Questions about my new Retro upper find

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Questions about my new Retro upper find

Posted: 5/27/2016 2:25:47 PM EDT

Well I feel fortunate to be able to resurrect a 603 project and just received this upper.

Maybe you all can clue me in on the origin of the upper,
I bought it here on the EE, cmpb marked barrel and c marked FSB. Pins and fh look like it's never been disassembled.
The upper has me puzzled, I don't see any Colt proofs like my other 603 uppers, no forge codes. I wanna scrub it but don't wanna make the finish shiny. Would it hurt it? I'm wondering if it has had a spray of DriLube? Seems to have a countersunk front lug. Maybe a replacement upper or just a late 60s no forge code upper from another contractor besides Colt?

I will work on better pics, EE pics here..

ETA: no flashing on the upper near carry handle

My work in progress:

Waiting on an NDS lower..

Posted: 5/27/2016 2:29:07 PM EDT

[#1]

Maybe an H&R or GM upper with flashing behind or in front of the carry handle?

Posted: 5/27/2016 2:29:07 PM EDT

[#2]

double post

Posted: 5/27/2016 2:40:41 PM EDT

[#3]

When you are able to, post pics forward of the dust cover, the left side looks odd, its missing that little vertical thing in the cam pin area, I'm thinking it's a Norinco upper?

ETA: It appears that Norinco uppers were square forge, not sure what I'm looking at.

Posted: 5/27/2016 2:59:46 PM EDT

[#4]

Likely early replacement upper receiver - the C MP B barrel is a Chrome bore - that's the early marking they used. If no stamps, then not assembled by Colt, but that doesn't mean much - it could have been done at company level with replacement part. Early upper - very nice! XM16E1 style - upper receiver IS early Colt. Very, very sweet upper.

Posted: 5/27/2016 3:06:09 PM EDT

[#5]

Sweet upper! Is it just me, or is that a gray A2 port door?

Posted: 5/27/2016 3:15:34 PM EDT

[#6]

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Quoted:
Sweet upper! Is it just me, or is that a gray A2 port door?

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It is. All parkerizing is some variation of gray, they add some kind of dye or something to make it black IIRC.

Posted: 5/27/2016 3:29:43 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:

It is. All parkerizing is some variation of gray, they add some kind of dye or something to make it black IIRC.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Sweet upper! Is it just me, or is that a gray A2 port door?

It is. All parkerizing is some variation of gray, they add some kind of dye or something to make it black IIRC.

Zinc parkerizing comes out gray. Manganese park comes out black. The strength of the solution determines how dark the color is.

Posted: 5/27/2016 3:54:49 PM EDT

[#8]

Round forge M16A1 made before 1970 with early 70s replacement chrome bore barrel. Nice Vietnam War era upper. No forge, seems to be in great shape too. Good find. A2 port door for sure.

Posted: 5/27/2016 4:23:12 PM EDT

[#9]

Can you post closer pics of left and right side of receiver?

Posted: 5/27/2016 4:30:27 PM EDT

[#10]

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Quoted:
Can you post closer pics of left and right side of receiver?

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It's got a rebated lug but they are not black so that's where I got my conclusion from.

Posted: 5/27/2016 7:09:55 PM EDT

[#11]

Looks like maybe the upper has a coat of something, I dunno maybe just dirty.
Here's the area in front of ejection port. I have an A1 port door waiting to be installed.

Rebated lug is Black!

Line on Cam bump can be seen here but is faint. This makes me think upper was dusted with DriFilm Lube or Norrells,etc..

But I am loving this upper either way!

Posted: 5/27/2016 7:16:33 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looks like maybe the upper has a coat of something, I dunno maybe just dirty.
Here's the area in front of ejection port. I have an A1 port door waiting to be installed.
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg</a>

Rebated lug is Black!
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg</a>

Line on Cam bump can be seen here but is faint. This makes me think upper was dusted with DriFilm Lube or Norrells,etc..
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg</a>

But I am loving this upper either way!

View Quote

Late XM16E1 upper you won the jackpot on that one. They are hard to find!

Posted: 5/27/2016 7:18:07 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:

Zinc parkerizing comes out gray. Manganese park comes out black. The strength of the solution determines how dark the color is.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Sweet upper! Is it just me, or is that a gray A2 port door?

