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I was hoping this post could get a little more traction. I bought one new then and would also be interested in a little more information on the transitional AR’s of them back in the day. From what I gather the past few years they are quite collectible.
Mine is 319xxx and can give a date, I ordered it for my 21 first birthday in late July 1985 that came in August. I Still have the receipt to know exactly the time then. When it was manufactured? Maybe a month or Two before it was shipped to my local gun shop. Mix of A1 and A2 parts. A1 upper with early port door and forward Teardrop assist. Glossy black furniture, and a and a peel washer behind the new a2 flash hider Hope that helps you some on info. Any other questions you may have just ask. |
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Originally Posted By waltherpp: I was hoping this post could get a little more traction. View Quote Maybe it's just TLDR I originally posted it the Retro forum where I think it belongs, but one of the Mods moved it here to the A2 forum almost immediately, before I even got all the info up. Thanks for your input, it confirms the info of other guns in the same serial number range. I assume your rifle has a Delta Ring and not a flat slip Ring? |
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Originally Posted By CapnMike: So did I. Maybe it's just TLDR I originally posted it the Retro forum where I think it belongs, but one of the Mods moved it here to the A2 forum almost immediately, before I even got all the info up. Thanks for your input, it confirms the info of other guns in the same serial number range. I assume your rifle has a Delta Ring and not a flat slip Ring? View Quote Yes it has the delta ring |
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A little different, don't know if it applies, but...
AR15 A2 HBAR Sporter Serial SP2304xx (so earlier than the Sporter 2s above?) HBAR, 1/7 A2 furniture standard slickside lower Delta ring A2 upper, A2 rear sight, small button forward assist, large pad ejection port cover I don't have the box, and don't know when it was purchased, sorry...I'd guess later 80s? It's complete, with bayonet lug. |
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"Oh, bother," said Pooh, as he pulled the pin on another grenade...
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Thanks for responding.
Interesting that the HBAR serial number range is below the Sporter IIs. Maybe Colt blocked off serial number ranges. The fact that your rifle has a small button forward assist and a bayonet lug would most likely date it to the late 80s like you said. |
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Yeah it would not surprise me to find out that Colt earmarked 2xx,xxx serial number ranges for HBARs and 3xxx,xxx number ranges for "standard' A2s. Don't know that for a fact, but if there were an HBAR Sporter database out there it'd help..
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"Oh, bother," said Pooh, as he pulled the pin on another grenade...
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That's a great book.
I have the first version. Unfortunately it documents right up to the end of the SP1 period and doesn't go into the Sporter II period. |
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Originally Posted By Evil_Ed: A little different, don't know if it applies, but... AR15 A2 HBAR Sporter Serial SP2304xx (so earlier than the Sporter 2s above?) HBAR, 1/7 A2 furniture standard slickside lower Delta ring A2 upper, A2 rear sight, small button forward assist, large pad ejection port cover I don't have the box, and don't know when it was purchased, sorry...I'd guess later 80s? It's complete, with bayonet lug. View Quote I recently picked a Green Label R6600 AR15A2 HBAR Sporter also. My first factory made AR (outside Govt service)! All my others starting in 87' I've built. SP2241xx HBAR, 20" C MP 1/7, FSB w/bayonet lug, A2 flash hinder A2 funiture Slickside lower Delta Ring A2 upper, A2 rear sight, Large D Forward Assist Thinking mine is from 87-88'. Sling that came with it not USGI (I corrected that) but cleaning kit in buttstock. Two Colt black follower 20 rd mags. No box or manual. C marked Bolt carrier shaved down. No sear block in lower. Large screwed front pivot pin. R6600s made 86-89'. The R6600K model came with the Colt .22LR conversion. In 1990 the Blue Labels came out. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22’&23' Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21' |
Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: I recently picked a Green Label R6600 AR15A2 HBAR Sporter also. My first factory made AR (outside Govt service)! All my others starting in 87' I've built. SP2241xx HBAR, 20" 1/7, FSB w/bayonet lug A2 funiture Slickside lower Delta Ring A2 upper, A2 rear sight, Large D Forward Assist Thinking mine is from 87-88'. Sling that came with it not USGI (I corrected that) but cleaning kit in buttstock. Two Colt black follower 20 rd mags. No box or manual. Bolt carrier shaved down. No sear block in lower. Large screwed front pivot pin. R6600s made 86-89'. The R6600K model came with the Colt .22LR conversion. In 1990 the Blue Labels came out. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_0136_jpeg-3121945.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_2663_jpeg-3121946.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_2661_jpeg-3121947.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_2565_jpeg-3121948.JPG View Quote Seeing the serial number and that mine has the small button, that probably tracks...IIRC the large button/D-shaped buttons were earlier in the evolution and later they went to the smaller button forward assist. My dad changed the sling on his and put the "jungle" sling kit on it (had a piece of bent wire that went around the front sight post that let you mount the sling to that). I don't know what factory mags it came with originally, probably the 20s. My dad also has a factory Colt scope on the handle...don't know if it's a 3x or 4x though. Thanks! |
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"Oh, bother," said Pooh, as he pulled the pin on another grenade...
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Yup, that's it, has the printed sheet with it and all IIRC but I'd need to find it/dig it out again.
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"Oh, bother," said Pooh, as he pulled the pin on another grenade...
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Proud member of Team Ranstad
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Originally Posted By DonaldJ3637: Here's one I picked up years ago. https://i.imgur.com/fZczb4I.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/Y9S0qYl.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/rsAdmZy.jpeg View Quote Do you think that port door is original? Maybe it was replaced at some point? I doubt it as the gun looks very original and everything else fits with what I have observed. |
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Just came across 344213 on Gunbroker.
