Let me start from the beginning.
I was hired in 1989. I recall in the very early 90s shooting a full auto 20" AR platform rifle. It had the A1 type stock and triangle hand guards. I remember that day….clearly and dumping 20 round mags.
I eventually became the dept armorer (but SWAT stuff was not my responsibility). About 5 years ago, I observed a SWAT Officer assigned an A1 receiver AR as his rifle. I did a once over on the rifle and saw it was a Colt SP1 but it was not correct in that it had a heavy 16" 1/9 barrel and the hand guards were cheap A2 style. The officer wanted me to help him put optics on this rifle. The rifle concerned me as I knew there had been changes made so I got with the SWAT commander and they removed it from the line and I took possession of it. I stuck it in a corner with intentions of checking this firearm.
This rifle is full auto but missing parts (the hammer and trigger are semi auto). I recall reviewing our full auto paper work and seeing a Colt SP1 as full auto. I had asked Admin about the gun missing full auto parts and it turns out they were possibly removed by a shady officer some years back who was the armorer and suspected of stealing the parts from this gun. I told them that if this gun was originally a 20", he also took the barrel, hand guards and stock.
The stock is shiny hard plastic adjustable with two sling slots. The receiver extension was originally two position but it was drilled for multi positions.
Serial Number dates past 1982. SP16XXXX
Fast Forward to today
I dug the rifle out of my cabinet and I am glad I took it off line. The gas tube must be an original and or damaged as the build up for gas debris is heavy around the FSB and where the tube meets the gas key (meaning it was leaking gas). The A2 front sight based has cast markings and I am unable to remove the gas tube. Assuming built up debris has seized the tube in the front sight base. There is no raised area on the gas tube where it meets the gas key (as if trimmed). The barrel nut was also not very tight. I plan to pull the ATF paperwork to see what this gun was originally and now for my questions.
I doubt the PD will allow me to spin any money on this gun to try and return it to original, but I would like to get it close with least amount of cost.
Is there a resource for Mil Spec type surplus parts to get the SP1 close to original and safe too shoot? (Not necessarily Colt parts but decent mil spec stuff)
Hell, I don't know if any of the parts left on the gun are original Colt. The bolt carrier is full auto.
I heard this officer when he left employment with us, he got hired by another dept and later got fired for internal wrongdoing. Good for him! He was long gone before we discovered and suspected he took the full auto stuff from this SP1.
There is no one left at the dept to give me the history of this gun. It may have been evidence that was awarded to our dept by the courts. I am not able to verify this was the same rifle I shot in the early 90s.
thanks in advance
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Originally Posted by SW CQB 45
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