It is. All parkerizing is some variation of gray, they add some kind of dye or something to make it black IIRC.

Zinc parkerizing comes out gray. Manganese park comes out black. The strength of the solution determines how dark the color is.

I've done quite a bit of Manganese parking and its always come out a nice medium gray.

Posted: 5/27/2016 7:38:53 PM EDT

[#14]

That's a pretty round, round forge if you catch my drift. Does the FA have a number stamped opposite the side you press forward?

Posted: 5/27/2016 7:50:41 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

Late XM16E1 upper you won the jackpot on that one. They are hard to find!

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Looks like maybe the upper has a coat of something, I dunno maybe just dirty.
Here's the area in front of ejection port. I have an A1 port door waiting to be installed.
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg</a>

Rebated lug is Black!
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg</a>

Line on Cam bump can be seen here but is faint. This makes me think upper was dusted with DriFilm Lube or Norrells,etc..
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg</a>

But I am loving this upper either way!

Late XM16E1 upper you won the jackpot on that one. They are hard to find!

IMHO thats an early A1 upper, not a late E1 .

Posted: 5/27/2016 7:55:50 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

IMHO thats an early A1 upper, not a late E1 .

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Looks like maybe the upper has a coat of something, I dunno maybe just dirty.
Here's the area in front of ejection port. I have an A1 port door waiting to be installed.
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg</a>

Rebated lug is Black!
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg</a>

Line on Cam bump can be seen here but is faint. This makes me think upper was dusted with DriFilm Lube or Norrells,etc..
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg</a>

But I am loving this upper either way!

Late XM16E1 upper you won the jackpot on that one. They are hard to find!

IMHO thats an early A1 upper, not a late E1 .

How can you tell I'm not sure how to tell the difference the roundness of the front of the ejection port.

Posted: 5/27/2016 7:59:36 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

IMHO thats an early A1 upper, not a late E1 .

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Looks like maybe the upper has a coat of something, I dunno maybe just dirty.
Here's the area in front of ejection port. I have an A1 port door waiting to be installed.
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg</a>

Rebated lug is Black!
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg</a>

Line on Cam bump can be seen here but is faint. This makes me think upper was dusted with DriFilm Lube or Norrells,etc..
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg</a>

But I am loving this upper either way!

Late XM16E1 upper you won the jackpot on that one. They are hard to find!

IMHO thats an early A1 upper, not a late E1 .

Early 603 uppers had no forge codes under the rear site but had Colt proof marks in front of the ejection port I believe. This has neither it appears. OP should post some close up pictures of the front and rear of the carry handle.

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:01:50 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:

How can you tell I'm not sure how to tell the difference the roundness of the front of the ejection port.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Looks like maybe the upper has a coat of something, I dunno maybe just dirty.
Here's the area in front of ejection port. I have an A1 port door waiting to be installed.
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/7876C96B-12C1-4335-99FA-946CCE7E3820_zpshlaq66nf.jpg</a>

Rebated lug is Black!
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/C81FD02B-B909-468A-97CE-977A54157FA6_zpscajzsunf.jpg</a>

Line on Cam bump can be seen here but is faint. This makes me think upper was dusted with DriFilm Lube or Norrells,etc..
<a href="http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bladewurk/media/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg26/bladewurk/DC702343-93B4-4281-BBA8-3C99F3F3EC04_zpsfskz2fov.jpg</a>

But I am loving this upper either way!

Late XM16E1 upper you won the jackpot on that one. They are hard to find!

IMHO thats an early A1 upper, not a late E1 .

How can you tell I'm not sure how to tell the difference the roundness of the front of the ejection port.

Early early

Early

Early round

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:03:21 PM EDT

[#19]

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Quoted:
How can you tell I'm not sure how to tell the difference the roundness of the front of the ejection port.

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Its easiest for me to look at the left side, not the right.

Compare the left side of the OP's upper to my XM16E1 upper:

Furthermore as Taz pointed out....if its not a Colt, it cant be an XM16E1 upper.

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:07:36 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

Its easiest for me to look at the left side, not the right.

