AR Sponsor
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Early Colt M4's (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 9/16/2019 3:09:27 PM EDT
Came across this M4/M4A1 Carbine here in Astan still on active duty. Believe SNs started at W000001 in 94'. This one is W000489. Been converted from M4 to M4A1. Upper is new but lower, receiver extension and well worn PG are old. Don't know if first upper for this one had a A2 or flat top upper? As it was reported first thousand M4s had a fixed A2 upper. Who has PSA lower with that number, you have something to clone now.
Attached File Attached File Attached File Another older M4 Attached File Group photo, these two are on the right with ACOGs. Other two are serial numbered in mid W04xxxx's. All originally M4s but converted to M4A1. Attached File CD |
|
Combat Diver, that one M4 lower looks rougher than the M16 A1s we had in the 2-11 Inf arms room at Ft. Benning when I was there for IOBC in 1990. Assuming those M16s came in service around 1965 or so, then they would have been about the same age. What do you think accounts for the extreme finish wear on the M4s? Desert use versus temperate forest/jungle? Change in the anodizing or cleaning fluids/procedure? Longer combat use? In 28 years, I never saw a pistol grip that worn. What do you think happened to it? The checkering and serrations look melted off. |
|
Quoted:
Lower was made and issued under Colt Manufacturing and not Colt Defense. Not sure how common that is, but it's interesting nonetheless. |
|
Quoted:
Combat Diver, that one M4 lower looks rougher than the M16 A1s we had in the 2-11 Inf arms room at Ft. Benning when I was there for IOBC in 1990. Assuming those M16s came in service around 1965 or so, then they would have been about the same age. What do you think accounts for the extreme finish wear on the M4s? Desert use versus temperate forest/jungle? Change in the anodizing or cleaning fluids/procedure? Longer combat use? In 28 years, I never saw a pistol grip that worn. What do you think happened to it? The checkering and serrations look melted off. CD |
|
Quoted:
Sick! That lower is almost raw lol. Whats up with the AK mag in the group pic? Attached File CD |
|
Quoted:
You know deployment experiences vary? Like when you’re and infantry dude who all roll up into a large FOB and that guy who’s never left the wire has something to say because he’s BTDT? This is that guy in the service rifle world: https://i.imgur.com/ic3Tqvd.jpg CD |
|
Quoted:
That was either a M16A2 or M16A4 remarked. FN M4 Carbines start with a "Y" prefix. CD Quoted:
Quoted:
You know deployment experiences vary? Like when you’re and infantry dude who all roll up into a large FOB and that guy who’s never left the wire has something to say because he’s BTDT? This is that guy in the service rifle world: https://i.imgur.com/ic3Tqvd.jpg CD To use the same analogie, its the shitbag that gets sent from unit to unit because its easier to pass the buck then chapter them. |
|
Quoted: Use it out of this Ishevek 1954 model. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_7876_jpg-1092955.JPG CD |
|
Quoted:
These carbines belong to the same unit SGT York was assigned to over 100 years ago. Lots of roadmarches, jumps and combat time. CD Quoted:
Quoted:
Combat Diver, that one M4 lower looks rougher than the M16 A1s we had in the 2-11 Inf arms room at Ft. Benning when I was there for IOBC in 1990. Assuming those M16s came in service around 1965 or so, then they would have been about the same age. What do you think accounts for the extreme finish wear on the M4s? Desert use versus temperate forest/jungle? Change in the anodizing or cleaning fluids/procedure? Longer combat use? In 28 years, I never saw a pistol grip that worn. What do you think happened to it? The checkering and serrations look melted off. CD When I was in Germany, we actually sent our M16s for depot level maintenance and they came back nicely refinished in black. Is that not done anymore? If any Army weapon needs some depot level maintenance, it's that one it looks like. |
|
Quoted: I was in that same unit in 1995-97. We still had M16A2s and they didn't look anywhere near as clapped out as that M4. Of course, the Double A had just been touring tropical hotspots for short periods of time, Grenada, Panama, Haiti, etc. with a 7 month stay in the Gulf. When I was in Germany, we actually sent our M16s for depot level maintenance and they came back nicely refinished in black. Is that not done anymore? If any Army weapon needs some depot level maintenance, it's that one it looks like. CD |
|
Quoted: I was in that same unit in 1995-97. We still had M16A2s and they didn't look anywhere near as clapped out as that M4. Of course, the Double A had just been touring tropical hotspots for short periods of time, Grenada, Panama, Haiti, etc. with a 7 month stay in the Gulf. When I was in Germany, we actually sent our M16s for depot level maintenance and they came back nicely refinished in black. Is that not done anymore? If any Army weapon needs some depot level maintenance, it's that one it looks like. Keep in mind though, that they are allowed a single re-anodize in their life span due to the nature of dimensional change and variance of the anod removal and re-application process. |
|
Quoted: It is still done. Keep in mind though, that they are allowed a single re-anodize in their life span due to the nature of dimensional change and variance of the anod removal and re-application process. In the summer of 1997, I did a 2 week long exercise that included guys from just about every unit on Ft.Bragg. The only guys with any shape or form of M4s were the Group support guys. Even the 18th ABN Corp LRS guys had A2s. Some mentioned that there units had a handful of M4s, but that they were taken by officers and senior NCOs. Later that year, while at "Bright Star", I saw my 1st M4 carbine in the hands of a conventional Soldier. Someone from the 101st. |
|
Quoted: I remember that the M-16A2- ANAD rebuilds from A1s that we had in he late 90s seemed to have been painted black with kind of a matte-gloss paint. Almost like a teflon frying pan. |
|
Quoted:
Use it out of this Ishevek 1954 model. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_7876_jpg-1092955.JPG CD Quoted:
Quoted:
Sick! That lower is almost raw lol. Whats up with the AK mag in the group pic? https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_7876_jpg-1092955.JPG CD |
|
Quoted: I’ve seen a handful of those over the years, in fact I think I saw one recently in an armsroom coated in solid film lubricant (SFL).. looks similar to Colt gray, with a metallic sheen like graphite. Most guns are only allowed a percentage of the gun to have SFL and that changes depending on location (CONUS vs. deployed units). Some unit armorers have used it as a crutch. Getting an Mk19 in with the top cover or receiver coated inside and out or M2 barrels completely coated is a sure sign of a shitty day to come. Removing the crap to scrub off rust that either grew under or was never removed properly before application is a cast iron bitch. I would never use the stuff on a personal weapon. It's complete junk. |
|
Quoted: I remember that the M-16A2- ANAD rebuilds from A1s that we had in he late 90s seemed to have been painted black with kind of a matte-gloss paint. Almost like a teflon frying pan. In the summer of 1997, I did a 2 week long exercise that included guys from just about every unit on Ft.Bragg. The only guys with any shape or form of M4s were the Group support guys. Even the 18th ABN Corp LRS guys had A2s. Some mentioned that there units had a handful of M4s, but that they were taken by officers and senior NCOs. Later that year, while at "Bright Star", I saw my 1st M4 carbine in the hands of a conventional Soldier. Someone from the 101st. |
|
Quoted:
My last issued M4 was W000311, mine is a 80% and not a PSA lower. Here is my clone https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/20856/72C64A14-F5C1-4D67-9296-361DD7880CE4-1144463.jpg @freefalle7 |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Early Colt M4's (Page 1 of 2)
AR Sponsor