mkmckinley
06-24-11, 16:12
The MK-12 SPR is basically a M-16 that's been hot-rodded into a lightweight, mid-range sniper rifle:
44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_12_Special_Purpose_Rifle
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_12_Special_Purpose_Rifle)
In addition to being an effective tool from a practical standpoint, I've always loved the Mk-18 because it has the cool-new-toy factor as well as the piece-of-history factor. Most of the Mk-12 SPRs were built on old lower receivers that the armorers had lying around. It's normal to see Mk-12s with old M-16A1 receivers, which is pretty sweet in its own right, however we were doing some inventories at work last week and I noticed something even better: a Mk-12 built on an XM-16 E1 lower receiver. It even has the original bakelite, flat front pistol grip. As far as I know a lower marked XM-16 E1 would be built pre-1967. This one looks to have seen quite a bit of use so it may have been used on one of the first ARs in service. I'm sure there are members on here that could tell us a little more about that. Anyway, on to the pics. Sorry for the crappy iPhone quality, it was all I had on me at the time. I hope you enjoy them.
http://i.imgur.com/J6bxR.jpg
Here you can make out the rollmark. "COLT AR-15/PROPERTY U.S. GOVERNMENT/XM-16 E1/CAL. 5.56 MM."
http://i.imgur.com/e3BHz.jpg
Here's a view of the old-school pistol grip.
http://i.imgur.com/THSt8.jpg
Egads, lower receiver anno doesn't match the upper! It couldn't possibly function, I guess we should send this one back to Crane.
And just for fun here's an XM-16 E1 training video from 1966 I found on the net: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e57_1188339173
44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_12_Special_Purpose_Rifle
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_12_Special_Purpose_Rifle)
In addition to being an effective tool from a practical standpoint, I've always loved the Mk-18 because it has the cool-new-toy factor as well as the piece-of-history factor. Most of the Mk-12 SPRs were built on old lower receivers that the armorers had lying around. It's normal to see Mk-12s with old M-16A1 receivers, which is pretty sweet in its own right, however we were doing some inventories at work last week and I noticed something even better: a Mk-12 built on an XM-16 E1 lower receiver. It even has the original bakelite, flat front pistol grip. As far as I know a lower marked XM-16 E1 would be built pre-1967. This one looks to have seen quite a bit of use so it may have been used on one of the first ARs in service. I'm sure there are members on here that could tell us a little more about that. Anyway, on to the pics. Sorry for the crappy iPhone quality, it was all I had on me at the time. I hope you enjoy them.
http://i.imgur.com/J6bxR.jpg
Here you can make out the rollmark. "COLT AR-15/PROPERTY U.S. GOVERNMENT/XM-16 E1/CAL. 5.56 MM."
http://i.imgur.com/e3BHz.jpg
Here's a view of the old-school pistol grip.
http://i.imgur.com/THSt8.jpg
Egads, lower receiver anno doesn't match the upper! It couldn't possibly function, I guess we should send this one back to Crane.
And just for fun here's an XM-16 E1 training video from 1966 I found on the net: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e57_1188339173