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Posted: 10/22/2021 9:41:59 AM EDT
Hi picked up a pair of XM16E1 lowers from Brownells
To give homes to my stray uppers and am baffled by the anodizing. I’m used to NDS, and the color looks odd to me. It may be normal for them? They are about 200 serial #’s apart and are two different shades. One greenish one purplish. But to me the finish looks ‘hazy’ The finish looks ever so slightly inconsistent and like there isn’t enough of the anodizing. I added some ballistol, and that helped slightly. Are they blems or is this normal? Thx  Attached File |
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Posted: 10/22/2021 9:47:54 AM EDT
[#1]
In before 'Brownelled'
 Bet they will gladly sell you some Ceracoat to make them look a little more normal. |
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Posted: 10/22/2021 10:44:28 AM EDT
[#2]
Can you put one of your NDS receivers in a pic next to them for reference?
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Posted: 10/22/2021 11:03:44 AM EDT
[#3]
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Posted: 10/22/2021 12:46:50 PM EDT
[#4]
I used a Brownells M16A1 blem as a base for a BFPU. It had a very light grey color (not even close to XM) and it worked extremely well for aging when exposed to blunt force, rocks, scrap metal and several scouring pads.
 Due to the color of the anodizing and the low price paid for it I had few regrets giving it 'the treatment'. In fact, the light color made the project easier.
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Posted: 10/22/2021 8:48:37 PM EDT
[#5]
The early Brownells lowers were the proper 1960’s dark charcoal gray, which is barely lighter than flat black. Some people complained that this color was too dark for their later Colt M16A1 or SP1 uppers, so Brownells started finishing their lowers in a much lighter shade of gray.
I would imagine that your two lowers are representative of the lighter color finish on current Brownells lowers. |
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Posted: 10/22/2021 9:01:42 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The early Brownells lowers were the proper 1960’s dark charcoal gray, which is barely lighter than flat black. Some people complained that this color was too dark for their later Colt M16A1 or SP1 uppers, so Brownells started finishing their lowers in a much lighter shade of gray. I would imagine that your two lowers are representative of the lighter color finish on current Brownells lowers. Possibly, but they don't match any of my 60's & 70's Colt uppers. @CactusCapt you are right, they do have a BFPU look 'in the raw' but I'm not going to sand down any of my Colt uppers :) |
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Posted: 10/22/2021 9:07:32 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @CactusCapt you are right, they do have a BFPU look 'in the raw' but I'm not going to sand down any of my Colt uppers :) Didn't have to trash a nice Colt upper- I had a few of the Malaysian Colt kits from CFS that, after removing globs of black paint, were perfect for BFPU. |
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Posted: 10/22/2021 9:09:10 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @hipshot Top is a NDS A2, bottom early NDS A1 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/61015/51ADE72B-0CEC-4117-AAD0-CA2AED4A2F96_jpe-2139250.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/61015/9C70116F-AA41-42CE-9C65-65CD80E47101_jpe-2139252.JPG Thanks for posting the pictures, it's a significant difference when seeing them side by side. I really wouldn't care if they were mine but I understand some people don't like two tone receivers. |
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Posted: 10/23/2021 12:50:13 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @hipshot Top is a NDS A2, bottom early NDS A1 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/61015/51ADE72B-0CEC-4117-AAD0-CA2AED4A2F96_jpe-2139250.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/61015/9C70116F-AA41-42CE-9C65-65CD80E47101_jpe-2139252.JPG  Attached FileHere are my two lowers an A1 and xm16 with a Nodak 603 and a black Brownells 603. I’m rather disappointed in the finish color. They are more of a grey/purple than anything else. Does anyone have any ideas where I can send the lot to be refinished to match better? |
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Posted: 10/25/2021 8:52:31 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The early Brownells lowers were the proper 1960’s dark charcoal gray, which is barely lighter than flat black. Some people complained that this color was too dark for their later Colt M16A1 or SP1 uppers, so Brownells started finishing their lowers in a much lighter shade of gray. I would imagine that your two lowers are representative of the lighter color finish on current Brownells lowers. I have a Brownells 601 lower. It must have been an early one; it is very dark grey! |
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