New Colt Retro(s) Soon ... ???

[GRA556]

The last report was that they were supposed to be distributed starting in July. I guess it is all up to how fast US Ordnance can get them produced and out to Colt for distribution.

Any information as to why Colt themselves are not producing these? Seems like they would still have the original tooling.

[Renegade04]

Any information as to why Colt themselves are not producing these? Seems like they would still have the original tooling.

No info in that regard, but it is probably because Colt chose to farm out this project just like they have been doing with other production AR in the past several years so as to not interrupt their current production setup. Besides, it is highly possible that Colt is not producing many of the parts for these rifles. Of course, there are no details coming from Colt or US Ordnance as to how components are made by Colt and how many are made by other companies.

[GRA556]

No info in that regard, but it is probably because Colt chose to farm out this project just like they have been doing with other production AR in the past several years so as to not interrupt their current production setup. Besides, it is highly possible that Colt is not producing many of the parts for these rifles. Of course, there are no details coming from Colt or US Ordnance as to how components are made by Colt and how many are made by other companies.

Sounds like it may not be worth the hassle unless you're a die-hard collector. I'll have to see one first. I still think they should offer to build as many as they can sell.

[Renegade04]

Sounds like it may no the worth the hassle unless you're a die-hard collector. I'll have to see one first. I still think they should offer to build as many as they can sell.

One more thing. If they are using the same CH forge code upper as they have used in the M16A1 Reissues that have been at shows, it is incorrect for the era of M16A1 they are having built. CH forge code uppers did not appear until 1974. Forge code uppers did not appear until 1972 (CK and a few CM). The era of M16A1 they are having built would not have had any forge codes as, during that era, they used the same upper as the XM16E1.

[GRA556]

One more thing. If they are using the same CH forge code upper as they have used in the M16A1 Reissues that have been at shows, it is incorrect for the era of M16A1 they are having built. CH forge code uppers did not appear until 1974. Forge code uppers did not appear until 1972 (CK and a few CM). The era of M16A1 they are having built would not have had any forge codes as, during that era, they used the same upper as the XM16E1.

Thanks for putting those finite details out here because I don't know if a whole lot of folks know all those smaller details.

[ClassIIIGunsmith]

One more thing. If they are using the same CH forge code upper as they have used in the M16A1 Reissues that have been at shows, it is incorrect for the era of M16A1 they are having built. CH forge code uppers did not appear until 1974. Forge code uppers did not appear until 1972 (CK and a few CM). The era of M16A1 they are having built would not have had any forge codes as, during that era, they used the same upper as the XM16E1.

I'm betting that they would do something like that so people like us could quickly ID it as not an original and keep them true. That's my thought but only they know.

[Renegade04]

I'm betting that they would do something like that so people like us could quickly ID it as not an original and keep them true. That's my thought but only they know.

Who knows? To me, if you are going to make a reproduction and limited edition of a service rifle from a certain era, you want the details correct for that era.

This is a clone of an early M16A1 (circa 1967) that I recently finished. The same era that Colt is doing theirs from.





Other than the marking on the left side of the receiver, this is what theirs should look like. Note that the upper has no forge codes.

[SteyrAUG]

Who knows? To me, if you are going to make a reproduction and limited edition of a service rifle from a certain era, you want the details correct for that era.

This is a clone of an early M16A1 (circa 1967) that I recently finished. The same era that Colt is doing theirs from.

Other than the marking on the left side of the receiver, this is what theirs should look like. Note that the upper has no forge codes.

My only hope is that everything is Colt "quality" and not another Expanse rifle. I can forgive a lot of things like forge codes, so long as the Colt rollmarks are correct and the configuration is accurate I try not to get to worked up over fine line details.

But if it's just another half ass rifle that "resembles" early Colt models I might be better off building completely accurate reproductions with quality "non Colt" parts. I'm hoping they don't mess this up, it was my intention to buy every Colt "reissue" they offered.

[Renegade04]

My only hope is that everything is Colt "quality" and not another Expanse rifle. I can forgive a lot of things like forge codes, so long as the Colt rollmarks are correct and the configuration is accurate I try not to get to worked up over fine line details.

But if it's just another half ass rifle that "resembles" early Colt models I might be better off building completely accurate reproductions with quality "non Colt" parts. I'm hoping they don't mess this up, it was my intention to buy every Colt "reissue" they offered.

There is no telling what is real Colt parts and what is not on these Reissues. I suspect that there are a lot of parts sourced from other manufacturers and are marked Colt. A1 profile lowers are made by a couple companies. There are a few companies that do the correct engravings/stampings. I do not know if Colt still has their original M16A1 lower receiver and 603 upper molds. Only US Ordnance and Colt know who's products are being used. Since it appears that no one has gotten their hands on an actual production Reissue, the jury is still out on whether these are worth the ridiculous price tag or not. As I have said before, they are priced about $1K above what they should be.

[GRA556]

As I have said before, they are priced about $1K above what they should be.

This was my same impression.

I also think they should build as many as they can sell instead of capping production at a predetermined number of units.