M16a1 or ?

[Grease Gunner]

Hello all:

I have a friend who is buying a M16a1 according to him

what bothers me is the photos. I thought a M16a1 was a fixed carry handle early M16 variant

this one has a removeable carry handle upper which I think is wrong

2. ALso, the serial is a 6 digit one .Seems very early

3. the receiver is marked AR-15 and M16a1 and its a little faded where a lot of lettering is gone

4. serial is 788,000 serial number which is pretty early

anything you can give me input on this is appreciated

serial is blotted out for privacy

 

 

 

 

 

thanks

 

Haris

Edited October 23, 2020 by Grease Gunner

[DougStump]

It looks to me like a refinished M16A1 receiver, everything else is off of an M4 carbine.

[inertord]

Looks possibly remanufactured (Welded Halves) at step between magazine catch and hammer pin, refinished in Norrell Moly Resin? Look on the ledge under the pistol grip for possible manufacturers markings (John Norrell, Neal Smith, etc.).

[Tman]

Have the owner take the grip off and take pics of the grip boss. My H&R is a Stemple reman and that’s where he marked them.

[Frank I.]

John Norrell

rewelded a lot of M16 receivers, there is an article on them in the old Fire Power magazine...

[MG08]

SN is in an ok range for early M16A1, ( I have a lot of pics of early guns markings we used ) so markings are "ok". BUT - as noted by others the upper and other parts are all from a newer M4ish Colt gun - even a just off a semi. I would look for reweld indication . It looks highly suspicious unless it is disclosed as such. I guess it depends on what is disclosed / claimed and how much it costs. I have a USGI M16A1 that is not rewelded, and it is not buffed out like that. Photo below is a early M16 US GVT property gun we used - this survived RVN, was turned into a training gun and has the crap beat out of it for the last 30 years. note difference in "wear" on markings. on the 2nd one, look at the rear markings and compare - this is an M16A2 I have here - factory gun I got from a PD in WI. The safe semi auto markings look remarked as they area different size . Let us know what you find out .

Brian

 

 

[Colt Chopper]

What does the NFA paperwork state as "Manufacturer" and is there anything stated in the "Additional Information" area?

 

I have an AR-15, model XM16E2 that lists Colt as manufacture, but has "Stemple" in the additional information area.

 

So it is a Re-Weld. Runs flawless, but definitely effects end value. IMHO

[NFA amnesty]

Be careful of Form 4 info. Mine lists Hydra Matic Div GM Corp as the manufacturer but it is a re-weld. Has no info on Form 4 regarding who "manufactured" it besides GM. No identifying marks on the weapon regarding who did the work.

Edited December 21, 2020 by NFA amnesty

[villafuego]

Hello all:

I have a friend who is buying a M16a1 according to him

what bothers me is the photos. I thought a M16a1 was a fixed carry handle early M16 variant

this one has a removeable carry handle upper which I think is wrong

2. ALso, the serial is a 6 digit one .Seems very early

3. the receiver is marked AR-15 and M16a1 and its a little faded where a lot of lettering is gone

4. serial is 788,000 serial number which is pretty early

anything you can give me input on this is appreciated

serial is blotted out for privacy

 

 

 

 

 

thanks

 

Haris

Thats 100% a John Norrell reweld. Notice the (original) stamped markings on the magwell vs the engraved Colt markings on the (l) side of the receiver.

 

Every Norrell gun I've ever seen had the re-engraved markings exactly as pictured