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Posted: 5/13/2024 10:04:17 PM EDT
[Last Edit: tstetz]
Here's my M4A1 clone. EDIT: Actually just an M4 clone as I just learned. Always thought the flat top upper came in with the A1 upgrade but apparently that was an XM4 to M4 change.
Nothing fancy but it fills a niche in the collection. It is SBR'd, even though that seems ridiculous for the negligible difference in length with a pin and weld. The lower is pretty straightforward PSA M4A1 marked, with a basic PSA lower parts kit, a fat F3-marked A2 grip, a Mil Spec carbine buffer tube from Luth AR, and a surplus M4 waffle stock with rack number. There’s no cage code on the stock so I suspect it’s actually police surplus, not military surplus. Maybe off of a Bushmaster? I’m calling it close enough, though. The upper came from my parts box, and has a Luth AR ejection port door assembly, and a round forward assist from my parts box. The carry handle is a GI surplus one that I picked up in a trade a while back. The bolt carrier group is a chrome lined, phosphate Microbest Mil-Spec carrier that I got from AR15Discounts. The 14.5 inch, 1:7 twist M4 profile barrel and A2 flash hider are from Luth AR and again the A2 front sight is from MA Parts. The carry handle had the complete rear sight assembly already. The handguards are double heat shield M4 ones from my parts box that came from some trade or another. I added the sling swivel after I did these pics and had the right rivets. Attached File Attached File |
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[#1]
I like it! Looks good. 👍
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I'm pink, therefore, I'm Spam.®
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[#2]
I don't recall seeing "rack numbers" on military weapons.
However, I'm not in a weapons company. Just seen a lot at various reserve centers over the years, and what I saw in one overseas tour. |
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[Last Edit: WUPHF]
[#3]
Snip
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[#4]
Doesn't look very A2ish.
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless R.I.P. to the EE |
[#5]
Sometimes a basic no frills M4 is all it takes.
Looks great. |
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“Liberty and love
These two I must have. For my love, I’ll sacrifice My life. For liberty, I’ll sacrifice My love.” Petofi Sándor |
[Last Edit: tstetz]
[#6]
Originally Posted By NotIssued: I don't recall seeing "rack numbers" on military weapons. However, I'm not in a weapons company. Just seen a lot at various reserve centers over the years, and what I saw in one overseas tour. View Quote I think I'm dating myself with my love of rack numbers. It doesn't seem to be as much of a thing anymore. It was a thing for a long time. I have M1 carbines with rack numbers and you'll see them on older stuff a lot. I have surplus A2 stocks on my A2 and A4 clones with rack numbers but I'm guessing that largely went away with the addition of the bar codes and maybe with M4's in general too? There are a number of archived threads here with rack number pics and descriptions although thinking about it, they probably are all older stuff. Mostly M16A1s, some A2s. Attached File (I know, my top rail on my A4 is seated in this pic!) |
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[#7]
Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Doesn't look very A2ish. View Quote Hmm, you're not wrong. I guess I lump A2/M4/A4 etc in the same military family. But you are correct, that's not what this forum is. I was thinking this was the more proper sub than Retro but it still isn't correct. Apologies! |
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[#8]
Originally Posted By tstetz: Hmm, you're not wrong. I guess I lump A2/M4/A4 etc in the same military family. But you are correct, that's not what this forum is. I was thinking this was the more proper sub than Retro but it still isn't correct. Apologies! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By tstetz: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Doesn't look very A2ish. Hmm, you're not wrong. I guess I lump A2/M4/A4 etc in the same military family. But you are correct, that's not what this forum is. I was thinking this was the more proper sub than Retro but it still isn't correct. Apologies! Just being cheeky. |
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless R.I.P. to the EE |
[#9]
I still remember seeing a M4 with a tanker back in the late 1990s, and I was hooked.
