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Posted: 11/19/2015 3:53:47 AM EDT
So... With all the A1 type clones that I have built over the years (and subsequently lost
 ), I have acquired a nice little stash of extra A2 grips. Some are thinner than others, some have slightly different lines or check patterns on them, come have letters stamped near the screw hole. I am currently constructing a FN M16 cage coded A2 rifle clone. I want to use the 'most correct grip' I can find. What are the actual differences between them? What would FN have used?
I know... I am being a little anal and probably splitting hairs; but I got feed my retro addiction... Thanks |
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Posted: 11/19/2015 4:29:01 AM EDT
[#1]
Ask Milspec. All I know is that my older Colt A2 grip is fatter than any of the newer RRA ones I have.
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Posted: 11/19/2015 6:22:13 AM EDT
[#2]
I posted a reply in this thread below and posted some pics half-way down the thread of some Colt and a non-Colt PG's for comparison. I recently bought an F marked PG for my FN 16A4 clone and I was thinking to myself, I must be crazy paying $8 bucks for an A2 PG
 Since Colt and FN produced M16A2 rifles for Uncle Sugar, so they may have sourced the A2 PG's from the same vendor. I think it's safe to use the ones that are marked F or F with a number such as 2, 3 or 4.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_127/683049_Worn_A2_grips__I_never_see_them_on_the_EE__gunbroker__or_at_shows.html |
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Posted: 11/19/2015 8:31:47 AM EDT
[#3]
You can get FN grips from SAW.
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Posted: 11/19/2015 11:49:28 AM EDT
[#4]
I think it was 1993 when I bought my first AR. It was a Frankenstein rifle with all A2 features except for a lightweight A1 barrel that I had later replaced with a heavier A2 barrel. I wanted a rifle that was identical to the one I carried in the Marines from 88-92. However, one thing that irritated me is that the A2 grip that we always see today I thought was an incorrect aftermarket part as well. It wasn't the same as the pistol grip my OCD mind remembers from my Marine Corps days!!! I finally found the correct grip and put it on. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic but this should give you an idea of what a "correct" A2 grip from my time and place looks like.
Yup, that's what we had on our A2s back in the day! I sometimes think that it may have been a transitional time period when the A1 was going out and the A2 was coming in. It's the combination of the sling divot you see on A1 grips and the finger groove you find on the A2 grips. I wish now I had kept the package it came in as it also had the NSN on it but I highly doubt that it would have changed when they went to the modern style A2 grips. |
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Posted: 11/19/2015 1:55:15 PM EDT
[#5]
Iiiiiiiiiinteresting. I didn't know those were actually a "thing". Huh.
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Posted: 11/19/2015 2:28:37 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I think it was 1993 when I bought my first AR. It was a Frankenstein rifle with all A2 features except for a lightweight A1 barrel that I had later replaced with a heavier A2 barrel. I wanted a rifle that was identical to the one I carried in the Marines from 88-92. However, one thing that irritated me is that the A2 grip that we always see today I thought was an incorrect aftermarket part as well. It wasn't the same as the pistol grip my OCD mind remembers from my Marine Corps days!!! I finally found the correct grip and put it on. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic but this should give you an idea of what a "correct" A2 grip from my time and place looks like. <a href="http://s137.photobucket.com/user/USMCGruntUSAFCATM/media/Firearms/misc/DCP_1946.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q236/USMCGruntUSAFCATM/Firearms/misc/DCP_1946.jpg</a> Yup, that's what we had on our A2s back in the day! I sometimes think that it may have been a transitional time period when the A1 was going out and the A2 was coming in. It's the combination of the sling divot you see on A1 grips and the finger groove you find on the A2 grips. I wish now I had kept the package it came in as it also had the NSN on it but I highly doubt that it would have changed when they went to the modern style A2 grips. Wow, I thought those M16A1E2 grips were stuff of internet legends ... but is that's a real deal early A2 grip or those commercial ones with a finger bump that looks like a nose-job? |
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Posted: 11/19/2015 3:33:48 PM EDT
[#7]
I can't speak for currently issued grips, but here are a few pics of an FN grip that was used on M16A2/4s @ 2001-2004. Note the very reflective inner surface of the grip as well as the shiny(ish) outer surface; the "F" & "2" mold marks inside, and the wide sloping "hookish" shape of the front bottom nub. DPMS produced a grip for a number of years that was almost exactly like this grip except it was made of a material that was no where near as "shiny".
Hope this helps you. FlDiveCop71 
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Posted: 11/19/2015 6:00:28 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I can't speak for currently issued grips, but here are a few pics of an FN grip that was used on M16A2/4s @ 2001-2004. Note the very reflective inner surface of the grip as well as the shiny(ish) outer surface; the "F" & "2" mold marks inside, and the wide sloping "hookish" shape of the front bottom nub. DPMS produced a grip for a number of years that was almost exactly like this grip except it was made of a material that was no where near as "shiny". http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/FLDiveCop71/IMAG0100.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/FLDiveCop71/IMAG0096.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/FLDiveCop71/IMAG0098.jpg Hope this helps you. FlDiveCop71 Thanks for the pics FDCop! I have an A2 PG that's grainy looking like just like the one in the picture. I'll have to check to see what marking is on the inside. But I'll definitely use it on my FN M16A2 clone instead of a generic A2. ETA: I know it's off topic, but I can't seem to remember if the FN's had the grainy looking handguards when they were issued. Mine were well worn-in 
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Posted: 11/19/2015 8:18:22 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I can't speak for currently issued grips, but here are a few pics of an FN grip that was used on M16A2/4s @ 2001-2004. Note the very reflective inner surface of the grip as well as the shiny(ish) outer surface; the "F" & "2" mold marks inside, and the wide sloping "hookish" shape of the front bottom nub. DPMS produced a grip for a number of years that was almost exactly like this grip except it was made of a material that was no where near as "shiny". http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/FLDiveCop71/IMAG0100.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/FLDiveCop71/IMAG0096.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/FLDiveCop71/IMAG0098.jpg Hope this helps you. FlDiveCop71 Helps a lot! ,Thanks! |
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Posted: 11/20/2015 10:13:02 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You can get FN grips from SAW. (ahh, who is saw?) |
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Posted: 11/20/2015 11:41:19 PM EDT
[#11]
http://www.specializedarmament.com/index.php?
