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Posted: 3/11/2003 8:00:29 AM EDT
| I picked up a SP1 upper that has a barrel on it that I can't identify. The are only two markings on the barrel. The first is a 12 on the bottom of the barrel behind the flash suppressor. The other is a triangle that is on the right side of the barrel located at the front sight post. The triangle looks like others I've seen on Colt uppers. Can anyone identify this barrel? |
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This is just a hunch based speculation, but it may be an extremely early Colt unit. If the upper is for sure a big hole SP1, I'd guess that it might be that early, because before the M16A1 was adopted, and contracts let out to manufacturers other than Colt, they would have had no need to brand mark the barrels---nobody else was making them. The"12" would have been there because the very earliest semi experimental barrels were 1 in 14 twist, and 12 would have denoted the (probably)just adopted 1in 12 twist. The triangle would be a Colt acceptance mark, just as it is on the upper reciever. Don't take this as gospel [:D]. Just an informed hunch. |
| i have an old upper also. It doesn't have the FA. It has a triangle on the r/s of barrel between front sight pins, there is also either a(M) or a(W), with three prong FH on the upper rec it has a (C) in a box w/ triangle under it. no other idenfiable marks. Is this pretty much what you have. The old timer I picked this up from this is just what he carried in NAM.That would mean it would be a colt. They were the orig builders prior to the A1. if you find out more let me know. |
| If it's a smooth side upper w/o the forward assit, it sounds like it might be from the very first Air force contract, and that would solidify my hunch about the barrel markings being Colt. Actually, even if it has the forward assist, and came off an early M16A1, it's still almost certainly a very early Colt barrel[:D] |
| What you guys have are VERY early M16 (NOT M16A1) uppers made by Colt (the C in the square). The M is usually indicative of Martin-Marietta (Mattel?) who made items for Colt under contract. The barrels are 1:12" twist. If they have the 3-prong flash supressor, they probably are not chrome lined. If they have the birdcage, they may or may not (I've seen both). Usually if they're chrome lined, they have C MP 1 12 stamped on the barrel. |
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