SOLGW MK1 – Designed for Combat, Not Just the Range
- Marco Damaso
- Sep 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 28
Sons of Liberty Gun Works (SOLGW) developed the new MK1 carbine for a USSOCOM customer. References to “maritime” features, “Over the Beach (OTB)” capability, knowledge of USSOCOM procurement practices, and circulating internet reports all suggest that the MK1 has found its way to JSOC, and specifically to NSWDG.
In this blog post, I will cover the features of the MK1 carbine, but more importantly, I will evaluate its handling and shootability. End-users are not particularly interested in every technical detail of their weapons—what matters is whether it works reliably, shoots well, is practical to handle, and easy to carry. For this reason, my review is written from a military/combat weapon perspective.
The MK1 carbine
At first glance, the MK1 looks like a standard AR-15, but—as always—the devil is in the details. Below are some of the specific features that set the MK1 apart.
Function
The mechanical design prioritizes what SOLGW terms a “wide operational envelope” — the rifle’s ability to perform reliably under diverse and challenging conditions. Public information on formal testing is limited to clues provided by Mike Mihalski in the MK1 presentation videos. However, knowing the end user, it is reasonable to assume the rifle has undergone standard military test regimes — ballistic, durability, environmental (including OTB), function & safety, accuracy and field testing — most likely conducted primarily with M855A1 EPR ammunition. Such testing would validate performance across realistic mission profiles and explain the selection of materials and design features aimed at durability, suppressed-fire behavior, and maritime capability.
M-LOK Handguard
The first feature that stands out is the continuous top rail, seamlessly extending between the receiver and the handguard. This design allows for the straightforward installation of optics, thermals, lasers, or other accessories without alignment issues.
The handguard is clamped to the barrel nut and secured with two “ears” and two anti-rotation steel pins, resulting in a very sturdy construction with minimal deflection. Inside the rail, a dedicated cable channel is provided for efficient management of thermal, laser, or light cables. In addition, all handguard edges are rounded to prevent cable damage during use.
The handguard features laser-etched texturing, providing a secure grip on the rifle without requiring an additional foregrip.
Heat Management
Most free-floating handguards on AR-15 rifles are fixed to the barrel nut, which causes heat from the barrel to be rapidly transferred to the handguard. The MK1 extended barrel nut, however, is made of titanium, a material with low thermal conductivity, and is further treated with a special aerospace-grade heat-reducing coating. This solution effectively mitigates handguard heating, improving handling comfort during sustained fire.
Controls
Except for the Badger ambi safety, the MK1 dispenses with ambidextrous controls, prioritizing simplicity and a slimmer profile. The rifle features an oversized bolt catch with proper fencing, and the magazine release is also well-protected by fencing, reducing the risk of snagging or unintentional activation.
Upper Receiver
The upper receiver features a repositioned forward assist for improved clearance with the charging handle. It is equipped with an Liberty charging handle with small latches, as well as a rapidly serviceable ejection port door, simplifying maintenance and access.
Lower Receiver
The lower receiver features an enlarged magazine well for faster reloads and an enlarged machined trigger guard to accommodate gloved use. The MK1 comes equipped with a Liberty 4.5 lbs two-stage trigger, providing a balanced compromise between precision and combat suitability.
Barrel
The MK1 is equipped with a polygonal three-groove (P3) medium-contour barrel fitted with a HUXWRX muzzle device. It is available in various lengths and materials, with options including chrome-lined 41V50, precision stainless steel, and ARMAD—all capable of delivering sub-MOA performance with match-grade ammunition.
Finish
The MK1 is offered with a durable anodized finish as standard, ensuring corrosion resistance and long-term wear protection. For users seeking additional durability and customization, it is also available with a Cerakote finish, which provides enhanced abrasion resistance, a wide range of color options, and improved protection in harsh environments.
On the range
To test the SOLGW MK1, I went to the Swiss Training Academy (STA) in Etoy, Switzerland, which also serves as the DACH distributor (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) for SOLGW and the Swiss distributor for Oceania Defence.
