"Remodeled" Fort

[Tom Allen]

fonetik2003 mentioned a remodeled version of the Fort, which is in turn, a stainless steel version of the CB3000. Here is a link to one place offering that device:

http://www.bdsmstore.com/productcart/pc/product1247.asp

Frankly, I'm amazed that a company could not only rip-off a knock-off, but actually make it worse.

The device itself is made of pewter (!), and the hinged cuff rings are made of, well, something that's not stainless. The chrome plating might hold up for play, but any dings or scratches will cause the base metal to corrode, and the chrome will flake off. The hinged rings look like they will pinch at both the bottom and top, and the way the lock attaches is just begging for stability issues.

Again, for weekend play it might be alright, although there are certainly better options in that price range. Personally, I wouldn't wear that thing if they gave it to me for free.

[MikeyLikes]

I read the description of the device before reading your comments, and I was thinking along the same lines while reading about the device. While it looks sharp, it is not likely to stand up to the demands of full time wearing.

[Tom Allen]

Yeah, it really bothers me that a company will invest the time and money to copy something, but won't invest just a little more in order to improve it. For example, the original Fort is a very close copy of the CB3k. With just a little more effort, they could have made the device lighter, and (more importantly) made better fitting cuff rings. I mean, they copied one of the worst features about that device - the extended section of the cuff ring that causes the chafing and pinching.

On top of that, the cage is cast in material as thick as the plastic, when they could have used material half the thickness. I mean, I love the look of the thing, but it's really difficult to wear for long periods.

And the Chinese company made the cuff rings out of some copper/zinc "white metal" alloy that corrodes and leaves your skin stained when he plating rubs off. The knock-off Fort makes the entire freakin' device out of pewter. In the US and UK, those alloys no longer use lead (or very little), but who knows how much is in the Chinese version?