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Posted: 10/26/2014 4:23:58 PM EDT
As everyone knows, during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the U.S. rushed to resupply Israel
with aircraft, armor, and equipment from U.S. inventories, but some small arms were in short supply. With America’s drawdown from Vietnam, Colt had cut back its rifle production lines. To meet the demand, Colt arranged for High Standard, another long-time U.S. arms contractor, to produce rifles from existing parts and new, unfinished lowers. However, before production was fully ramped-up, Israel gained the upper hand, and few of the High Standard rifles made it to the combat zone. The High Standards bore the standard Star of David acceptance mark, but displayed a black finish rather than the traditional Colt grey. The Israelis nicknamed them “Akrab Shahor” (Black Scorpion) because of their distinctive finish. Most were stockpiled upon receipt, and therefore do not exhibit the finish wear normally seen on Israeli small arms. This rifle wears a 13” barrel and a Trilux scope, making it a particularly unique example of the breed. 
Or so the story goes. 
Thanks to John Thomas for his superb work on the upper, but he bears no guilt for this tall tale. |
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Posted: 10/26/2014 4:27:47 PM EDT
[#1]
Looks nifty, congrats. Just put together a DMR type carbine myself.
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Posted: 10/26/2014 6:09:29 PM EDT
[#2]
Can someone send me a link to where I can get a .mil acceptance stamp, my IDF clone is about 90% correct at the moment except I don't have a fancy scope on mine. Gorgeous representation of an IDF build. Most people don't know that the barrels are 13" because that's where the 20" pencil barrels were cut just behind the original gas port and redone as carbines. With a flash hider screwed on, my IDF barrel is actually 14.1" in OAL, I ordered the mag coupler, and stock/HG bands through zahal..... I used a Fiberlite stock, Colt IDF Contract HG's, an A2 pistol grip and A2 FH to round it out.
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Posted: 10/26/2014 8:51:55 PM EDT
[#3]
That is a great piece. Really like the IDF with that scope. And the story.
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Posted: 10/26/2014 10:10:02 PM EDT
[#4]
Wrong receiver extension lock ring
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Posted: 10/26/2014 10:12:20 PM EDT
[#5]
Very cool. :-)
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Posted: 10/26/2014 10:16:10 PM EDT
[#6]
After a lot of research, I have found that this exact variant is about as rare as one of the super secret Mattel guns I was able to fondle and photograph about a year ago.
Kudos to the OP for providing pictures and the story behind this rare and unusual Israeli carbine.
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Posted: 10/26/2014 10:22:28 PM EDT
[#7]
Great job OP. Nice history lesson too.
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Posted: 10/26/2014 11:01:05 PM EDT
[#8]
A2 lower in 1973? Maybe if it was reprofiled I would believe the story
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Posted: 10/26/2014 11:20:18 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A2 lower in 1973? Maybe if it was reprofiled I would believe the story I have a US Govt M16 lower print revised 1975 showing an A2 profile forging. I cant attest to any previous revisions or what forging was at which time. |
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Posted: 10/26/2014 11:23:28 PM EDT
[#10]
gosh dang.
that was like a striptease: looking at the series of photos for the auto sear hole :) nice rifle. |
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Posted: 10/26/2014 11:23:35 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A2 lower in 1973? Maybe if it was reprofiled I would believe the story Doesn't need to be reprofiled, because that's the way it came from High Standard. That's the beauty of re-creating something that never existed. Opens a whole world of possibilities.
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Posted: 10/27/2014 12:07:06 AM EDT
[#12]
good looking weapon, intriguing concept (creating what never existed), and very cool story of what could have been. I admit i did more research on the 1973 war than i expected to do on a Sunday.
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Posted: 10/27/2014 12:13:57 AM EDT
[#13]
Shalom !
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Posted: 10/27/2014 7:52:00 AM EDT
[#14]
Does anyone know where I can get the Star of David military acceptance stamp?
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Posted: 10/27/2014 8:21:09 AM EDT
[#15]
Were Trilux scopes used to any degree on M16 platforms?
I always noticed them on FAL pattern rifles. |
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Posted: 10/27/2014 8:29:03 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Does anyone know where I can get the Star of David military acceptance stamp? That's a laser engraving filled with Whiteout on mine. Gray Laser in San Antonio did it for me. |
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Posted: 10/27/2014 8:52:21 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's a laser engraving filled with Whiteout on mine. Gray Laser in San Antonio did it for me. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Does anyone know where I can get the Star of David military acceptance stamp? That's a laser engraving filled with Whiteout on mine. Gray Laser in San Antonio did it for me. Yeah, that's a little far for me to go to get a star stamped on my receiver. Do you now of any DIY stamps or templets for painting it on. Maybe Zahal, GB, or fleabay? |
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Posted: 10/27/2014 9:00:05 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A2 lower in 1973? Maybe if it was reprofiled I would believe the story That modern colt safety selector looks really out of place. |
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Posted: 10/27/2014 9:05:55 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That modern colt safety selector looks really out of place. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
A2 lower in 1973? Maybe if it was reprofiled I would believe the story That modern colt safety selector looks really out of place. You mean the one hiding under the sling until the last pic? DAMN IT... 
