Knight's Armament Company Masterkey

Knight Armament Company Master Key History

Various law enforcement agencies, special forces, and standard infantry have long relied on door-picking techniques to gain access to otherwise inaccessible areas. Over the decades, systems have been developed to break through obstacles such as doors, and in the 1980s Knight Armament of America (KAC) developed the "Master Key" for exactly this purpose.

This gun is essentially the main working part of the classic Remington M870 pump action shotgun, mounted under the front of a standard assault rifle such as the Colt M16. The reduced profile of the M870 reduces the number of shells carried to four (one chamber), the rifle's magazine serves as a grip without its own stock or grip, allowing the use of the M870's trigger assembly, which is retained by the shotgun . The end result is an efficient battlefield component capable of breaking doors and adding length and weight to the rifle.

Notable operators of skeleton keys include the US Delta Force. Shotgun doorbreaker concepts are still being developed today, such as the M26 Modular Attachment Shotgun System (MASS) manufactured by C-More Competition (detailed elsewhere on this website).

Knight's Armament Company Skeleton Key Instructions

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