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Posted: 7/15/2026 2:21:16 PM EDT
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I’ve consolidated my previous thread to make it more reader friendly. The more I look and learn, the more I think this is an H&R kit, but H&R experts please comment one way or the other. Please be advised, the lower in the pics is H&R/PSA/commercial. Everything else is from the kit. The thumbnails at post image re working for me. I’ll need assistance if these aren’t showing and working for others. The upper has front and rear forging flash.   There are no forging marks near the port door. See also port door and left side of upper. The lugs are not rebated and are anodized like 5e rest of the upper.   The barrel has “MP” between the front sight tower legs oriented right side up. There is a “C” stamped on the bottom of the barrel near the flash hider.   The front sight base is unmarked with front and rear forge flashing.   Front sight script:  Rear sight markings and script:   Bolt carrier is unmarked.     Bolt has Siamese “MP” read left to right looking at bolt with extractor end on right.  Charging handle is unmarked.    Pistol grip has circled “3”. See also other features of buttstock, pistol grip, handguards, and buffer tube.     Nose of buttstock  Lower small parts   Everything assembled on H&R/PSA/commercial lower   |
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Beautiful kit and great build. H&R rifles did have the “MP” on the barrel the right way up toward the end of production. I would have to look through my reference pics to see when that switched. To the best of my recollection the font on your front sight base matches my H&R upper. Are the lower parts from the kit as well? Can’t say for certain from the pics but the mag catch looks to have the rounded edges that are characteristic of H&R. |
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Wish I could help, but there’s too much going on in Colt world, which I try my best to be knowledgeable about. Not enough storage for GM and H&R lol Nice kit though! |
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"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"
“So Freedom Will Reign” / “SEEK! STRIKE! DESTROY!” / “Led By Love Of Country!”
Very cool, thanks for posting. Things that stand out:
Consensus seems to be that GM marked their bolts siamesed "MP" one direction and H&R marked them siamesed "MP" the other direction but I can never remember which direction. A quick look on the tacked GM / H&R thread shows a few probable GM bolts with the marks running the other orientation. Is this consensus now? Questions: Is there a number cast on the back side of the forward assist like this?  Are there any tool marks on the right side of the charging handle? These ones are probably GM charging handles. Two things to look for: 1) the small flat area mid height at the widest point of the charging handle 2) The deburring / grinder marks along the bottom edge  Way down on the bayonet lug is there a forging mark on the front sight block like this one? This is thought to be a GM. (your picture has a shadow in the flash right in that area)  Thanks for posting! |
From my reference pics of original H&R rifles:
Kind of hard to pinpoint where the change was made with that large of a gap. I wish I had some in the 80,000-200,000 range. From the same references, H&R was using the large firing pin retainer hole carriers and carriers with the vertically stacked "MP" markings until at least 2070306. I am not sure when in the production run they changed bolts/carriers and staking style. But your kit and bolt would have been later in the production run based on that and the barrel markings. Earlier style of H&R bolt:  The front sight base on my H&R upper has the same sight direction markings as yours, with "UP" in that wide font. MP markings between the legs of the sight base are upside down on the left side of the barrel on my example. |
Hello Svensson, does your carrier have this "step" along the left and right sides of the carrier? (I'm borrowing your picture tigerhound) Originally Posted By Svensson: From my reference pics of original H&R rifles:
Kind of hard to pinpoint where the change was made with that large of a gap. I wish I had some in the 80,000-200,000 range. From the same references, H&R was using the large firing pin retainer hole carriers and carriers with the vertically stacked "MP" markings until at least 2070306. I am not sure when in the production run they changed bolts/carriers and staking style. But your kit and bolt would have been later in the production run based on that and the barrel markings. Earlier style of H&R bolt: https://i.imgur.com/dyN01KHl.jpeg The front sight base on my H&R upper has the same sight direction markings as yours, with "UP" in that wide font. MP markings between the legs of the sight base are upside down on the left side of the barrel on my example. |
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“Are there any tool marks on the right side of the charging handle? These ones are probably GM charging handles. Two things to look for: 1) the small flat area mid height at the widest point of the charging handle 2) The deburring / grinder marks along the bottom edge” I found no tool marks on the rear sides of the charging handle. Didn’t notice any deburring/grinder marks on the bottom edge, but not sure if I’m looking in the right spot.  |
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Originally Posted By somebob: Hello Svensson, does your carrier have this "step" along the left and right sides of the carrier? (I'm borrowing your picture tigerhound) https://i.imgur.com/LwdiEwv.jpeg @somebob, here are a few pictures of my carrier and a couple of known early (large firing pin retainer hole) H&R carriers. I believe this is an early H&R based on the machining marks compared to these examples. There is a slight "step" on the carrier but not as pronounced as the later ones. The gas key has the later staking style, so it was either manufactured around when they made that switch (from my H&R references, sometime between 2070306 and 2227674 -- late 1969 - early 1970?) or was replaced after manufacture.   2014911   Note the very slight "step" in this photo  2070306 Similar machining marks and less pronounced "step" on the carrier   All of the carriers I have seen in original rifles (past 2227674) are the later style with the very pronounced "step" on both sides. I still need to find a proper late H&R carrier to go with the multiple loose bolts I have. Originally Posted By tigerhound: “Are there any tool marks on the right side of the charging handle? These ones are probably GM charging handles. Two things to look for: 1) the small flat area mid height at the widest point of the charging handle 2) The deburring / grinder marks along the bottom edge” I found no tool marks on the rear sides of the charging handle. Didn’t notice any deburring/grinder marks on the bottom edge, but not sure if I’m looking in the right spot. https://i.postimg.cc/K3SpWt60/IMG-3861.jpg @tigerhound, what does the back of your forward assist look like? Here's my H&R: 
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