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Posted: 10/29/2005 11:05:03 AM EDT
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I recently picked up a 6721 carbine that I had ordered a while back. I was shocked at the quality of the rifle from a cosmetic perspective. I didn't buy this to be a safe queen, if I did I would be irate. In all my years of buying AR15's from many diferent manufacturers, I have NEVER seen a rifle come from the factory like this. One of the biggest things I noticed was the dings , dents, gouges, pits, and scrapes, UNDER the anodized finish. It looks like someone had a sword fight with the upper and lower, and barrel prior to finishing. There are a lot of metal shavings near the sling swivel and FSB, the carry handle looks like it was corroded and then painted, and the list goes on. Apparently, Colt must feel that if it's going to a PD, it's gonna look like this thing after a week anyways. I was also able to look at several 6721's, and almost a dozen 6520's. The 6520's looked a little better, but overall unlike anything I have ever seen put out by Colt. It looks like retards assembled all of these rifles. You dont have to tell me if yours looks fine, I believe there must be some nice ones. I'm wondering if any of you have experienced what I have with you Colt? BTW, these rifles came directly from Colt. |
I will say that ALL AR's CAN look like this. Remember that AR's were never designed to be pretty (like a nice O/U shotgun). A recent dealer told me that they got in a Colt barrel and that the FSB was canted all the way to the 2 o'clock position. NO MANUFACTURER IS PERFECT. C4 |
| Colt's primary customers (read: mil/leo) aren't as concerned with cosmetics as most of us are. They want guns that run and Colts do that. I have noticed a correlation, though, between cosmetics and forge codes. What is the forge code behind your brass deflector? |
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C4 - I know noone is perfect. It was just surprising to see this from Colt. It reminded me of the Bushmasters many years ago that looked like "Frankenstein" parts guns. I have always known colt to be superb regarding fit and finish. Bradd_D - I understand this is a tool and what it's primary intended use is. Again, it's not goinf to be a safe queen so I'm not mad, I was just a little surprised. The Code is a C with a little space and another symbol kind of like a D. Redfisher - I am anot a dealer or distributor but work for one occassionally. This isn't a knock against Colt guys. There is no bigger Colt fan than myself. I was just a little surprised at what I saw today. |
Hmmm...I've not run into a "D" forge code. Diemaco marks their uppers with a "D", but it is a manufacturer's code and used in conjunction with a forge code such as a splintered "A". It wouldn't appear with a "C" which is a Colt manufacturer's code. Can you take pics? |
Well my personal opinion is that you are paying for the following items when you buy a Colt: 1. TDP 2. M4 barrel Ext 3. M4 Receiver cuts 4. 1/7 MP tested barrel 5. MP test Bolt What you may or may not get is perfect fit and finish. C4 |
The problem is, many other manufacturers are offering these things now with good fit and finish. And looking at the pic, that "D" looks like a really messed up keyhole forge mark. |
Ah...Cardinal Forge. I've seen some less than pretty uppers with Cardinal and Cerro forge marks lately. Dimensionally, they are fine, but they aren't as pleasing to the eye. I try to get my hands on Diemaco uppers when I can because I have yet to see an ugly one. |
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Send it back! Colt has a name for a reason...make them earn it! Damnit! There is no reason for that shit to even leave the building...for military/leo or anybody else. You pay for quality...and you deserve to get it. I'm the kind of person that takes pride in the job I do...that gun wouldn't have left the factory if I had been there. Would you have let it go? If your answer is no, then do something about it. Rule # 1: The customer is always right! Rule # 2: If the customer is ever wrong....refer to rule # 1!  Good Luck! |
| Colt QC is not what it was. I just picked up a pair of Colt full size round hangaurds and had to pick though dozens of sets to find a set that even matched up. Most were warped. I just hate loose and noisy handgaurds! I wont buy off the rack. I like to pick and choose my own parts and just pop it together myself. So far so good with about 10 builds. |
I agree with you. LMT, STAG and soon our VERY own Bravo Company will be offering these things. Truth be told, I am willing to bet that the barrels/uppers that come out of BC will be BETTER than what any other manufacturer! C4 |
Last weekend's shoot had a Police M4 with a can on it. Every one was taking their turn with that thing, dumping mags in FA. One guy I watched dumped a beta in 2 bursts. It was so hot at one point you could see the can glow when in shade. People were running everything through it; Wolf, m196, 855, surplus.... It was so dirty you could hear the cyclic rate fluctuate while dumping a mag (going up/down, up again). By the end of day the FSB and bbl. looked rusted. Someone had touched the can on the end and melted a glove mark into it, which carbonized. A real torture test and there wasn't one failure that that I know of that was due to the Colt. My respect went up a bit more for Colt after that and I don't mind that my 6920 is two-tone and looks like it lost in a sword fight if it can do what that M4 did. |
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Last weekend's shoot had a Police M4 with a can on it. Every one was taking their turn with that thing, dumping mags in FA. One guy I watched dumped a beta in 2 bursts. It was so hot at one point you could see the can glow when in shade. People were running everything through it; Wolf, m196, 855, surplus.... It was so dirty you could hear the cyclic rate fluctuate while dumping a mag (going up/down, up again). By the end of day the FSB and bbl. looked rusted. Someone had touched the can on the end and melted a glove mark into it, which carbonized. A real torture test and there wasn't one failure that that I know of that was due to the Colt. My respect went up a bit more for Colt after that and I don't mind that my 6920 is two-tone and looks like it lost in a sword fight if it can do what that M4 did. That's impressive. As far as fit and finish is concerned. I have seen similar blemishes on several other makes of rifles. I agree that the real issue is reliability of the weapon. Besides, if you use it as intended, you will have plenty of "love marks" on it in short order. I look at it as a favor. It makes a person less likely to baby a weapon and more likely to enjoy it. I read on some forum that upon a new purchase of a firearm, the first thing you should do is place it on the parking lot and kick it to yoru car so that you won't be afraid to use it. I know that this was toung in cheak, but it makes sense on some level. Enjoy your rifle! |
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I have a early 1970's SP1 lower that looks like it was gone over with a dremel on the outside of it before it was anodized. Also have a mid 90's 6551 that the lower is pitted under the anodizing. Have gotten Colt's NIB with scratches on them that go down into the steel and or aluminum. What you describe is normal, from my experience. If you want something pretty, I would not recommend Colt's. |
cosmetic issues with the LE Colts are the exception. I'm on my 4th now and all have been 100%. As someone offered, they all issue a couple of 'Friday' guns. |
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i have seen much better from other companies. my recent rifle bought was in fact my first colt rifle owned, a colt 6450 9mm carbine. the finish was poor and not because there was pits and what not all over but because there was anodizing missing from some spots and showing silver! with all the kool-aid drinkers around here and always preaching how amazing colt was it was kinda dissappointing, i didnt understand how all my other rifles,lowers,fraken builds and even my ak looked a lot better than the colt initially. but it didnt bother me too much like it would others and went and shot the crap out of it. my only complaint really is that i would have liked to put it there myself. |
What I find odd is that these "blemishes" if you will are more than acceptable to everyone out of a Colt, yet if another manufacturer produced this, everyone would be totally trashing them. What if the new barrels/uppers to come out of BC looked like they were dragged behind a car? |
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