AR Sponsor
Posted: 8/4/2013 5:42:52 AM EDT
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Any info on Essential Arms?? Picked up my first AR and the lower is an Essential Arms. I have very little information or experience in black rifle shooting but this is a lot of fun. Just trying to find out if I have a decent rifle. For the record it looks clean and well build(from what I can tell) and it shoots very consistent so far.
Thanks for any help and info - search didn't turn up anything. |
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There were some issues back in the day about issues with their toughcoat finish, but the fit and finish I had on a rifle was great. One day you'll scratch or dent anything. They also come with the low shelf so an accuwedge fits nicely back there.
Also has the cool factor of being made in LA. |
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Also note that the current Essential Arms bought out the assets and tooling of the old Essential Arms after it ceased operations - so the J-15 of yesteryear is not the same or made by the same people or company as today's Essential Arms.
Old J-15s were cast, but were reportedly done by the very best in the business (Sturm, Ruger & Co.'s Lone Pines casting works). I've owned a couple of the old cast J-15s, and they were ugly as sin, but tough, durable and in-spec. |
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http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i346/Brian_Crain/photo.jpg
My pair of EA's - Consecutive Serial #'s - one for me and one for my son - just finished the builds - only took me 2 years on the Johny Cash plan -- one piece at a time.... hope he doesn't see this, because it is his birthday present...... 
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Not completely true. They sold some after the ban in '94 and then liquidated the rest of them in the early 2000's just before they released their forged version.
advntrjnky Quoted:
If you have a cast EA receiver, then it is a "Pre-Ban" receiver and valuable to those people living in CT and perhaps other still Ban states. |
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what I had heard, pieced together, is Essential Arms used to make lowers for other companies back in the 80's early 90's? Then DPMS? bought the production machinery, tooling, fixtures and programs turnkey with a non compititoin agreement that was valid for so many years. After the legal time limit was up they retooled and started selling lowers again.
The old days they did use cast but now use forged blanks. Never could check to see how valid the production story was. I have made or seen 25+ ARs built on their lowers. |
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Quoted:
what I had heard, pieced together, is Essential Arms used to make lowers for other companies back in the 80's early 90's? Not that I recall, the only companies that offered Cast finished lowers that I remember we're EA, DPMS (as you pointed out), and Olympic Arms. |
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Thank you all for the replys. From what I have learned hear and in searching the web it seems I have a rather decent rifle for my first step into the AR game.
Looking to build a complete 2nd now that I am turning this hobby into an obsession - I think many of you understand my dilemma. |
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