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Posted: 11/20/2015 11:55:10 PM EDT
[#12]
From my experience, the Colt A2's are fatter than commercial, and the matting on the glass is rougher until worn in.
Have a few that are marked with a hand stencil P iirc. No experience with FN. |
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Posted: 11/22/2015 1:37:03 AM EDT
[#13]
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Posted: 11/22/2015 6:45:55 PM EDT
[#14]
Nicely done.
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Posted: 11/22/2015 7:48:26 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Nicely done. Thank you! I'm NOT going to hi-jack the thread and will start another one as soon as upper is assembled. The only part I'm waiting for is a gray delta ring
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Posted: 11/22/2015 9:02:23 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Wow, I thought those M16A1E2 grips were stuff of internet legends ... but is that's a real deal early A2 grip or those commercial ones with a finger bump that looks like a nose-job? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I think it was 1993 when I bought my first AR. It was a Frankenstein rifle with all A2 features except for a lightweight A1 barrel that I had later replaced with a heavier A2 barrel. I wanted a rifle that was identical to the one I carried in the Marines from 88-92. However, one thing that irritated me is that the A2 grip that we always see today I thought was an incorrect aftermarket part as well. It wasn't the same as the pistol grip my OCD mind remembers from my Marine Corps days!!! I finally found the correct grip and put it on. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic but this should give you an idea of what a "correct" A2 grip from my time and place looks like. <a href="http://s137.photobucket.com/user/USMCGruntUSAFCATM/media/Firearms/misc/DCP_1946.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q236/USMCGruntUSAFCATM/Firearms/misc/DCP_1946.jpg</a> Yup, that's what we had on our A2s back in the day! I sometimes think that it may have been a transitional time period when the A1 was going out and the A2 was coming in. It's the combination of the sling divot you see on A1 grips and the finger groove you find on the A2 grips. I wish now I had kept the package it came in as it also had the NSN on it but I highly doubt that it would have changed when they went to the modern style A2 grips. Wow, I thought those M16A1E2 grips were stuff of internet legends ... but is that's a real deal early A2 grip or those commercial ones with a finger bump that looks like a nose-job? Yup, real deal. It's exactly as I remembered the A2s we had in the Marines between 88-92 when I was in and the package it came in was a sealed baggie with a typical government tag with the NSN on it. |
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Posted: 11/23/2015 4:10:21 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yup, real deal. It's exactly as I remembered the A2s we had in the Marines between 88-92 when I was in and the package it came in was a sealed baggie with a typical government tag with the NSN on it. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I think it was 1993 when I bought my first AR. It was a Frankenstein rifle with all A2 features except for a lightweight A1 barrel that I had later replaced with a heavier A2 barrel. I wanted a rifle that was identical to the one I carried in the Marines from 88-92. However, one thing that irritated me is that the A2 grip that we always see today I thought was an incorrect aftermarket part as well. It wasn't the same as the pistol grip my OCD mind remembers from my Marine Corps days!!! I finally found the correct grip and put it on. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic but this should give you an idea of what a "correct" A2 grip from my time and place looks like. <a href="http://s137.photobucket.com/user/USMCGruntUSAFCATM/media/Firearms/misc/DCP_1946.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q236/USMCGruntUSAFCATM/Firearms/misc/DCP_1946.jpg</a> Yup, that's what we had on our A2s back in the day! I sometimes think that it may have been a transitional time period when the A1 was going out and the A2 was coming in. It's the combination of the sling divot you see on A1 grips and the finger groove you find on the A2 grips. I wish now I had kept the package it came in as it also had the NSN on it but I highly doubt that it would have changed when they went to the modern style A2 grips. Wow, I thought those M16A1E2 grips were stuff of internet legends ... but is that's a real deal early A2 grip or those commercial ones with a finger bump that looks like a nose-job? Yup, real deal. It's exactly as I remembered the A2s we had in the Marines between 88-92 when I was in and the package it came in was a sealed baggie with a typical government tag with the NSN on it. do you recall if the plastic felt cheap? the ones i've pulled off preban Essential Arms and early Olympic/SGW etc... always had a cheap plastic feel and sound to them. |
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Posted: 11/26/2015 8:08:07 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I found a grainy looking one just like the one in pics posted by FDiveCop marked F and a 1 inside near screw. Now it has a permanent home on an FN M16A2 clone 
<a href="http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/pro2ndam/media/Projects/FN%20M16A2%20Clone/20151121_212052_zpsoxgi26ms.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj634/pro2ndam/Projects/FN%20M16A2%20Clone/20151121_212052_zpsoxgi26ms.jpg</a> <a href="http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/pro2ndam/media/Projects/FN%20M16A2%20Clone/20151121_212300_zpsergdcjzx.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj634/pro2ndam/Projects/FN%20M16A2%20Clone/20151121_212300_zpsergdcjzx.jpg</a> <a href="http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/pro2ndam/media/Projects/FN%20M16A2%20Clone/20151121_212457_zpsque8davy.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj634/pro2ndam/Projects/FN%20M16A2%20Clone/20151121_212457_zpsque8davy.jpg</a> Sorry about the photobombing by the tactical oven mitt! Very Nice! Who did the engraving? |
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