Greetings all-
Hey, I'm really, really new to all the variants of rifles in the AR15 world.  I had no idea...  I have an AR, and have dumped thousands of rounds through it as a utilitarian "fun-gun" for the past seven years.  Love it, just a fun, fun rifle to shoot.  Accurate and goes bang every time.  But for me, it's just that: a utilitarian rifle.    

Recently, a family member got out of their guns and left me a Colt R6520.  Not really interested in selling it.  But I have a dilemma...  This thing appears to be unfired.  Still stinks like "new gun".  What I do know for certain is that the serial number puts it around a 1991 mfg.  It's in a blue label box with a "CT" prefix before the model number "CT-R6520".  It clearly has the sear block, but also has the bayonet lug.  So, what is this thing?  Do I go out and shoot the heck out of it?  Or is this an investment piece where I should refrain from that?  Any idea what it's worth if an investment piece?    

Any help here will be greatly appreciated.  Oh...  And I couldn't figure out how to post pictures...  If interested in seeing pics, I'm happy to do it.  Either 1) guide me on how, or 2) message me and I'll email them.  Thank you in advance,

Gary

welcome to the retro forum gary.  if that carbine is new in box or like new in box.  i personally wouldn't shoot it.  with AR15s being as cheap as they are now, you have a carbine that is collectible due to the condition.

to post pics, you have to upload your images to an imagehost (photobucket, tinypic, snapfish etc...)

then in your post, look for the photo icon and put in your image URL

there is a pretty large difference in value btw unfired new in box and like new w/ box.  post some pics and we can better help you determine a value.

Thank you, sir.  To say for certain it has never been fired, I can not honestly confirm this.  Sure looks, and smells like new gun inside and out, but I cannot confirm...  Here's some pics (hopefully):
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/Stamp_zps6e7bb154.jpg.html
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/In-The-Box_zpsbbc52d1a.jpg.html
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/TriggerSide_zps1b2cf03c.jpg.html
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/InsideReceiver_zpsd48d63a4.jpg.html
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/BoltFace_zps8b194558.jpg.html
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/Bolt3_zps9002e54c.jpg.html
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/Bolt2_zps9282da75.jpg.html
http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/Shadowdude/media/Colt%20Photos/Bolt1_zps04130f19.jpg.html

Welcome to retroland.  Personally I wouldn't shoot it unless it had been fired and just wanted to check it out.   I have one a couple years newer that I've fired less than 100 rds through I bought NIB on a deal and wish today I hadn't fired the rds I did.   It's my favorite carbine but I just built a couple just like it or very similar for shooting and it resides in the safe.  

If it shows no wear it's not gonna be worth much less than NIB unfired.  Even used the 6520's are still bringing a premium.  6520's are a very popular, quality built carbine.  For an investment you bought it right (free I presume) but it's not gonna appreciate too much higher than going rate of inflation IMO.  They made and sold a few tons of them so it won't ever be considered rare but with box and accessories it will be worth more than most all the rest of them out there on any given day.  

If considering selling it simply wait until the next election / frenzy / panic and it will probably be worth a couple $100 more than today at minimum.  If unfired you could always put on GB with high reserve price and let it possibly sell itself.  NIB at the highest they were around $1400 and at the lowest around $800 in retail environment or LGS all brand new with the wraps.  Today they usually run around $1K or a little better if selling in excellent condition and drop from there.  CDNN had them NIB in last six months for $999.00.

I agree with boywonder. If it was mine, I would not shoot it. I have a 1977 Colt SP-1 Sporter and a 1993 Colt Sporter Match HBAR MH6601 (which came in the blue label box) that are in pristine condition. I will not shoot them because of their condition. The Colt R6520 is worth quite a bit these days. I have seen them sell for anywhere from $2000-$3000 in excellent to mint condition. Save it and enjoy owning it.

Close, but the link you want in photobucket is the "Direct" url...







