So I found some new old stock A1 barrels here a long time ago.  Then found couple of upper receivers (do not know if they Are M16A1 uppers or Sp1 uppers) both are small front pin.  Then I found someone here that had some unused A1 straight delta rings, weld spring and clip. Now all I need to do is properly mount  and torque the barrels to the uppers and install a gas tube and flash hider on both.
Couple of questions from the land of legitimate and correct retro.  None of this stuff I have accumulated appears to be crap parts and I think its a decent start but......
1. Can anyone tell me the origin of these uppers based on the forge codes (C H) and other marks? (Bought locally at a gun show.)





2. CM P Chrome Bore on the barrels but no twist markings.  I would have to venture a guess that these are both 1 in 12 right?  (bought as (new old stock replacement barrels on this website )





3.  Finish on rear sight adjustment knob is different between the two.  Both correct for an A1 upper or was one replaced at one point.





4.  Which muzzle device is preferred for an A1 copy or is that nothing more than personal preference if you are not going for a copy of a specific period piece.





5. Handguards bought in As new condition presuming most if not all A1 handguards are period correct (I sometimes see people talking about handguards with and without drain holes?)





6. Since Nodak's wait for lowers is quite long, is the next most appropriate lower to throw these on a small pin slabside colt lower?  Or should I just throw them on any available A2 lower I have laying around call it good and shoot them.





7.  Would these have had a Full auto, semi auto or colt half circle carrier in them if they were originally SP-1 uppers?



8. Where can you find grey finished charging handles?





And it appears impossible to keep dog hair and dust out of close up pictures taken on the floor.



































































 

I can tell you that they are not SP1 uppers. SP1 upper did not have the forward assist. They were slick side uppers like my SP1 below shows.





You do have correct uppers for a 603/M16A1 clone.

1. Can anyone tell me the origin of these uppers based on the forge codes (C H) and other marks? (Bought locally at a gun show.)
these are late colt m16a1 uppers

2. CM P Chrome Bore on the barrels but no twist markings. I would have to venture a guess that these are both 1 in 12 right? (bought as (new old stock replacement barrels on this website )
correct on the 1:12 twist

3. Finish on rear sight adjustment knob is different between the two. Both correct for an A1 upper or was one replaced at one point.
both look correct, parts from the era tend to vary a lot in finish

4. Which muzzle device is preferred for an A1 copy or is that nothing more than personal preference if you are not going for a copy of a specific period piece.
the a1 birdcage is correct for the upper and barrel

5. Handguards bought in As new condition presuming most if not all A1 handguards are period correct (I sometimes see people talking about handguards with and without drain holes?)
if they are L/R marked, they would be correct for the era

6. Since Nodak's wait for lowers is quite long, is the next most appropriate lower to throw these on a small pin slabside colt lower? Or should I just throw them on any available A2 lower I have laying around call it good and shoot them.
i'd backorder from nodak and put them on whatever i had on hand for the moment

7. Would these have had a Full auto, semi auto or colt half circle carrier in them if they were originally SP-1 uppers?
these would have had the full auto C marked carrier w/ MPC marked bolt

8. Where can you find grey finished charging handles?
ones in good condition to match your uppers don't come up that often, you can either buy a refinished one from Nodak or keep watching gunbroker and the EE

to get them more accurate, i would get an A1 front sight post and replace the peel washer w/ a split washer.

i would get a type E (trapdoor A1 length stock), A1 pistol grip for these builds.

those are some really nice uppers you got there.

So these would have been M-16A1 uppers or the next civilian version after the SP-1 to adopt the forward assist?  EDIT answered above damn I'm slow.





 

M16A1 uppers, not SPII. SPII (sporters0 Had the same large pin as SP1s. THose are genuine, late-mid 70s M16A1 uppers - and damn nice ones. Used to be $200 would get you one. Hard to in that condition. A Type E trapdoor A1 stock would be correct.

So you are saying the round front sight post?  What does that tell me about these barrels that they have a square post?  Just that they were later production?



 

yeah the round post has 5 adjustment notches, the square have 4.  the square ones are known as A2 front sight posts and are later.

Yes, round front sight posts.  The only thing the square posts tell you is that someone at some point replaced the round ones with square ones.

Is that a Nodak lower?  This is what I am after I think.



 

First, welcome to the sickness.  Looks like you have a great start on your first two retro ARs.  (I say first two because we all know what happens next!)

Next, congratulations on caring enough about the builds to look for "correct" answers.  You're in the right place for the info.

And now...because experienced collectors have to chase down every potential lead, I have to ask...
You wrote, "So I found some new old stock A1 barrels here a long time ago. Then found couple of upper receivers..."

I couldn't help but notice that in contrast to the relatively specific "couple" (implying two) receivers, you refer to a numerically indeterminate "some" barrels.
...Might that mean that you found more than two of those lovely NOS pencil barrels?  
I ask because they would be great swap fodder for the other components you need to finish those nice 603's!  (Hint, hint!)

The lower on the 603/M16A1 clone is a Nodak Spud lower. It is the only source to get retro lowers. They are well worth the price. This is a wait time on them.

It is going to take me days to look back in the archives for the EE post I bought them from.  The guy had quit a few in multiple post but eventually sold out I believe.  They were new "replacement" barrels that were sealed in some sort of silver paper covering and obviously never mounted on an upper and never had a muzzle device on them.  Can not recall the specifics at this point as it was Years ago.



That being said I hope to find individuals here where cash can count as trade fodder as well.



 

I plan to get in line there but if I do should I just buy the Nodak matched set (to include a new upper?



 

nah, your uppers are good to go.  i'd run what you have.

^^ This ^^
Your uppers look to be in very nice shape.  Even though there may be some variation in color from a Nodak lower, that's nothing to worry about.  We've seen many real-deal M16s that show the same sorts of variation.

Now, placing those grey uppers on a modern, black, A2-style lower will probably annoy you, but just keep reminding yourself it's only till the Nodaks arrive!

When I originally built my 603, I did it on a present day A2 lower because that is what I had at the time. It bothered me so much, I ordered the NDS lower for it and rebuilt the lower assembly. It looks better and looks right. Back then, it only took a 2-3 months to get a NDS lower. BTW, the upper assembly on mine is a USGI M16A1. I got it from Ohio Ordnance Works several years ago for $300 (minus the BCH and CH). They sold out in no time.

are you able to do a 80% lower?
i believe Braceman's got a slabside A1 80%.

No.



 

fyi i bought a big-hole no-bump a-1 upper from jhud with a forward assist. exact same finish as a sp-1, perfect fit and color match on a sp-1. must have come off a sporter II.