Regarding looks, I still love the early M4 / M4A1 with its thicker hand guards and N 1 stock. After almost 30 years it is now a classic and iconic carbine. You did a good job and I really like it. |
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[#11]
They do look good with the CAR stocks.
Now that my dumb ass realizes the difference between the XM4 and M4 I may add an XM4 to the list with the fixed A2 upper and CAR stock! |
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[#12]
It still meets definition of an a1 clone. Early a1 was exactly the same as an m4 except for auto vs burst
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[#13]
Originally Posted By NotIssued: I don't recall seeing "rack numbers" on military weapons. However, I'm not in a weapons company. Just seen a lot at various reserve centers over the years, and what I saw in one overseas tour. View Quote Spent two+ years in the Army National Guard and 22+ years on active duty and I doubt I ever saw a weapon without a rack number. |
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[#14]
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"Technique isn't something that can be taught. It's something you find on your own." - Bunta Fujiwara
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[#15]
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That's no way for guys like us to go out. We should go out in the midst of a desperate battle, doing great deeds. - COL Rick Rescorla
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[#16]
Originally Posted By ChemTrailZ: It still meets definition of an a1 clone. Early a1 was exactly the same as an m4 except for auto vs burst View Quote Lol, see now that's what I thought too (although I also though the flat top didn't come about until the M4A1) but I got grief on the Reddit Mil Clone group that it basically couldn't be an A1 without rails and optics! I thought the early A1's were like this too but I capitulated and just went with M4 after catching crap, lol. |
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[#17]
Originally Posted By HenryKnoxFineBooks: Clones of XM4, early M4, and early M4A1: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/180398/Early_M4s_JPG-3215248.JPG View Quote Nice! Those look good. |
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[#18]
Nice picture. I was amused to see the carry handle installed too far back.
The first M4 I saw back in the late 1990s had the removable carry handle and was dark grey. I cannot remember if it was BURST or AUTO. It hat a W prefix serial # and "COLT'S MFG. CO.INC." markings. |
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[#19]
Originally Posted By Gunslinger-Mike: Nice picture. I was amused to see the carry handle installed too far back. The first M4 I saw back in the late 1990s had the removable carry handle and was dark grey. I cannot remember if it was BURST or AUTO. It hat a W prefix serial # and "COLT'S MFG. CO.INC." markings. View Quote Gotta move the carry handle back in order for it to fit in the rack: Attached File |
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That's no way for guys like us to go out. We should go out in the midst of a desperate battle, doing great deeds. - COL Rick Rescorla
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[Last Edit: KitBuilder]
[#20]
Originally Posted By tstetz: Lol, see now that's what I thought too (although I also though the flat top didn't come about until the M4A1) but I got grief on the Reddit Mil Clone group that it basically couldn't be an A1 without rails and optics! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By tstetz: Originally Posted By ChemTrailZ: It still meets definition of an a1 clone. Early a1 was exactly the same as an m4 except for auto vs burst M4A1 MWS (Modular Weapon System) is what you officially get when adding a RIS (or later, a RAS, starting late 1997 or early 98) to the standard M4A1 (which was issued with the plain oval M4 handguards initially). The TMs reflect this as well. The M4A1 was fielded to SOCOM units prior to the original RIS being fielded to all of them. I think Delta got the RIS first because there's a picture of them with either a prototype or early production RIS. It took a while for the SOPMOD package to be introduced (after the M4A1 was fielded to many units). |
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[#21]
Originally Posted By HenryKnoxFineBooks: Gotta move the carry handle back in order for it to fit in the rack: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/180398/armory1_jpg-3215871.JPG View Quote Interesting, that I didn't know. I was always curious when I've came across them like that. 👍 |
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless R.I.P. to the EE |
[#22]
Originally Posted By HenryKnoxFineBooks: Gotta move the carry handle back in order for it to fit in the rack: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/180398/armory1_jpg-3215871.JPG View Quote Thank you for that. Now I understand. |