My evaluation was conducted with two MK1 rifles: one with an 11.5-inch barrel as used by NSWDG, and another with a 14.5-inch barrel. The shorter rifle was fitted with an Oceania Defence 556 Ratchet Lock HyFlow Gen 5 suppressor, whereas NSWDG are most likely using the HUXWRX FLOW 556K suppressor. For testing, I used TMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M3 magazines, the standard with the MK1, as well as PMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M3 magazines equipped with MagPod floor plates.
When I first picked up and handled the MK1, my first thought was wow! The rifles feel impressively light: the 11.5-inch version weighs around 2.8 kg, while the 14.5-inch version comes in at about 3.0 kg. At the same time, they feel extremely sturdy—solidly built, with no play, and very sleek in design. The laser-etched textured handguard provides an excellent grip without being overly aggressive. However, the feature that stands out most is the pistol grip design, which allows for a very high and secure grip on the rifle and noticeably improves weapon control.
Let’s go shoot with it… and bloody hell—this might be the best rifle I’ve ever shot. The safety, the trigger, the way it shoots flat—absolutely impressive!
Let’s go over some of the specific features of the MK1:
Build
The MK1 feels exceptionally solid. The handguard is sturdy with no noticeable deflection, and there is zero play between the lower and upper receiver. Despite its lightweight construction, the rifle is clearly built to withstand combat conditions.
Trigger
The Liberty 4.5 lbs two-stage trigger is excellent—perfect for both rapid fire and precision shooting. It clearly enhances the shooter’s ability to engage targets faster and improves overall combat accuracy.
Safety
The Badger ambidextrous safety, with a long lever on the strong side and a short lever on the weak side, operated smoothly and silently, yet remained very positive and tactile in engagement.
Magazine release
The magazine release worked flawlessly and is well protected by its fencing. Inserting fully loaded 30-round magazines with the bolt closed was easy and effortless.
Bolt catch
The oversized bolt catch was very easy to operate, and the surrounding fencing prevents it from snagging, even when the bolt is locked to the rear.
Heat Management
The heat management system with the titanium barrel nut and heat-reducing coating clearly works—the handguard became noticeably less hot than on other AR-15s during sustained fire.
Pistol Grip
The design of the MK1 pistol grip differs from most rifles that use aftermarket grips with beavertail backstraps. The MK1 instead features a very vertical grip, with the main change being the geometry around the trigger guard. This design allows for a very high grip, which drastically changes the way the rifle is held. I found it to be excellent.
Shootability
Shooting the MK1 is an absolute pleasure! Its lightweight build, balance, ergonomics, sleek design, and excellent trigger make the carbine exceptionally easy to handle, highly accurate, and remarkably flat-shooting.
Suppressor
The New Zealand-based Oceania Defence suppressors are produced from Inconel or titanium powder using Selective Laser Melting (3D metal printing). The tested 5.56 Ratchet Lock HyFlow Gen 5 Inconel suppressor weighs only 280 g and protrudes just 82 mm beyond the muzzle device. Thanks to the HyFlow design, bolt velocity and gas back-pressure in suppressed direct-impingement systems remain nearly identical to the unsuppressed configuration. The suppressor not only reduced sound and flash but also improved the shootability of the MK1, with gas back-pressure levels staying very low.
MagPod
The MagPod is an aftermarket floor-plate replacement for Magpul PMAGs. The base consists of a main forward support foot with 20 small embedded rubber bumps, plus two small solid support feet toward the rear. When used as magazine support, the MagPod significantly increases rifle stability and improves retention on bungee slings thanks to the integrated tab. I found it to be an excellent accessory and will continue testing it.
Conclusion
As you can probably guess, I was deeply impressed with the MK1! The SOLGW MK1 is not your typical AR-15 clone. It is a true combat weapon, packed with innovative features that make it feel like a next-generation rifle.
The MK1 is a lightweight, simple, sturdy, ergonomic, and sleekly designed carbine with excellent shooting characteristics, built to accommodate modern accessories such as LPVOs, thermal clip-ons, and lasers.
It sits at the price point of high-end AR-15 rifles, but given the level of innovation, premium materials, and advanced production processes, the cost appears fully justified. In addition, every Sons of Liberty Gun Works firearm is backed by an unlimited lifetime warranty, which further supports the value proposition.
For me, the SOLGW MK1 is the best 5.56 rifle I have ever fired, and I fully endorse NSWDG’s decision to adopt it.