It occurred to me while building my 604 that I will have a new weapon, built almost completely of new parts!
- New 1/9 M16A1 spec Pencil barrel (though new 1/12 available, too) from AR15sport.com
- New non-tapered slip rings available from Fulton (though mine is a NOS Colt)
- New 604 Upper from Fulton or Nodak, or new 603 upper from Nodak or Brownells
- New gas tube, weld spring, dust cover, snap ring, rifle buffer, tube, and spring from many vendors. I got mine from AR15Sport.com
- LPK and BCG also from many. I used a Stag LPK and an AIM Nickel Boron BCG
- Three prong (2nd pattern) flash hider from Innovative Industries
- Retro lowers from Nodak or Brownells (though for now I am using an Anderson A2 lower I had)
When I say ALMOST all newly manufactured parts, furniture is the only caveat. For shorties, you can get new made CAR15 stocks and handguards, but rifles are different. That is the only parts that we need surplus.
I was fortunate to get a mint (I think NOS) Type D stock from M16Indiana, and NOS triangular handguards from Hochimin. I had a NOS A1 grip.
When My weapon is built, it will be virtually all new parts, including the NOS GI furniture and a NOS USGI M1 Sling!