ARCTURUS M4/AR-15 Karambit AT-AR09 AEG

There is a constant arms race in Airsoft when it comes to who can make the most compact, loud and horrifically fast CQB platform, and with every release, the bar gets raised. ARCTURUS has joined the melee by introducing its own compact CQB-optimised AR platform, the Karambit AR-AT09 AEG.

The Karambit boasts full metal construction, a highly flexible M-LOK front end and 6-position PDW stock, and is equipped out of the box with a muzzle sound amp which pairs perfectly with the super swift trigger response from its microswitch trigger to make the rifle a serious contender for close quarters work.

Starting at the front, we can find an aggressive looking sound amplifying muzzle device which is slightly recessed into the M-LOK/Picatinny hybrid handguard for an integral look. The sound amp gives the Karambit a loud muzzle report and an intimidating presence on the battlefield, but if you want a more sneaky setup or a tracer unit to literally light up the enemy, this is possible thanks to the 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel.

Due to the handguard being longer than the outer barrel you may need to add a short barrel extension for larger muzzle devices, but as a rough guide, you should be able to mount any device smaller than 31mm in diameter, for example, the NUPROL Flash-P tracer unit.

The handguard is 5.5-inches in length, giving you maximum room for the addition of accessories on such a short platform. At the 12 o'clock position we have a 20mm Picatinny rail, allowing for PEQ laser units and tactical flashlights to be mounted directly, and also providing space for the included flip-up aperture iron sights. M-LOK negative space attachment slots are also available surrounding the handguard, at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, with additional slots at offset angles in between. This AEG may be short, but it isn't short of accessory mounting options, that's for sure!

After moving rearwards a short distance we come to the receiver, which is of the familiar M4/AR-15 layout. The charging handle is located at the top rear of the receiver, and when pulled, the mock bolt carrier will be held back, providing access to the rotary HOP-up chamber of the Karambit. The rotary HOP-up unit is the latest design for the M4/AR-15 platform and has the benefit of holding its setting more effectively under the vibrations of firing, and can be adjusted in finer increments for a more precise HOP-up setting.

Pulling the charging handle also opens the steel dust cover and retracts the mock bolt carrier, giving off a satisfying metal-on-metal sound, and pressing the bolt release over on the left side of the receiver releases the bolt with a "clank". This is loads of fun to play with and sounds much better than comparable platforms thanks to the steel mock bolt, and steel bolt catch. The magazine release is also steel, giving you the best chance of consistently feeding with a variety of magazines, and is located on the magazine well on the right side of the lower receiver.

The fire selector of the Karambit is right where we would expect, just above the pistol grip on the left side of the rifle. The fire selector has a textured surface to guarantee effective grip and provides 3 modes of fire; safe, semi-auto and full auto. With a 90-degree throw between each fire mode, this selector can be operated quickly without any risk of slipping out of position. Each fire mode is denoted with deeply engraved markings, reading SAFE-SEMI-AUTO, in classic M4/AR-15 style.

On to of the best aspects of the Karambit; its trigger. The trigger itself is a flat "speed" style trigger with a short finger ledge to keep your fast finger in place while double tapping, and it also has bevelled edges, preventing the edges of the trigger from digging into your finger. Inside, we have a microswitch trigger which gives the external trigger a nice clicky feel, with a tactile reset enabling you lay down some super quick semi shots by riding the trigger reset point. Microswitch triggers also have the advantage of eliminating the usual copper trigger contacts which often corrode over time, especially when semi-auto is used excessively. The Karambit's microswitch trigger allows you to spam away with semi-auto all day with no worries about changing the contacts out in the near future.

The pistol grip of the Karambit pairs well with the speed trigger, and its super compact PDW sliding stock. The grip has textured sides, and linear grooves on the front and rear to ensure it is firmly gripped, even in wet conditions. The angle of the grip is slightly more vertical than most, which makes for a more comfortable wrist position when shooting with the stock fully collapsed. Modern features like this make give the Karambit enviable ergonomics, and a look right in line with the most modern real-world compact AR PDWs.