Compare the left side of the OP's upper to my XM16E1 upper:

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Iron_Airship/media/XMLEFT.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/Iron_Airship/XMLEFT.jpg</a>

Furthermore as Taz pointed out....if its not a Colt, it cant be an XM16E1 upper.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
How can you tell I'm not sure how to tell the difference the roundness of the front of the ejection port.

Its easiest for me to look at the left side, not the right.

Compare the left side of the OP's upper to my XM16E1 upper:

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Iron_Airship/media/XMLEFT.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/Iron_Airship/XMLEFT.jpg</a>

Furthermore as Taz pointed out....if its not a Colt, it cant be an XM16E1 upper.

Non proofed would be authentic colts replacement parts. They were only proofed when fired at the factory. Probably replacement upper from Colts. That is a colt I can tell you that unless the forging is not removed. Also has black lugs.

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:10:22 PM EDT

[#21]

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Quoted:

Non proofed would be authentic colts replacement parts. They were only proofed when fired at the factory. Probably replacement upper from Colts.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
How can you tell I'm not sure how to tell the difference the roundness of the front of the ejection port.

Its easiest for me to look at the left side, not the right.

Compare the left side of the OP's upper to my XM16E1 upper:

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Iron_Airship/media/XMLEFT.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/Iron_Airship/XMLEFT.jpg</a>

Furthermore as Taz pointed out....if its not a Colt, it cant be an XM16E1 upper.

Non proofed would be authentic colts replacement parts. They were only proofed when fired at the factory. Probably replacement upper from Colts.

Ok it might be a Colt replacement upper, but I def dont think its a xm16e1 upper.

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:12:55 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:

Ok it might be a Colt replacement upper, but I def dont think its a xm16e1 upper.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
How can you tell I'm not sure how to tell the difference the roundness of the front of the ejection port.

Its easiest for me to look at the left side, not the right.

Compare the left side of the OP's upper to my XM16E1 upper:

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Iron_Airship/media/XMLEFT.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/Iron_Airship/XMLEFT.jpg</a>

Furthermore as Taz pointed out....if its not a Colt, it cant be an XM16E1 upper.

Non proofed would be authentic colts replacement parts. They were only proofed when fired at the factory. Probably replacement upper from Colts.

Ok it might be a Colt replacement upper, but I def dont think its a xm16e1 upper.

I think it was made circa 66-67 transitional period XM and M16A1 introduction.

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:27:18 PM EDT

[#23]

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Quoted:
I think it was made circa 66-67 transitional period XM and M16A1 introduction.

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This is a factory M16A1 with an MP C barrel. It is in the .fed loaner program to another .fed institution. Judging from the wear on it, IMHO it has the same major components as the day it was new. (springs have been replaced)

Look at how much more round the upper in the OP's pics are than even this ^.

I still disagree its from 66/67 timeframe, but respectfully so. Ive been wrong about this kind of stuff more than a couple times. .

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:32:47 PM EDT

[#24]

And as a sidenote, it cracks me up how pedantic we can be about stuff (in a good way)...99.9% of people from GD or the whizzbang AR discussions forum would read this discussion and say "JESUSCHRIST WHO CARES!"

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:39:23 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
And as a sidenote, it cracks me up how pedantic we can be about stuff (in a good way)...99.9% of people from GD or the whizzbang AR discussions forum would read this discussion and say "JESUSCHRIST WHO CARES!"

View Quote

Lol we are all insane with RBRD! I don't know? It's old lol I know that. It's Vietnam war issue era. Yah nobody else cares about that stuff. Lol altered his pic orientation a bit to make it easier to see.

Mine late XM16E1 round

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:39:57 PM EDT

[#26]

More round where exactly?

Posted: 5/27/2016 8:40:54 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:

Lol we are all insane with RBRD! I don't know? It's old lol I know that. It's Vietnam war issue era. Yah nobody else cares about that stuff. Lol

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
And as a sidenote, it cracks me up how pedantic we can be about stuff (in a good way)...99.9% of people from GD or the whizzbang AR discussions forum would read this discussion and say "JESUSCHRIST WHO CARES!"

Lol we are all insane with RBRD! I don't know? It's old lol I know that. It's Vietnam war issue era. Yah nobody else cares about that stuff. Lol

We're nuts, but again...in a good way.