness setting wheel converts the sight from a traditional visible red dot sight to a night vision compatible sighting system giving it full day and night war-fighting capability at the touch of a button. Though naturally scratch resistant due to the AlONs hardness, the sights optics are safely secured within the sight. Both outer lenses being recessed within the outer rubber and thermoplastic buffer assembly, the front lens further protected by inadvertent scratches due to its sunshade.
Overview-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/work/daynightsent.png
Argus Promotional image
Easy to use, capable and powerful, the Sentinel Holosight is a simple means of adding a force multiplier to any rifle or submachine gun equipped unit. Its cost comes from its value, and its reliability, designed to operate continuously for up to twelve years with no batteries to change ever. Its rugged reliability in the wettest, roughest environments imaginable is a testament to the internal engineering and materials science that went into the making of the Sentinel.
Specifications-
Magnification: 1x
Length: 75 mm
Width: 55 mm
Objective: 25 mm
Height: 55 mm
Weight: 140 grams
Illumination Source: Green or Red Tritium-Phosphor lamp
Illumination Lifespan: 10-12 years on any setting
Illumination Settings: 8 intensity settings, IR filter button for use with NV equipment
Reticle: 2 MOA dot + ring, or 3 MOA dot (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/work/sentsights.png)
Eye relief: Unlimited
Exit Pupil Diameter: 8 mm
Exterior Finish: Shock-proof Rubber
Waterproof: < 45 meters
Adjustment resolution: 0.5 minute of angle or degrees
Adjustment range: 100 minutes of angle
Mounting requirements: MIL-STD-1913 RIS
Cost: 850.00 NSD
Argus Promotional image
Origin-
Released in February of 2008 Argus’ Sentinel Holosight was designed on the specific request of the staff of the Mountain Special Combat School located in Stackhouse, in Lungeon County, Amastol. The school had gone to a dozen different manufacturers over the years both foreign and domestic with a request for a holosight or optical gun sight that just could handle the abusive rocky and whitewater environments the soldiers were being trained to operate in. Many soldiers were forced to rely only on iron sights alone after all other weapon sights had quickly met their match slammed against rocks or dragged in the current while crossing any substantial stretch of rapids. The staff at the school was obviously worried. They were glad such mishaps were happening in the controlled environment of the school, but in a combat encounter such a loss could potentially decrease a squads potential, the sights having been a proven force multiplier for the small professional army of Amastol.
Argus started what would become the Sentinel in earnest in June 2006; working closely in conjunction with the MSCS they went through seven prototypes before they reached a satisfactory design in late August of 2007. With approval and blessing of the staff of the MSCS, Argus began the first production run on January first 2008. As of the publishing of this article, the Sentinel is in the process of being distributed to all rifle carrying non-specialist infantry, and vehicle crews in the Amastoli Royal Guards.
Construction-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/work/sentassembly.png
Sentinel Milling and First assembly room
The Sentinel due to its strict ruggedness requirements is constructed quite differently from the majority of ‘off-the-shelf’ gun sights currently available. Construction begins with two die cast pieces of TiAL alloy, referred to as the inner and outer assembly. This two-piece construction allows for better strength and impact resistance while providing for accurate sight placement. The inner assembly is designed to secure the primary optics and as such once cast is milled to its final dimensions and fitted with the Sentinels crystal clear Aluminum Oxynitride optics. Lighter and stronger than traditional glass, AlON unlike glass is actually a transparent ceramic and when used in conjunction with the Sentinels shockproof construction is nearly indestructible. Secured inside the inner assembly is the end point of the fiber-optic cord, which acts as the light transfer source for the reticle. The end of the cord is specially polished and shaped for maximum light transmission and reticle clarity This cord is shielded for the majority of the its transfer through the external housing (both to reduce wear and increase light transmission) but is left exposed for a section on the top of the sight to allow it to automatically adjust to changing light conditions. The inner assembly once fully constructed is filled with nitrogen gas and sealed to make it fog and waterproof, then fitted with a thermoplastic-elastomer sheath to shock isolate it from the rest of the assembly.
The inner optics of the Sentinel are specially treated for their performance in field. Instead of coating the outermost lens, the secondary optic contains the majority of coatings so as to protect them from the elements. This lens is both polarized and treated with a ‘hunter’ green coating increasing contrast in both low and day light. The outer lens is coated with a water and oil shedding protectorate, reducing the glare from water droplets. A must have feature when operating in the whitewater or exposed to the elements. This lens is also coated in a proprietary anti-reflection coating that reduces the glare of the lens significantly and is assisted by the forward sunshade. This is also applied to the inner side of the outer lens further decreasing reflected light and increasing the brightness of the sight tube appreciably. The inner assembly then is fitted with o-rings and set aside till the outer assembly is completed.
