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Posted: 7/5/2008 6:56:42 AM EDT
| After I saw the 656 pic that cracked cornish posted, I was wondering if it is possible to find 656 uppers. Anyone know? How about original Leatherwood ART scopes (the new Leatherwood/Hi-Lux models don't count)? |
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Unless that was a flip-up rear sight, there's no way it would have worked. It will shoot about 5' low at 100yrds like that.  I doubt that was a dedicated forging, probably cut and welded. ETA; has anyone been to the Knight's Armament museum and looked at it up close? |
I saw the hooded FSB at a funshow several years ago, but thought it was aftermarket, not knowing what I do now.  I've never seen a 656 upper, but many years back remember seeing someone (Sarco maybe?) had them in a SGN ad, and I remember thinking "Why the hell would someone want one of those?" I have a new rule - if it's weird, and I can afford it, buy it!
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The rear sight is something similar to the KAC 300m BUIS that flips up. the aperature is NOT on the adjustment screw, it is elevated |
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One of these uppers sold over on anotehr board for big bucks a couple years ago in stripped form. I was too late in getting it. Th seller said it went to a Texas collection. The seller said it came from the collection of a Colt engineer who helped design the flat top uppers (Dick Swann?). I looked at one close up in the Bob Miller (TBR collection) estate back in 1994. The upper was made out of a combination of bar stock and a standard receiver. It was masterfully welded together. The scope is a Realist Auto Raneg 3x9 scope with Auto Range scope mount. They are hard to get and find in decent shape. Designed by Jim Leatherwood, they were mounted on all sorts of great Vietnam era hardware. Reed knight has 3 complete rifles, one with suppressor. The front sight is actually a National Match modification, which is easily done with talent and the right tools. It was documented in American Rifleman in the 1960's. A great piece, and from what I understand one of two types.....low receiver mounts and high receiver mounts........ |
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Leatherwood still makes a scope that is very close in looks and function to the original ARTs - they are made in China now, but I'd still like one. Around $300 last I checked. Seems like an enterprising fabricator could make one up using a flattop upper, some aluminum stock and a TIG. A YHM A1style flip up sight might work, but the fabrication would take a full shop and some time, neither of which do I have... ETA: Can anyone tell me what that weird vertical assembly is just behind the port door that almost looks like it ties the upper and lower receiver together via a pin? It seems to be all on the upper though - it just happens to line up with the magwell line on the lower. Could it have been to help keep the receiver from moving laterally? Maybe a single shot defeat mechanism? |
I'd like an original Leatherwood, but those go for $1500 and up when you can find one, which isn't often. I will never have that much to spend on a scope, so I'm going to settle for one of the new ones like you mention, and even that is stretching it for me. Midway has them for $270. I lucked out and got one on GB for $200. I'm using a Leatherwood carry handle mount, since it is too long for most of the other available carry handle mounts. I don't have it together yet, but will post pics when I do. Here is the mount I'm talking about, except mine is going on an A1 upper:  ETA: Building a 656 upper is WAAY beyond my competence... |
So VAAR you're doing something along the lines of a 655 then?  And Morg I think the "pin" you see in the 656 pic, is just some weird lighting effect off of the standard reinforcement behind the ejection port |
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