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[#24]
Originally Posted By HenryKnoxFineBooks: Gotta move the carry handle back in order for it to fit in the rack: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/180398/armory1_jpg-3215871.JPG View Quote Huh, never knew that either! Great tidbit to have. Thanks for the enlightenment! |
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[#25]
Originally Posted By KitBuilder: You thought right. M4A1 MWS (Modular Weapon System) is what you officially get when adding a RIS (or later, a RAS, starting late 1997 or early 98) to the standard M4A1 (which was issued with the plain oval M4 handguards initially). The TMs reflect this as well. The M4A1 was fielded to SOCOM units prior to the original RIS being fielded to all of them. I think Delta got the RIS first because there's a picture of them with either a prototype or early production RIS. It took a while for the SOPMOD package to be introduced (after the M4A1 was fielded to many units). View Quote Hah! I backed down when all these younger guys jumped on saying they never saw them issued that way. I figured they must be right since the M4 era was mostly after I got out. Well, plus I saw in the Air Force Reserve a good chunk of my time in and we didn't have anything current, lol! |
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[#27]
OP, consider Colt handguards, staking the endplate, putting on the rear sling swivel, and adding an RRA front swivel (easier to find).
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[#28]
Originally Posted By Andrewsky: OP, consider Colt handguards, staking the endplate, putting on the rear sling swivel, and adding an RRA front swivel (easier to find). View Quote Noted. I did put a front sling swivel on not long after taking these pics, so that’s done. Are Colt handguards that much different? Honest I’m not sure what these ones are. Double heat shield, fat M4, but I’m not sure whose. |
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[#29]
Originally Posted By Andrewsky: OP, consider Colt handguards, staking the endplate, putting on the rear sling swivel, and adding an RRA front swivel (easier to find). View Quote Hadn’t even thought about that rear swivel until you mentioned it. I just did a quick Google for parts an am not seeing anything coming up. I’ll look more later or see if I have another I can steal the parts from. |
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[#30]
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[Last Edit: Combat_Diver]
[#31]
Originally Posted By Gunslinger-Mike: Nice picture. I was amused to see the carry handle installed too far back. The first M4 I saw back in the late 1990s had the removable carry handle and was dark grey. I cannot remember if it was BURST or AUTO. It hat a W prefix serial # and "COLT'S MFG. CO.INC." markings. View Quote Carrying handles were set one notch back for the locking bar of the arms rooms racks at the time. "W" prefix was only for M4s starting at W000001. Earlyist SN I've come across in the wild was W000489 belonging to the 82nd which I inspected in 18/19' in Astan. W300000 block were reserved for the M4A1s. When we got ours in spring of 95' in 5th SFGA they ranged in W302xxx-W303xxx. These pictures of me and my M4A1 in Jordan Aug 95' Attached File Attached File Few months later in Haiti and then we're just starting to get Block I items (TA01NSN ACOG). Attached File |
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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24' Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21' |
[#32]
Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: Carrying handles were set one notch back for the locking bar of the arms rooms racks at the time. "W" prefix was only for M4s starting at W000001. Earlyist SN I've come across in the wild was W000489 belonging to the 82nd which I inspected in 18/19' in Astan. W300000 block were reserved for the M4A1s. When we got ours in spring of 95' in 5th SFGA they ranged in W302xxx-W303xxx. These pictures of me and my M4A1 in Jordan Aug 95' https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/Jordan_95_shooing_M4A1_Carbine_jpg-3221351.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/Page_00_M4A1_jpg-3221352.JPG Few months later in Haiti and then we're just starting to get Block I items (TA01NSN ACOG). https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/Haiti_95_M4s_jpg-3221353.JPG View Quote Great pics, I enjoy seeing them each time. |
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless R.I.P. to the EE |
[#33]
Updated pic. Front swivel was put on not long after the first post. I did swipe a rear swivel off of another stock.
Attached File Attached File |
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