Originally Posted by
OH58D
My current retro project is a recreation of what I was issued at Fort Knox in 1978. It was an M16A1 with a trapdoor buttstock and was marked M-16A1 with the hyphen, Colt Logo but no Colt wording and just Property of US Govt. I am guessing it was a later Colt 603 but I don't recall any DOD Acceptance stamp on it at all. So would a 603 with the trapdoor be a 1970's issued weapon? That same summer of 1978 I also was issued a Hydra-Matic in the 2,000,000.00 serial number range. Fun times.
In 1984-1985 in Central America, I carried a well worn XM177E2 in my aircraft, and it had a faint outline of the DOD acceptance stamp on the front of the mag well. They used some kind of waterproof white ink, but it wore off it seems.
Colt did not start using the E type stock (w/trapdoor) until 1971 and continued using through 1982 when production on the M16A1 ended. Also, the fact that it only had the Colt logo followed by M-16A1 and not "COLT AR-15" is indicative of a latter 1970s model. As far as acceptance stamps go, if you are going to build this in an "as new" condition, then an acceptance stamp may be warranted. If you are going to distress it as though it had several years of use, you could apply an acceptance stamp, but distress is along with the rest of the finishes. Al of my M16A1 clone builds do not have acceptance stamps as I distress them to give that battlefield pickup look with the exception of one and it is a clone of a re-arsenaled version.
Another thing to pay attention to is the forge code on the upper receiver. No forge code uppers were used up until 1971. In 1972-73, they used CK (and some CM) forge codes. In 1974-1982, they had CH forge codes.
Last edited by Renegade04; 08-15-20 at 21:35.
"A Bad Day At The Range Is Better Than A Great Day Working"
USMC Force Recon 1978-1984
US Air Force Res. 1995-2004 (Air Transportation)
M16/AR15 shooter since 1978, gun collector and AR builder since 2004
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