Bringing up the rear we come to the PDW stock of the Karambit, which is similar in design to other PDW stocks but offers a generous 6 positions of adjustment. This allows for a wider variety of body types and loadouts than its rivals, which often only offer 2 or 3 positions. The stock bars are constructed from steel, offering strength where needed, and the stock base and butt plate are constructed from high density polymer, keeping the weight to a minimum. The butt plate also features hexagonal checkering, which not only looks great but provides extra grip to keep the stock firmly in your shoulder.

The stock has two dummy QD sockets, one on either side, but in our tests we found QD swivels to be a bit loose in these sockets. The centrally positioned ambidextrous socket is fully functional, and locks QD swivels in tightly, so if you are slinging the Karambit we recommend only using the central socket. The stock adjustment lever is centrally located and easy to reach from a firing grip, whether you are left or right-handed, allowing for quick adjustments in game for a stable firing stance no matter how much room you have!

Being a rear wired AEG, the stock also functions as the battery compartment for the Karambit. The aluminium buffer tube at the rear can be unscrewed with the stock fully extended, and inside you will find a Deans battery connector. The battery compartment is quite small, similar in size to other PDW stocks. As such, we recommend a 7.4V 600mAh LiPo battery for the Karambit for the best combination of performance and easy fitting. You may be able to squeeze larger batteries inside, but we do not recommend this as you run the risk of damaging the cells if you cram it in too tight.

On the inside, the Karambit is well equipped, with some thoughtful pre-upgraded parts present in its gearbox. The piston is constructed from polycarbonate and has a full rack of steel teeth and the steel gearset runs on 8mm ball bearing bushings for a smooth sound and friction free function. The piston head and spring guide are equipped with ball bearings to reduce rotational force and prolong their life, and the air nozzle is Teflon sealed for perfect compression and efficiency. There may not be a MOSFET or high torque motor in the Karambit but its well equipped internals are perfectly tuned, and it performs far better than one might expect.

If you have a taste for realism, and demand a full metal platform but want something agile and easy to corner with to match your aggressive playstyle the ARCTURUS AR-AT09 Karambit is a sure choice and brings a lot to the table with its pre-upgraded internals and rock solid build quality. There are plenty of options for compact CQB optimised platforms, and ARCTURUS just made the choice of which to get that bit harder!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 14mm CCW male threaded barrel
• Muzzle sound amplifier - Scarily loud muzzle report
• M-LOK handguard with 20mm Picatinny top rail
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights/scopes
• QD sling socket on the stock base - Ready for QD swivel
• Flat "speed" trigger - Great for laying down some rapid fire in CQB
• Flip-up aperture iron sights are included in the box
• Ergonomic pistol grip with a refined grip angle
• 8mm Steel bushings - Smooth running gearbox
• Quick change spring system - Easy power tuning
• Polycarbonate piston with full steel tooth rack
• Bearing spring guide and piston head - Reduced rotational force, less friction
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Fine increments of adjustment, holds setting well
• Teflon sealed air nozzle - Great compression/air seal qualities
• Microswitch trigger - Snappy trigger response
• Low resistance wiring - Great electrical efficiency
• 6 Position PDW sliding stock - Very compact stock, full adjustment
• 6.03mm Hardened steel tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of options, including drums!
• Rear wired to a Deans battery connector - 7.4V 600mAh LiPo battery recommended

Package Includes

• ARCTURUS M4/AR-15 Karambit AT-AR09 AEG
• Flip-up Iron Sight Set
• 75rnd Short Medium Capacity Magazine
• User manual
• Cleaning/unjamming rod

Special Instructions

The QD sling sockets on the sides of the stock are non-functional and will not retain a QD sling swivel. The centrally positioned QD socket is functional, so we suggest only using this socket if you are running the Karambit on a single-point sling.