Did any early M4s have CAR handguards?

I'm interested in turning my 6920 into a fairly faithful early M4 clone with A2-type upper and 14.5" barrel (once SBR paperwork goes through). I don't care for fat M4, double-lined handguards and prefer CAR ones. Did the M4 have the fat, double-lined handguards from the get-go?

Call it a Colt model 727, but that one used a CAR style stock.

FWIW, I've seen maybe 1000 or so sets of old M4 handguards left from a unit's KAC rail upgrades, and I haven't seen any skinny CAR style handguards. I've come across CAR stocks, but not the handguards. I'm not saying they weren't out there, but I never ran across any. Alternatively, I never encountered an M4 with an A2 upper, but IIRC someone in the A2 forum found an old paper FM from the early 90s showing an M4 rocking an A2 upper. Hydromatic and Armalite rifles in Afghanistan? Sure. CAR handguards? No.

Hope this helps. Maybe someone who served in the Clinton years can chime in.

Other than a small initial run (possibly a pre-production run) done in late 1994, RO920 USGI M4 Carbines have all had flattop upper receivers, and to the best of my knowledge have always come with double heat shield "fat" M4 handguards.

The RO720 XM4 prototypes as well as the RO727 M16A2 Carbines did use the CAR handguards, however - if you're switching the receiver from a flattop to an A2 and want to use CAR handguards, as another member has suggested, I would just slap a CAR stock on it as well and call it a 727 and be done with it. The only functional difference you'll have besides select fire is a four position receiver extension rather than a two position receiver extension and a castle nut instead of a lock nut.

~Augee

I know it will work, but I would suspect the A2's did not have an F marked front sight base, like your 6920 does. I guess it depends on how accurate you want to be. It might be cheaper and or easier to build or buy a new upper then to convert the existing upper. Also you should look in the A2 builds area for pictures and ideas.

FWIW the AF GAU/GUU-5P's had skinny hand guards. Some were A1 Uppers and some were A2's They were mutts. GUU's used the M4 Barrels. There is a big thread here someplace about it I just know what I carried and what I have seen laying around the armory.

Thanks for the great info guys. I didn't realize there reallly weren't many A2-type M4s made - and I'd forgotten about the F-marked FSB. I think I'll abandon the idea of an "early" M4 and just keep it as is - except with the CAR stock & handguards I prefer. Surely soldiers, sailors, Marines & airmen are authorized to slide on/off the buttstock & attach standard handguards, right?

did the first M4 Cars have a 10.5 barrel with a xm177 Flash hider on them?

727?

I have seen them before in the arms room at my old unit.

that's a pretty sweet magwell hold/blocking ejection port with thumb grip.....

Short answer? Yes. I have seen 3...and bought every one of them. My latest:
Spiwak

THis
Korea 99 our m4s had the lighter plastic hand guards my unit (SAPPERS) did not have the kac ras ye the the infantry had the rails though. in Iraq 03 I was in 82nd abn we hadKAC ras nut both units arms room had the CAR stocks with no reinforcment (GILLS IS WHat I call it.)

in fACT IN kOREA MY M4 HAD THE 203 WITH JUST A HALF HANGUARD ON TOP AND THE LEAF SIGHT BOLTED TO THAT.

Top one is an RO727.

The bottom one is an RO720 / "XM4" prototype.

The upper with A1 "field" sights is an RO723.

I guess it partially depends on how you define the term "M4," but to me it means the RO920 USGI M4 Carbine, which, to my knowledge never came with standard single heat shield carbine handguards.

GUU-5/Ps, RO727s, ect. are other carbine variants that are not M4 Carbines.

WRT the "F" marked FSB, functionally it will work just fine since early carbines would have had taller front sight posts in standard FSBs, but would be "less" correct.

~Augee

Nice pic, however:

A) his M203 triggerguard is FUBAR; and

B) unless he intends to use it solely in an area-target role, he might want some kind of sight for said 203.

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