Chinese KVC / RQE bridge?

T

Thermal L. Jackson

Private
Minuteman
Aug 12, 2020
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70
#1
"We did it, Zhao."

I was trying to track down a bridge for someone today when I came across this listing. As mentioned in another recent Hide thread by cschastain2, "Chinese have no knocks offs of the KVC Bridge for good reason." This was my understanding as well. At least, before today it was.

Anybody put their hands on one of these?

www.ebay.com

Lightweight KVC Bridge Night-vision Goggle stent NVG Mount G24 for PVS14 MUM DVO | eBay

Features: 1. This Universal Bridge is a lightweight, highly adaptive interface component for use with a variety of image intensified, DVO, digital, or thermal systems. 2. This Universal Bridge is designed to support multi-mission applications, allowing for quick-disconnect of mounted...
www.ebay.com


s-l1600.jpg
 
#2
Ahh yes, "patented" (according to product photo)...just not by them.

So unfortunate that the real deal is unavailable.

Thermal L. Jackson said:
"We did it, Zhao."

I was trying to track down a bridge for someone today when I came across this listing. As mentioned in another recent Hide thread by cschastain2, "Chinese have no knocks offs of the KVC Bridge for good reason." This was my understanding as well. At least, before today it was.

Anybody put their hands on one of these?

www.ebay.com

Lightweight KVC Bridge Night-vision Goggle stent NVG Mount G24 for PVS14 MUM DVO | eBay

Features: 1. This Universal Bridge is a lightweight, highly adaptive interface component for use with a variety of image intensified, DVO, digital, or thermal systems. 2. This Universal Bridge is designed to support multi-mission applications, allowing for quick-disconnect of mounted...
www.ebay.com


s-l1600.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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#3
I ordered one to compare with the US-made version. The Chinesium edition just arrived.

Initial thoughts:

- Chinesium is 0.5 oz heavier.
- The clip mechanism tolerances are clearly incorrect. It works, but you can tell something is dimensioned incorrectly.
- Fasteners are different.
- Finish and materials may be different.
- Machining is not as good.
- Lubrication not present.
- Will it work? Yes. Is the US-Made version available? No. Is that a shame? Yes.

Photo (Chinesium on top, US-Made on bottom):

20220927_131243.jpg


edit (more updates):

  • Voodoo-S shoe fits fine.
  • SkeetIR-L shoe fits fine.
  • US-made RQE shoe set fits fine.
  • The little tongue adjustment allows good, solid lockup in a Wilcox G24.
  • One end has a little play in it; not sure how to adjust or tighten. Not a huge amount of play but it's there. You can tell this thing is Chinesium. Way better than I thought it would be, though.
  • Chinesium shoes you get on eBay are loose in this Chinese bridge, just like they are in the Wilcox Chinese bridge.
  • The Chinesium grail will be the RQE shoe set. Chinese santa may be reading this right now. If you are reading, Chinese santa, copy the RQE shoe set.
  • Fasteners are definitely different. When flipping everything around for thermal use to get Skeets closer to your face, the big silver "thumb screw" looking fasteners actually take a 3mm hex key instead of the size taken by the US version. General quality of fasteners is lower; they are a different metal.
  • They didn't actually copy the set-screw recess depth correctly. All of the blue screws are in holders - you are supposed to be able to use them to lock a dovetail shoe in place in the lateral unoccupied holes on the arms. The Chinese version doesn't have those unoccupied holes machined to the proper depth, so all those blue set-screws are worthless hahaha
I would not be advocating for communist copies of this stuff, but if KAC won't deliver, perhaps the Chinese will meet the market demand. What good is a patent if you refuse to produce the product?

