Ran across someone selling a Bushmaster upper with A1 style sights with what looks like a skinny barrel and a three prong flash hider.  It is suppose to be original, used very little, and has been sitting on a shelf since 1999.  Does that sound like something Bushmaster would have made?  Just want to make sure some home gunsmith didn't throw a bunch of old parts together. Have included it here because it would seem to be a very good candidate for making into a Diemaco C8 clone or possibly a Colt 653. Thanks.

I was lucky enough to find a CH marked upper with a C MP Chrome bore barrel and an A1 flash hider with .625 barrel on it. Its also grey not black bile the BM variant. As best I know Only Diemaco and Colt made the C7's for Canada. Anchor Harvey was re-popping the uppers for a while for BM but have since been discontinued for some reason. Look for the split A H logo in the recess of the handle

If it looks good, and you can afford it, buy it. (I should have said do a price check in the appraisals thread first. Quickly though - retro stuff is getting crazy. All your fault. )

Thanks for the tips.  Price is the same as you can get a new Bushmaster upper now, was unsure if that was a deal or not because I can't find hardly anything to compare it to.

Yes. Bushmaster (Quality Parts) was still selling A1 style uppers with the brass deflector (C7) in the late 90's. I owned one that I ordered direct from BM in 97. They offered a skinny barrel, but I choose a HB with 1-9 twist and A2 Flash Hider. For the life of me I can't remember if it had any markings on upper? Foolishly sold here in the EE 2 years ago. Basically gave it away.......... I put a lot of rounds downrange with that upper and never remember a problem. Buy with confidence if your sure it's a late 90's Bushy.

Is it rifle length or carbine length? If from custom shop most any configuration was available from parts catalog depending on legality.  Don't remember any retail pieces with 3 prong attached but part was definitely available through  catalog and could have been a viable swap with price difference if one talked to right salesperson before and after assault rifle ban was lifted.  Were ways around it.  Only catalog I currently have is 2004 post ban but still includes ban items.

True BM barrel should be stamped B MP 5.56 NATO with twist rate or such at 12 PM on barrel between FSB and FH.  Last A-1 BM carbines I purchased were from Windham ME and had splintered A forge  code on receiver if I remember correctly but were M-4 contour barrelled with sale pricing.   I could make a call and confirm forge code as buyers still have them.  All were 1-9 twist,  chrome lined from CMV barrel steel with either a  pinned Izzy brake or A-2 FH depending on configuration. I built a retro carbine clone using a BM super light barrel and was a quite popular build.  Sold it as it wasn't as accurate as the one's I kept.

A Windham factory carbine upper with BM super light weight barrel would be a good buy IMO if not full retail.   My 2004 catalog shows over $600 suggested retail for complete upper and barrel assembly $235.  New condition LW BM carbine barrel alone will bring more than original price.  If over $500 today I'd pass as it's not worth any more than that considering parts used.  BM parts currently are some of the least expensive out there but also from NC plant not ME.

I've never had or actually seen an early BM pencil profile 20" barrel.  Their 20" Hbars from 80's 90's were high quality and small parts were basically govt contract and grey except for barrel and receivers.  I know Mr. Dyke founded the company in late 70's so LW profile barrel was about all that was available back then in 20". Hbars were late 80's production unless surplus 1-12 twist or custom turned.   I didn't start messing with AR parts guns until the mid 80's and BM was in the mix.  I still have a few BM lowers mfg in  Windham. ME. a  BM 1-8 twist match barrel and couple Windham mfg govt profile 20" in 1-7 twist,  one an A-2 and one flat top.  The Windham BM pieces were decent until right before the trademark/ company sale then the quality seemed to drop a bit IMO. The A-2 has EK forge code and flat top is keyhole forge.

Just want to make sure some home gunsmith didn't throw a bunch of old parts together.

Don't know that I'd let this be a deal breaker.  Lot of homebrewed gathering of parts builds have better quality control  and parts than the factory assembled uppers out there but then there are also the Bubba assembled liquidation pieces.  Pays to know what one is looking at.  Many homebrews have a better quality and sometimes a hard to find today high quality BCG or such in them.  Check the barrel stamping first then look at BCG.  BM BCG's aren't generally staked very deep or look like someone hit with a chisel across the top and are usually AR-15 style not M-16.