 

Beautiful weapon. It is definitely a keeper.

href=http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w497/Shadowdude/Colt%20Photos/In-The-Box_zpsbbc52d1a.jpg" />
href=http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w497/Shadowdude/Colt%20Photos/Stamp_zps6e7bb154.jpg" />
href=http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w497/Shadowdude/Colt%20Photos/Box_zps5312905b.jpg" />
href=http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w497/Shadowdude/Colt%20Photos/Bolt3_zps9002e54c.jpg" />
href=http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w497/Shadowdude/Colt%20Photos/InsideReceiver_zpsd48d63a4.jpg" />

Too slow...

Great Carbine!  I bought a used complete upper 6520 upper 8 years ago from a local store for 325. I turned mine into a 654 including cutting the barrel to 14.7 and perm attaching an A1 FH.  Mine was well used by a Govt Tactical team but in excellent condition.  I agree with most everyone above, if it is new, don't shoot it.

PS; I replaced my 604 upper with a CH marked 603 upper so now I have a 653.

What is the Colt marked part pinned in on the right side through the 3rd Hole of Happiness?

Colt's way of telling you that they do not trust you. Sear block, FA BC block.

Colt sear block - part of Colt's PC-Madness collection from the early 1990s til the early 2000s

This is relevant to my interests, too.

Why do I find this question so funny?



 

So they drilled one of the 3rd Holes of Happiness for you?  Correct location, diameter?  Pop the pin, built in jig for the left side, run drill bit down, free healthcare for 10 years?  I'm thinking this could be a selling point for 80% jigs.  "We include the original Colt location for Colt's sear block."  

 

Negatory.  It's oversize and deliberately off-center for the hole of happiness.  Other variants have included up to four blind pins to make them ever harder and more awkward to remove.

Pin(s) are hardened and installed blind so they don't just "pop" out, either - quite a chore to remove them, in fact.

I believe the term "unfired" is a misnomer.  I believe that all Colt Firearms are fired and tested at the factory before the leave.  Just don't ding it up.

Wait - did you say OVERSIZE and OFF-CENTER?  Because I'm not just fond of super-glue, but also bushings.  Perhaps I could grow to be fond of off-center bushings...

Regardless, it does seem just the thing Retro folks oughta have, given some of 'em go to the whole length of putting in blind pins in offset short holes.

This was the easiest way for me to run a full auto BCG in my Colt.  Had a friend mill off the extra piece blocking the carrier.







I don't think that would devalue the rifle, but either way, prefer the FA BCG with the shrouded firing pin, over the stock one, which will just sit, all nice and oily, in my parts bin.

Beautiful AR. Sure does look new. If its been shot at all, it couldn't be much. See, if Colt would again offer this with but maybe with an A1 upper(altho I wouldn't mind the A2 at all)...

Welcome to the retro forum from another Illini

Nice looking gun....I'd shoot the hell out of it!

GREAT BUY!!!



I checked out your photobucket pics and....GOOD NEWS...you can get a regular front pushpin, detent and spring and lose the screw type front pin!!!  My R6551 was the same way!!!!

If the OP had the block milled off just like that and then added a Colt M16 type bolt...I think it would INCREASE the value, personally....

as long as the work was done as nicely as in your pic and the carrier was a true Colt carrier.  I would also save the half moon carrier as the OEM component



I have post block, web type A2 lowers on my C7s so I can run M16 carriers



 

Me too. Worth a lot? 'A lot' is relative. If you stick it in the safe and hold onto it for 20 years will it be 100% more valuable? Even 50%? I doubt it. I would definitely shoot it,but take care of it. I simply don't see it being worth any more than a current 6920...maybe less because of the carry handle. Not everyone digs retro, and truthfully, it's NOT retro - it's just an A2 - albeit a very nice A2 carbine. I would, however check production numbers before I shot it though - just to make sure it's not that rare...but I don't think it is. I think you'll 'get more' out of it by shooting it, but if you don't totally dig it, sell it and use the money on something that DOES trip your trigger.

Just shoot it as is. Enjoy