Jay
 
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#5
cschastain2 said:
Wow…Will it adjust eye relief fore and aft?
Click to expand...
Yes sir. There are a few positions (for both eyes at the same time; you can't have different fore/aft adjustment between your eyes; they are tied together). Also, if you want it even closer (for thermal use with a Skeet, for example) you can disassemble the unit and flip the entire primary dovetail assembly around (as shown with the black bridge in the photo; the real one). I've used the Voodoo and Skeet together in that config, along with a 14. I flipped around the Chinese version after I took this photo, as well.

Overall, best quality Chinese bridge I have handled. The Chinese Wilcox bridges are trash.

Jay
 
Last edited:
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#6
TOOL1075 said:
Yes sir. There are a few positions (for both eyes at the same time; you can't have different fore/aft adjustment between your eyes; they are tied together). Also, if you want it even closer (for thermal use with a Skeet, for example) you can disassemble the unit and flip the entire primary dovetail assembly around (as shown with the black bridge in the photo; the real one). I've used the Voodoo and Skeet together in that config, along with a 14. I flipped around the Chinese version after I took this photo, as well.

Overall, best quality Chinese bridge I have handled. The Chinese Wilcox bridges are trash.

Jay
Click to expand...
Your input and research continues to be unparalleled. Many thanks.

Counting down the days until Reed Knight is gone from KAC.
 
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#7
Thermal L. Jackson said:
Your input and research continues to be unparalleled. Many thanks.

Counting down the days until Trey Knight is gone from KAC.
Click to expand...

You might mean Reed. Regardless, here's some more info:

I found there to be a little bit (re: tiny amount) of play in the dovetail components that move laterally. Thankfully, the Chinese copied the tightening mechanisms correctly (they missed the purpose of the blue set screws, but they didn't miss THESE set screws!):

rqe_tight.jpg


Use a 0.9mm hex wrench to tighten the four screws shown, and you are golden. Note that the fasteners are not only different than the US version in a lot of places, they are actually dimensionally different in their wrench patterns. Small price to pay for obtainable functionality.

Hope this helps. By the way, this is very typical of Chinese counterfeiting that occurs in many industries. I have seen military materiel systems copied and key things not copied correctly due to the Chinese not having a full technical understanding. Sometimes this has led to disastrous results. As always, your mileage may vary with communist rip-offs.

Jay
PEW Science
 
#8
TOOL1075 said:
You might mean Reed. Regardless, here's some more info:

I found there to be a little bit (re: tiny amount) of play in the dovetail components that move laterally. Thankfully, the Chinese copied the tightening mechanisms correctly (they missed the purpose of the blue set screws, but they didn't miss THESE set screws!):

View attachment 7966230

Use a 0.9mm hex wrench to tighten the four screws shown, and you are golden. Note that the fasteners are not only different than the US version in a lot of places, they are actually dimensionally different in their wrench patterns. Small price to pay for obtainable functionality.

Hope this helps. By the way, this is very typical of Chinese counterfeiting that occurs in many industries. I have seen military materiel systems copied and key things not copied correctly due to the Chinese not having a full technical understanding. Sometimes this has led to disastrous results. As always, your mileage may vary with communist rip-offs.

Jay
PEW Science
Click to expand...
Sorry, sometimes I get my MLM villains mixed up with my Uncle Sam's Teet Villians.

I, for one, welcome our new overlords.
 
#11
As stated above, if KAC no longer intends to produce an awesome product that hundreds of NV lovers want, then someone else will step up regardless of origin. The Chinese have been cloning everything from these to animals and I have to admit - the 3 pieces I obtained off eGay are impressive.

You'll find the most compatible and solid pieces sold under the name Sotac

The bridge works much like Jay (Tool 1075) described above. Their G24 clone even says Wilcox on it and you'd never know the difference holding a real & fake one in your hand. Guessing they could care less about a lawsuit using the Wilcox name. For a 1/4 of the price on some of these, whats not to at least try.