Its interesting for 2 reasons. 1) It's the lowest serial number Target sight (A2) upper I have seen. 2) It has a Colt Archive letter stating the date of Manufacture was 11/1987 Thats the first date I have seen other than the 1994 guns and 1984/1985. Its also the second Rifle I have observed with an A2 upper and a Big D forward assist around that serial number range. |
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I also came across 302,869, which is the lowest serial number I have observed, with the possible exception of the Rifle in SWAT Magazine that I can't read the serial number on.
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It's worth noting that all the "C7" upper Sporter 2s I have observed had large pad port doors and Big D Forward Assists.
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I have a GS prefix, at the time you could find exactly jack and s--t about the GS prefix, dating it, or anything else.
No bayo lug, but had the flash hider, no blocks of any type, 1/2 moon carrier, came with a .22 Colt conversion, ''Colt armored'' scope and carry handle mount and a Colt cheekpiece. 1/7 twist, still have it to this day. Think I bought it in 93 or 94 just before the ban went into effect. They [''preban'' AR's] doubled in price as soon as it passed. |
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Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the other have all been destroyed... |
Those "Government" guns are very interesting.
I bought a GC Government Carbine in 1991-1992. Army sent me to Germany in 1993. I DEROSED in March of 1995, walked into a gun store and thought "what the fuck happened"??? Thumbhole stocks everywhere.. |
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Strength Determination Merciless Forever
PA, USA
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I'll pull mine out and post pictures.
I've told the story many times. I got a screaming deal on mine because the Cabela's gun library thought it was a mix master. |
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Strength Determination Merciless Forever
PA, USA
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Great post! These were the AR’s I had and we’re around, back in the day👍🏼
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"It just gets that much more exciting when it has a carry handle on it. Or tiger stripes. If you have both, then you have the John Wayne in the Green Berets size of a big win."
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Originally Posted By Into_the_Void: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/220444/1000005381_jpg-3194441.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/220444/1000005380_jpg-3194442.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/220444/1000005379_jpg-3194443.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/220444/1000005382_jpg-3194444.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/220444/1000005383_jpg-3194445.JPG View Quote I didn't think those were changed till later on in the serial number run. Must be like the slip rings, they just show up in a random place. |
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Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the other have all been destroyed... |
i have a sporter2 as well its the r6500 version.
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If you share the first 3 of the serial number and the upper configuration of your rifle, I'll add it to the list
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We are living in a Tom Clancy novel
Over 50 and reputed to be a formidable brigand https://hr1871.com/ |
Originally Posted By CapnMike: This Sporter II showed up on Gunbroker recently. Serial number 354,485 Its interesting because it's the second one on my list that has a c7 upper and an A2 Forward Assist within a couple of hundred serial numbers of each other. The other is 354,298 It also seems very original, including the green label box. These are very late in the Serial number run that ended at 360,000 and After A2 target sight uppers had started to be used. Somebody probably found a bin of C7 uppers and decided to use them up with the existing A2 Forward assists instead of the Big Ds, which had probably run out by that time. https://i.postimg.cc/pLB5Krm1/E20-B7-D03-C4-B7-4-C98-A585-C8-AE245-FC0-D2.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/7PpzkpvX/BB3-E1017-CFEF-4392-90-BE-36987-CEB9-B3-D.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/WpDZxsyh/39-F00-BA4-8826-4-C89-85-A8-4-B66211-F18-B1.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/0yvJ6Dyw/49-BB72-A5-B801-45-F2-9-B5-A-BC07-E93-CDE93.jpg View Quote Not a C7 upper but older A1. Canadians hadn’t adopted the C7 rifle at this time. Colt continued to use up older A1 uppers but if they had A2 round handguards called them A2 rifles |
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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24' Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21' |
Originally Posted By mike_nds: I remember lusting after the "new" A2 big time. Still have this magazine. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/91277/SWAT_magazine-288437.jpg View Quote Wish I could read the serial number off that Rifle. I suspect it's one of the first Sporter IIs. |
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Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: Not a C7 upper but older A1. Canadians hadn't adopted the C7 rifle at this time. Colt continued to use up older A1 uppers but if they had A2 round handguards called them A2 rifles View Quote Colt may even have labeled them "A2 uppers with field sights" at one point. I use the incorrect term "C7" for the sake of brevity. |
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I had one of Sporter II rifles in the late 1980s, IIRC, with A1 sights and 1/7 barrel. Very accurate rifle.
Sold it at the beginning of the semi-auto assault weapon ban, as I wanted a fully adjustable rear sight for high power competition. |
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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24' Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21' |
Mine was bought in 1990. My first AR. A2 upper. No bayonet lug. Small pins. Raised fence. It had a white label on the box (cruelly disposed of by a vengeful woman). I'll update later w serial #.
IIRC it's a 6551. Govt profile barrel. |
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Can't, Won't, let them infringe me! If I'm caught, "Boys! Avenge me!"
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Originally Posted By CapnMike: The Rifle I thought we were talking about, 354,485, does in fact have a brass deflector and A1 (field) sights. https://i.postimg.cc/WpDZxsyh/39-F00-BA4-8826-4-C89-85-A8-4-B66211-F18-B1.jpg View Quote Then I stand corrected. CD |
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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24' Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21' |
I appreciate you looking CD, you probably forgot more about these guns than most of us will ever know.
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I have Serial # SP 354604. It has small Forward assist Button. Is that still correct?
Thanks. |
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Yes, It's correct.
Around 350,000, Colt seems to have run out of big button forward assists. I refer to them as A2 F/A on my database. is your upper a C7 or an A2? There seems to be a mix around that number. |
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