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Posted: 10/27/2014 9:23:07 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Were Trilux scopes used to any degree on M16 platforms? I always noticed them on FAL pattern rifles. I know they had some for sale with a cam for .556 but I can not find a single photo of and IDF M16 with one mounted. I have seen pics with them mounted on the Galil .223 |
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Posted: 10/27/2014 2:08:08 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That modern colt safety selector looks really out of place. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
A2 lower in 1973? Maybe if it was reprofiled I would believe the story That modern colt safety selector looks really out of place. Nahh, only if you overthink it. For me, it was a fun, different and "out of the box" project that I think ended up nice (IMHO.) There are plenty of projects on these pages that aren't "correct", as in no FA, 16" bbls, commercial lowers, wrong twist, etc. For me it's the "spirit" of Retro, if maybe not the letter. Now I really admire guys like John Thomas and others here who craft some fantastic weapons. There's no way I can match their workmanship, nor will I try. My guns are versions of what we used to call "a 20 yard car" back when I was street rodding. As in, "that ole car looks good at 20 yards."
Bottom line, unless it's a real cut-down 20" FA Colt that saw service in Israel, it's just going to be varying degrees of eye candy. |
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Posted: 10/27/2014 2:27:54 PM EDT
[#22]
You really had me going there. The Beowulf X height scope really adds authenticity.
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Posted: 10/27/2014 5:53:21 PM EDT
[#23]
3/8" Star of David Stamp A couple minutes with an exacto knife and you're in bisiness
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Posted: 10/27/2014 8:05:14 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
After a lot of research, I have found that this exact variant is about as rare as one of the super secret Mattel guns I was able to fondle and photograph about a year ago. Kudos to the OP for providing pictures and the story behind this rare and unusual Israeli carbine. You think that's something, I met an ex-IDF guy that swore he used one of the Mattel guns that made it out of 'Nam. 
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Posted: 10/27/2014 10:16:57 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryPerfect, I'll use this and some Testor's white model paint and be done with it. Thanks for the link.. After the stamp I'll be roughly 95-98% finished with my IDF build, I'm super proud of this one and it hasn't even been nearly as hard as some of my other builds. |
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Posted: 10/28/2014 9:35:20 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You think that's something, I met an ex-IDF guy that swore he used one of the Mattel guns that made it out of 'Nam.
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
After a lot of research, I have found that this exact variant is about as rare as one of the super secret Mattel guns I was able to fondle and photograph about a year ago. Kudos to the OP for providing pictures and the story behind this rare and unusual Israeli carbine. You think that's something, I met an ex-IDF guy that swore he used one of the Mattel guns that made it out of 'Nam.
Oh, I believe it. With the international gun trade masterminded by Yuri Orlov in R&R weapons (Rare and Retro) these things can show up anywhere.... |
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Posted: 10/28/2014 11:33:44 AM EDT
[#27]
Yuri Orlov isn't that Nick Cage's Czech born character in Lord of War? I know it's based on actual events but thought they'd have changed the names.
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Posted: 10/28/2014 1:00:08 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yuri Orlov isn't that Nick Cage's Czech born character in Lord of War? I know it's based on actual events but thought they'd have changed the names. Yes, and there is no such thing as a Israeli “Nickel Grass” M-16 variant or any of the Mattel M16 series...
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Posted: 10/28/2014 2:52:21 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yes, and there is no such thing as a Israeli “Nickel Grass” M-16 variant or any of the Mattel M16 series... Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Yuri Orlov isn't that Nick Cage's Czech born character in Lord of War? I know it's based on actual events but thought they'd have changed the names. Yes, and there is no such thing as a Israeli “Nickel Grass” M-16 variant or any of the Mattel M16 series... I'm dumb but not that dumb...LOL
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Posted: 10/28/2014 3:14:30 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm dumb but not that dumb...LOL Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Yuri Orlov isn't that Nick Cage's Czech born character in Lord of War? I know it's based on actual events but thought they'd have changed the names. Yes, and there is no such thing as a Israeli “Nickel Grass” M-16 variant or any of the Mattel M16 series... I'm dumb but not that dumb...LOL I know that...just twisting your tail 
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Posted: 11/1/2014 1:01:22 AM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryI purchased the 3/8" Star of David Inspection Stamp and a bottle of flat white Testor's Model paint, when I finish my receiver I'll send the stamp and paint to whoever needs to mark their IDF build's receiver then pass it on to the next person who needs it, etc, etc. I wanna try to get it to everyone who owns an IDF build by having you guys just PIF to the next guy in line. |
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