The outer assembly requires a bit more milling than the inner assembly due the tight fit of the final components and the standards for properly waterproofing the sight. An inset within the left side of the assembly is fitted with a shock isolated Tritium-phosphor lamp and the rotary gradient filter (which controls the lamps intensity) as well as the IR filter plate assembly inline with the culminating lens that will attach to the fiber optic cord. The rotary control rod and the fiber optic cord are the only penetrating components of the outer assembly. The shielded fiber optic cord is then looped once to give it some slack in the case of tugging due impact or other shock. At this time the unshielded section of cord is left hanging from the assembly as the Inner assembly is installed. The sight adjustment bracket is installed and calibrated with a laser system for proper calibration and fitting. Once satisfied the mounts milled locking bars are installed as well as their heat-treated cross springs.
Once both assemblies are installed, an outer ‘boot’ of thermo-plastic is slid over the housing. This shockproof ‘boot’ is composed of front and rear shock buffers, and the roof ribs, it also acts as the support for the fiber-optic coil. Once secured the fiber-optic wire, which was, left hanging out of the outer assembly is wrapped among the various posts on the top of the boot so that it can collect ambient light to adjust the brightness of the sights reticle. Once in place flat against the top of the housing, and secured via a set of molded ‘pegs’ a frosted piece of clear polycarbonate is set above it and secured to the boot. Now nearly assembled the sight is fitted with corrosion resistant rubber cover and sealed to keep out water. The sight now only requires the two-piece setting drum to be installed and the sight is packaged and sent to Quality Assurance.
Operation-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/guns/sentparts.png
Sentinel control diagram
The Sentinel is an extremely lightweight weapon sight designed for use with both eyes open for a wider field of view, its parallax free optics allow for unlimited eye relief making the weapon comfortable to shoot in any position. Designed for indefinite or long term mounting on service weapons, the Sentinel at under 200 grams in weight has very little to any effect on weapon balance and should not interfere with existing iron sights. Installation is simple only requiring the user to squeeze the two side plates and either sliding or lowering the sight onto the rail. The sight will retain its zero to one minute of angle when removed, and was often tested as infantry quickly discovered it titanium locking jaws designed for a death-grip secure mounting of the sight to a weapons rail system worked well as bottle openers when returning to their barracks from long patrols. Though the design team never the intended its use as such, it has never been advised against.
The weapons reticle is a laser precise 3 MOA diameter dot that is adjustable in both elevation, and windage in half MOA increments allowing the user to put the weapon on target with rifle scope like precision. The reticle also features eight brightness settings that allow for the user to find their ideal balance of brightness and contrast with their surroundings. The reflected reticle is assisted by the use of an etched reticle on the reflecting plate, which prevents ‘bloom’ commonly associated with reflection style sights. An open section of fiber optic cord is wrapped along a series of posts under a matte piece of polycarbonate on the top of the sight. This exposed section of tubing collects ambient light and brightens the reticle when shooting in bight light increasing reticle contrast instantly to changing conditions. Due to the tube construction however they do not emit any visible light decreasing nighttime observation issues.
A patented ‘One-Touch’ infrared filter system is installed between the gradient system that at the touch of the center button on the brightness setting wheel converts the sight from a traditional visible red dot sight to a night vision compatible sighting system giving it full day and night war-fighting capability at the touch of a button. Though naturally scratch resistant due to the AlONs hardness, the sights optics are safely secured within the sight. Both outer lenses being recessed within the outer rubber and thermoplastic buffer assembly, the front lens further protected by inadvertent scratches due to its sunshade.
Overview-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/work/daynightsent.png
Argus Promotional image
Easy to use, capable and powerful, the Sentinel Holosight is a simple means of adding a force multiplier to any rifle or submachine gun equipped unit. Its cost comes from its value, and its reliability, designed to operate continuously for up to twelve years with no batteries to change ever. Its rugged reliability in the wettest, roughest environments imaginable is a testament to the internal engineering and materials science that went into the making of the Sentinel.
Specifications-
Magnification: 1x
Length: 75 mm
Width: 55 mm
Objective: 25 mm
Height: 55 mm
Weight: 140 grams
Illumination Source: Green or Red Tritium-Phosphor lamp
Illumination Lifespan: 10-12 years on any setting
Illumination Settings: 8 intensity settings, IR filter button for use with NV equipment
Reticle: 2 MOA dot + ring, or 3 MOA dot (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/jay3135/work/sentsights.png)
Eye relief: Unlimited
Exit Pupil Diameter: 8 mm
Exterior Finish: Shock-proof Rubber
Waterproof: < 45 meters
Adjustment resolution: 0.5 minute of angle or degrees
Adjustment range: 100 minutes of angle
Mounting requirements: MIL-STD-1913 RIS
Cost: 850.00 NSD