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11/17/2015 12:01:50 AM EDT
I noticed this on the EE and figured someone had to buy it.  It is a little ugly but has some interesting features.  Here are some before shots:












Here it is with most of the paint removed, I need to get some better stripper and hit it again:







What is interesting about this one is:

* Front and rear forging flash.
* Looks like a square forge Colt 603 upper forging.
* Finish on slip ring and upper receiver are smooth and have a greenish brown tint.
* Forging flash on FSB and no other forge markings.
* Barrel is marked "MP" with "C" 90 degrees offset but is not indexed like a Colt barrel.  Is this a mistake?  I think this is similar to the "upside down 'MP C'" barrel markings that show up from time to time.
* Charging handle is unmarked, looks like gray finish that has worn off the "T" end, aggressive de-burring marks on lower edge of the "T." (Is this the original charging handle?)
* Casting marks on the rear sight, is this unusual?  I don't pay much attention to these
* Casting mark on inside of right hand guard, two parallel raised lines, is this common?










a
11/17/2015 12:12:17 AM EDT
[#1]
Sure looks like it could be, but I am not enough of an expert to tell the difference between an H&R and Hyrdamatic upper.  Not Colt, though.  NICE SCORE!
11/17/2015 12:37:19 AM EDT
[#2]
Huh. I think I have a barrel like that.

Thanks for sharing!
11/17/2015 10:42:17 AM EDT
[#3]
The upside down MP on the left hand side of the barrel is the 100% defining characteristic of an H&R upper assembly.

Although I've only encountered this trait on approximately 25-30% of H&R rifles I've inspected. On its own, the amount of flash remaining on the upper is to inconsistent between manufacturers for a positive ID.

The finish on this upper wasn't paint, it was SFL (Solid Film Lubricant) used to touch up the finish by Field Maintenance. Acetone should remove all of it without much effort.

Wpns Man
11/17/2015 10:07:35 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Quoted:
The upside down MP on the left hand side of the barrel is the 100% defining characteristic of an H&R upper assembly.

Although I've only encountered this trait on approximately 25-30% of H&R rifles I've inspected. On its own, the amount of flash remaining on the upper is to inconsistent between manufacturers for a positive ID.

The finish on this upper wasn't paint, it was SFL (Solid Film Lubricant) used to touch up the finish by Field Maintenance. Acetone should remove all of it without much effort.

Wpns Man
View Quote


Cool, I can't remember if I've seen a picture of the upside down "MP", is this as upside down as they get?  I was imagining they would be 180 degrees rotated from the normal position of the "MP."  Does the upside down mean early / late / something else?  Any thoughts about the rear sight?
11/18/2015 2:37:46 PM EDT
[#5]
Sometimes the MP is 180, sometimes not.

The majority of H&R are located on the right side like their Colt and GM counterparts. In those cases you look to the forging codes on the FSB for clues. They are encountered throughout H&R production so, you can't date them early, late, etc.

Never tried to decipher the casting codes of rear sights.

Wpns Man

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