When was the picatinny railed flat top AR adopted?

[TiroFijo]

Was it in 1994 with the M16A3/M4 carbine? Or before?

Were there any transitional models prior to military adoption?

Was Colt the originator of these uppers, or???

Thanks in advance :)

[tkoglman]

It was in the fall of 1994 when I was with the 22nd MEU(SOC) that I first saw any. Our scout/sniper platoon was issued M16A2's with flat top receivers for the spotters. I think the lowers were still roll-marked as M16A2's, so I'm not sure what the official designation was. I can't even remember what type of optics were placed on them. Our Force Recon team was issued M4's with standard A2 uppers. Three years later, I commanded the parent company of the scout/sniper platoon, but by then the flat tops were gone and the spotters only had M16A2's. When I transitioned to the reserves, we didn't see any M16A4's until after 2004, I believe. This is what I saw in the Marines. I have no idea when the Army started using flat tops.

[TiroFijo]

It was in the fall of 1994 when I was with the 22nd MEU(SOC) that I first saw any. Our scout/sniper platoon was issued M16A2's with flat top receivers for the spotters. I think the lowers were still roll-marked as M16A2's, so I'm not sure what the official designation was. I can't even remember what type of optics were placed on them. Our Force Recon team was issued M4's with standard A2 uppers. Three years later, I commanded the parent company of the scout/sniper platoon, but by then the flat tops were gone and the spotters only had M16A2's. When I transitioned to the reserves, we didn't see any M16A4's until after 2004, I believe. This is what I saw in the Marines. I have no idea when the Army started using flat tops.

Wow, so you saw the fabled M4 with A2 uppers... :) Were they similar to later M4s, except for the A2 carry handle, or more similar to the previous colt M727 (military safe-semi-auto version of the CAR)?

[redmist]

Wow, so you saw the fabled M4 with A2 uppers... :) Were they similar to later M4s, except for the A2 carry handle, or more similar to the previous colt M727 (military safe-semi-auto version of the CAR)?

First time I saw an M-4 style rifle with a detachable handle was aboard the U.S.S. Belleau Wood, with the 31st MEUSOC around 1999, and I swear to god it was a F/A Bushmaster. I fired it off the deck at some trash. I have a picture floating around some place.

[tkoglman]

Wow, so you saw the fabled M4 with A2 uppers... :) Were they similar to later M4s, except for the A2 carry handle, or more similar to the previous colt M727 (military safe-semi-auto version of the CAR)?

They were similar to the later M4's. The barrels had the M4 cut for the M203 and the A2 flash hider. The hand guards were the narrow CAR-style along with the butt stocks. They were Colt lowers, and I swear I remember that they were roll-marked M4 Carbine.