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Posted: 2/27/2007 6:31:57 PM EDT
I was reading the HK416 vs. Colt controversy thread over in discussions, and he mentioned the Colt model 703, a piston gun designed and built by Colt in the early sixties for evaluation by the Army. I'm guessing it had an AR-18 op rod system. Anyone got any pics from the files? If this ain't retro, I don't know what is!  |
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The Colt 703 (note that there is also an M16A2-type rifle also numbered 703) gas-piston rifle was a collaborative project between Colt and Olin/Winchester during the 1970s. It was directed at the US military and there's even some suggestion that it was designated "M16A2" in-house because there was a belief that it would become the next service rifle. Not sure at all about where the system's design came from, but because of a lack of Armalite (or at this point in time Elisco Tools) involvement in the project I'm guessing it had little to do with the AR-18 setup. There was a conversion upper produced as well, that sold poorly in the civilian market (called either the "Rhino" or "RINO" I'm not entirely sure), and that too was removed from the market. However, we are here in the age of all these gas-piston uppers and people seem to forget that not only are gas-pistons not new technology, but even the gas-piston/AR-15 combo is not a new idea. |
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I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet, but I just found a list of Colt model #'s that began with RO, except for one notable exception: CAR-703 (Robbins, experimental w/gas piston) Found it on Militaryphotos.net doing a google search. Now I really want a pic. Apparently I had the dates off, it was a joint venture between Colt and Winchester in the '70's not the sixties. Still pretty interesting, and retro as far as I can see. |
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I'd be interested to know where the "CAR" prefix came from. Never heard of a three letter prefix before. All the ones I know of are either one of two letters. Do you have the link to the list? I'd go search through milphotos...except I won't because I refuse to go there anymore. |
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