Someone just recently posted a thread looking for AR-15/M16 wall posters, and someone linked to SAW's selection of Colt posters.  I was looking through them and after looking closer at this one in particular I noticed something: Colt RO938 (I think), a S-1-3-F flat top commando, with the term "Enhanced Series Commando" below it.

Now, someone had posted a picture of a fixed A2 style upper Commando (ala late RO733s), but with a lower that said "Colt M4 Enhanced Commando," and I'm just wondering what the story is with these guns.  What exactly are they and do people have model numbers for them?

Check.....biggerhammer.net information.

While this reference does not mention model names (IIRC) it does list the variations available

I believe the enhanced model is refering to the modification made from the original Commando, which was an A1 style (sights/upper receiver)

hope this helps

Yes and no.  I've compiled a table for more detailed then the one on Biggerhammer.net.  They don't mention the Enhanced Series at all, nor do they mention a 900 series Commando with a four position selector.

Thanks for the reply though.

No one? hinking.gif

My understanding is that the "enhanced" refers to the 4 position selector (safe, semi, burst, and auto).

Quoted: My understanding is that the "enhanced" refers to the 4 position selector (safe, semi, burst, and auto).

That is correct. Colt calls this fire control group "4-Way". These 4-Way parts are available from SAW, but are not always in stock.  Here are some pics of a few of the parts:

M16A2 Selector on left, 4-Way Selector on right.


M16A2 Sear on left, 4-Way Sear on right.


M16A2 Disconnectors on left, 4-Way Disconnectors on right.

Yup, Enhanced Series is Colt's term for firearms with the Larry Robbins' four-way fire control selector, as opposed to the earlier Sturtevant selector used on the RO605B, RO606B, and RO610B CAR-15s. There's a RO708 M16A2, RO738 M4 Commando Enhanced, a RO748 M162 HBAR Enhanced, a RO778 M4 Enhanced, a R0908 M16A4 Enhanced, a RO938 M4 Commando HBAR, and a RO978 M4 Enhanced. The RO738 M4 Commando Enhanced has an A2-style upper receiver. Here's an image of one that was posted earlier.


There's a picture of a RO978 on page 143 of the Black Rifle and it's stamped "M4 Enhanced".

The gas-piston RO703 also used a Sturtevant four-way selector. The lower receiver has to be made to use to the Robbins device. The Sturtvevant is a drop-in device.

The only organization to purchase the Enhanced series in numbers was the Greek military. Notice the four-way selector on the carbine with the sitting soldier in glasses. Unfortunately, it's currently set on semi.

Can you tell me more about the RO703 rifle?  You say it's piston driven?

In 1968, several M16A1s were built with an upper receiver that used gas-piston operation. There's pictures, including one of it disassembled, on pages 272-273 of The Black Rifle. Colt called it the M16A2, though it just used a M16A1 lower receiver marked "M16A1". M16A2 and 703 would later refer to something different.

Two Model 703s can be seen in this picture. They're the second and third from the bottom, on the right.

Thx a lot.  So the 738 and 938 are the 'Enhanced' Commandos, but are there model numbers for enhanced carbines and rifles?

Quoted: Thx a lot.  So the 738 and 938 are the 'Enhanced' Commandos, but are there model numbers for enhanced carbines and rifles?

Quoted: There's a RO708 M16A2 Enhanced, a RO738 M4 Commando Enhanced, a RO748 M162 HBAR Enhanced, a RO778 M4 Enhanced, a R0908 M16A4 Enhanced, a RO938 M4 Commando HBAR, and a RO978 M4 Enhanced.

Here's the image of the M4 Enhanced from Black Rifle II.

yeah, I'm an idiot, with my screen resolution, and those pictures, I completely didn't see that you had answered that, sry.  Now I just have another quick question.  You say the 938 is an "M4 Commando HBAR."  What does that mean exactly?  Did all the 700 series Commandos have pencil or government profile barrels and the 900 series guns have either government profile or fully heavy ones (heavier then the 700 series)?