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Posted: 2/16/2026 10:52:45 AM EDT
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Basically, I have an M16A2 grenadier clone. It's all early FNMI, and I've also got a grey roll-marked A2 lower coming into my local FFL tomorrow. Yes, I know that early FNMI lowers were electropenciled, but I doubt I could clone that easily or well without opening a whole can of worms. Making do with what I got. Anyways... Question #1: Has anybody ever seen examples/reference photos of a REAL M16A2 of the FNMI variety bearing a DOD stamp? Question #2: Slings..I don't really wanna run a side sling swivel since my other, later FNMI A2 (non-grenadier) is already making use of one. This is probably too late in the game for the GP sling attached to the FSB, no? Thank you in advance! |
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Regarding FNMI M16A2s in service in the mid-1990s to early 2010s, I, personally have only seen them in significant numbers at two locations: Parris Island and Fort Jackson. Every now and then you’d find one in a Fleet or FORSCOM units. I have never seen a DoD stamp on a weapon in service from 1995-2020 FNs seemed to always be black in color, and the anodizing seemed to seem lower quality than the Colts; they always look “chipped” Instead of “worn”. As for slings, they got the same black or green web sling issued as everything else, including the front sight attachment or side sling attachment for the M203. ETA: on the electro penciled lowers, you are referring to serial numbers or the whole lower? IIRC, the rifles at Parris Island were rollmarked “FN Herstal” I don’t recall if they had the “FN football” logo or not. The rifles at Fort Jackson had the “FN football” serial numbers may be stamped or electro penciled. |
I don't recall DOD acceptance stamps on FNs (M16s and M4s). Their stamps have ranged from those idiotic "Dot matrix" stampings that looked like dog poop to very good roll marks. I think the very best OEM lower polishing and finish anodizing I've ever seen were on LMT and PWA receivers just before and during the early assault rifle ban period. These are clean:    |
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Originally Posted By Sinister: I don't recall DOD acceptance stamps on FNs (M16s and M4s). Their stamps have ranged from those idiotic "Dot matrix" stampings that looked like dog poop to very good roll marks. https://preview.redd.it/purple-issued-fn-m16-v0-a5fbyig5yu1d1.jpeg?width=2181&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02cd07b6c37337e3e1e294741379fa38032b300f Thanks for jogging my memory… that reminds me of the PI rifles in 1995. |
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Thank you fellows for the awesome replies! I will say, I've heard many times how the FNMI lowers encountered are always darker than the uppers. That seems to be [mostly] true for sure! However, it would also seem there are exceptions to that rule. The earlier examples appear [to me] to be more gray in color, and that's exactly what I'm after! Something else I have noticed, and I DOUBT anybody has any explanation aside from FN themselves...The little corner where the 'N' intersects with the 'F':   (seems I've forgotten how to post images, not just image links in my time away from arfcom) |
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I can 2nd what was said, I was in basic at Jackson in 93 and we had brand new FN A2 that had just been new issued to the class before us. None of them had DOD stamps and I never saw one of those on anything until clones guys posted pics about them years and years later. Ours were all marked with the oval stamp and the straight line letters. No dot matrix or electro pencil on ours. I later carried a 203 A2 (Colt) all through 90s, never saw a side sling adapter. We just used the standard black sling through the fsb, sometimes with loop of 550. We also found ways to knock out the sling swivel rivet and toss the sling loop because it could bind up on the barrel of the 203 and was otherwise useless for that system. |
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I have not seen an example of a DoD stamp on an FN A2, but Colt A2s had this stamp: Attached File I'm guessing what rifles that were stamped had them scrubbed off almost as soon as they were unpacked and cleaned up for inspection by unit armorers. |
| Off topic I know, but what are the barrel markings? I was digging thru some old parts a while back and found a few FN barrels from who knows how long ago. Anyhow, just curious. |
I am not to be confused with -JC- who changed his nick from whatever it was to be like mine - for whatever reason.
Life - What a waste of time. (Me)
Life - What a waste of time. (Me)
Joined:
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Yeah, I'd seen that, and IMC's A2 lowers with DOD stamps, but he must be catering to the pony versions primarily... That's the reason in the first place I began to think, "Have I ever come across an image of an FNMI A2 with a DOD stamp?", and since the answer to that was pretty much a 'no'? I came to pick your guys' brains. But, seems to be the general consensus that it never happened. |
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Originally Posted By JC_: Off topic I know, but what are the barrel markings? I was digging thru some old parts a while back and found a few FN barrels from who knows how long ago. Anyhow, just curious. Three versions of USGI FN barrels:
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Originally Posted By bdgfate: Three versions of USGI FN barrels:
I have a new 20 inch FNMI barrel. Can you show the what fancy 5 looks like so I can distringuish? |
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Originally Posted By bdgfate: Three versions of USGI FN barrels:
I do not know why when I try to post the pic it shows up as a little box ... but it does...  |
I am not to be confused with -JC- who changed his nick from whatever it was to be like mine - for whatever reason.
Life - What a waste of time. (Me)
Life - What a waste of time. (Me)
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Originally Posted By bdgfate: Triangle cap is correct for A2 |
I am not to be confused with -JC- who changed his nick from whatever it was to be like mine - for whatever reason.
Life - What a waste of time. (Me)
Life - What a waste of time. (Me)
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