Mossberg has teamed up with Christian Craighead to produce a new and visually striking Shockwave variant with both premium design elements and distinctive aesthetics.
Craighead, a former British SAS commando known as “Obi Wan Nairobi” for his one-man response in 2019 when Al-Shebab terrorists attacked the mall in Nairobi, Kenya, had direct input on the design of the new Mossberg 590 Bliksem.
Not technically a shotgun, the NFA-compliant Shockwave-gripped 12-gauge cylinder bore firearm features a 14.375-inch heavy-walled barrel, a 5+1 capacity with 2.75-inch shells, and bead sight with a top Picatinny rail for optics.
The aesthetics are off the charts with this one, as it runs a Rhodesian Brushstoke camo, an AfterShock grip with QD point, and a corn cob forend with a leather strap.
Its compact size (26.37 inches overall) and maneuverability are complemented by a clean-out magazine tube, twin action bars, ambidextrous safety, anti-jam elevator, and positive steel-to-steel lockup, delivering the smooth, dependable operation expected from Mossy’s legendary 590 platform. (Photos: Mossberg)
The bird’s head AfterShock pistol grip is shaped to provide a firm grip and to help minimize felt recoil while the leather-strapped forend keeps the lead hand clear of the muzzle when cycling the action.
The firearm comes with an Esstac removable receiver-mounted 6-shell carrier card and a convenient clean-out magazine tube with screw-off cap for ease of maintenance.
“Mossberg understands function over flash, and that’s why this collaboration worked,” commented Christian Craighead. “We designed the 590 Bliksem to be practical, durable, intuitive, and some might say most importantly, cool – qualities that matter far more than marketing lines. It’s a solid bit of hardware.”
The Special Edition 590 Bliksem has an MSRP of $728. The less cool standard Shockwave 590 runs about $200 less.