Yesterday I somehow stumbled onto a website that showed a KA Obverse Shoe Set (OSS) in stock. Called an left a msg. A very kind woman called me back saying she actually had it in her hand and it was mine. I have never even seen a real one of these in person and need this to attempt getting a PVS14 over my right eye, in order to put a RH25 over my left. Sure it works in reverse using the Sotac bridge or Noisefighters Pano - cant wait to see Neal's new one soon too! If you've never dealt or bought from him at Noisefighters - the guy is truly first class and answers emails within hours!

Merry Christmas Gents. "Do it in the dark!" - stole that from INFORCE ;)
 
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#13
#14
doc187 said:
They cloned the shoe set too

www.ebay.com

NVG Mount OSS OBVERSE SHOE SET Dovetail Shoe RQE KVC Universal Bridge Monocular | eBay

Description: The KVC Obverse Shoe Set (OSS) is intended for applications requiring PVS14 (and various derivative modules) to be paired or oriented for a variety of applications. The OSS maximizes use of virtually any standard BNVD dovetail as a host receiver. The OSS is sold as a set...
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
I have a set and they are actually solid, no play and fit my -14.
 
#15
They are pretty fn good at blatantly breaking patent and copyrights with no international law supported over there, they own our economy and most out gdp anyways. Fn commies, thanks for that one uncle Sam. BUT.......KAC does an absolute shit job of keeping their bridge and shoes in stock, so I guess they're are actually filling a need.
 
#16
4O6shootist said:
They are pretty fn good at blatantly breaking patent and copyrights with no international law supported over there, they own our economy and most out gdp anyways. Fn commies, thanks for that one uncle Sam. BUT.......KAC does an absolute shit job of keeping their bridge and shoes in stock, so I guess there are actually filling a need.
Click to expand...
Did KAC even bother to produce any KVC/OSS in 2023 for civ market ?
 
#17
I don't know, I haven't been looking. I know there are none in stock........anywhere. So this is a viable option, granted not quite as highly featured, but def much more affordable.
 
#19
FuhQ said:
Didn't @TheHorta buy one of these, or did I get him mixed up with someone else? I know I saw a thread recently where someone said they had one of the Chinesium bridges and that the overall fit and finish and function were pretty damn good compared to a REAL unit.
Click to expand...
Yessiree… new Chinesium is silly good for $140 delivered.

Almost impossible to tell them apart.
 
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#20
I’m starting to become a little bit frustrated that some of the cheap Aliexpress clones are as good and in some case better made than the American/European counterparts for 1/10 to 1/5 of the price and available.
500$ Wilcox FTS wobbles/doesn’t hold zero. 80$ Clone doesn’t have the issue.
400$ scalarworx leap mount hinge breaks, 60$ clone doesn’t have the issue.
500$ panobridge bit of play on the arms … 40$ clones is the same but at least it’s not 500 fucking bucks for a 3d printed bridge.
 
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#21
doc187 said:
They cloned the shoe set too

www.ebay.com

NVG Mount OSS OBVERSE SHOE SET Dovetail Shoe RQE KVC Universal Bridge Monocular | eBay

Description: The KVC Obverse Shoe Set (OSS) is intended for applications requiring PVS14 (and various derivative modules) to be paired or oriented for a variety of applications. The OSS maximizes use of virtually any standard BNVD dovetail as a host receiver. The OSS is sold as a set...
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...

Just got my PF640 a few months back and have started sourcing parts for helmet and clip-on use, so please excuse the JV question, but that shoe set is basically the same thing as this once from SOTAC, no?

SOTAC Hunting PVS-14 Helmet Mount Adapter for REQ Universal Bridge Mounting Base

Was planning to use the SOTAC shoe set, along with this bridge, to get the PF640 over my left eye and PVS-14 over the right.

Lightweight KVC Bridge Night-vision Goggle stent NVG Mount G24 for PVS14 MUM DVO

While the SOTAC shoe is a couple bucks cheaper, I'm guessing it would make more sense to buy the shoe set from gxifac, since it's the same seller (and maybe manufacturer?) as the bridge?
 
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