My 1968 M16A1 Retro Build Thread- in progress

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - My 1968 M16A1 Retro Build Thread- in progress

Posted: 3/8/2020 4:25:40 PM EDT

Going start this thread with a photo that I just have received from braceman.
Seeing this photo, was as exciting as the time that I saw a photo of a 607 stock lying on Matts work bench, with my name taped on it

Posted: 3/8/2020 4:28:27 PM EDT

[#1]

He is a miracle worker!

Posted: 3/8/2020 6:54:02 PM EDT

[#2]

I'll be in my bunk.

Posted: 3/8/2020 8:18:12 PM EDT

[#3]

OP, Do you have a picture of the original demill? Curious to how much you need.

Posted: 3/8/2020 8:40:10 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Going start this thread with a photo that I just have received from braceman.
Seeing this photo, was as exciting as the time that I saw a photo of a 607 stock lying on Matts work bench, with my name taped on it

https://i.imgur.com/xksPPwVh.jpg

View Quote

He finished my 1966 XM16E1 today too! Yours looks fantastic!!! Believe me when I say I understand your excitement! LOL

Posted: 3/8/2020 8:57:10 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
OP, Do you have a picture of the original demill? Curious to how much you need.

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Not sure, but mine was one probably one of the easier ones that he has had to work with.

Posted: 3/8/2020 9:01:24 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:

He finished my 1966 XM16E1 today too! Yours looks fantastic!!! Believe me when I say I understand your excitement! LOL

https://i.imgur.com/xbCFrAL.jpg

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Looks nice! Please post pictures as your build progresses.

Posted: 3/9/2020 5:42:42 AM EDT

[#7]

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Quoted:

Not sure, but mine was one probably one of the easier ones that he has had to work with.

https://i.imgur.com/QRTf9Bql.jpg

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Thanks!

Posted: 3/9/2020 7:08:34 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Going start this thread with a photo that I just have received from braceman.
Seeing this photo, was as exciting as the time that I saw a photo of a 607 stock lying on Matts work bench, with my name taped on it

https://i.imgur.com/xksPPwVh.jpg

View Quote

Nice, very crisp - look forward to future photos as you progress

Posted: 3/9/2020 7:10:02 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:

He finished my 1966 XM16E1 today too! Yours looks fantastic!!! Believe me when I say I understand your excitement! LOL

https://i.imgur.com/xbCFrAL.jpg

View Quote

Sweet

Posted: 3/9/2020 1:32:51 PM EDT

[#10]

Looks great! The only drawback is that when your done, you will also want to do an XM16E1, GM, H&R, and an XM177E2! Finding magwells for these projects is really getting hard!!

Posted: 3/9/2020 5:04:45 PM EDT

[#11]

Bummed that he cant figure out how to get better shape on the receiver so the CO doesnt always look jacked up. Still better than nothing...

Posted: 3/9/2020 6:56:15 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looks great! The only drawback is that when your done, you will also want to do an XM16E1, GM, H&R, and an XM177E2! Finding magwells for these projects is really getting hard!!

View Quote

Hell i don’t even have my receiver back yet and I wanna do a GM and an A1 like OP’s LOL!!!

Posted: 3/9/2020 7:43:29 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Bummed that he cant figure out how to get better shape on the receiver so the CO doesnt always look jacked up. Still better than nothing...

View Quote

What is "CO"?

Posted: 3/9/2020 8:01:16 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

What is "CO"?

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I’m assuming he’s talking about the “CO” in Colt engraving he does, which I assume is because those letters are in the weld and not the raw aluminum, either that or I’m having a brain fart lol

Posted: 3/9/2020 8:03:51 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
What is "CO"?

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I think he’s referring to the way the “CO” (first two letters of the COLT manufacturer label) get scrunched together. It looks like maybe the CNC can’t clear the raised area by the bolt catch in order to engrave those two letters farther forward. Both of those receivers still look fantastic though!

Posted: 3/9/2020 8:44:03 PM EDT

[#16]

Could very well be the surface of the weld.

Not a problem with me at all, as his engraving more closely mimics the unperfect appearance of roll marking.

Posted: 3/9/2020 8:54:17 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

Not a problem with me at all, as his engraving more closely mimics the unperfect appearance of roll marking.

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Yes, part of the problem with clones is that a lot of them (mine included) look too nice. Colt wasn't trying to make pretty guns, and depending on the time frame they made some rough looking stuff.

Posted: 3/12/2020 1:54:44 AM EDT

[#18]

I received my lower from braceman today also.

Here is a mockup of "Barney" the purple M16, that I threw together tonight, I will get better pictures later.
Been collecting correct parts to go with this 68 M16A1 lower for at least two years.
Colt no forge code upper, Colt MP C barrel, early bend gas tube, unmarked handguards with drain holes, and a really nice C butt stock.

Posted: 3/12/2020 7:07:00 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
I received my lower from braceman today also.

Here is a mockup of "Barney" the purple M16, that I threw together tonight, I will get better pictures later.
Been collecting correct parts to go with this 68 M16A1 lower for at least two years.
Colt no forge code upper, Colt MP C barrel, early bend gas tube, unmarked handguards with drain holes, and a really nice C butt stock.

https://i.imgur.com/vYtTA6bh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2Ufg2rch.jpg

View Quote

And your excitement continues - great mockup

Posted: 3/12/2020 10:58:01 AM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
I received my lower from braceman today also.

Here is a mockup of "Barney" the purple M16, that I threw together tonight, I will get better pictures later.
Been collecting correct parts to go with this 68 M16A1 lower for at least two years.
Colt no forge code upper, Colt MP C barrel, early bend gas tube, unmarked handguards with drain holes, and a really nice C butt stock.

https://i.imgur.com/vYtTA6bh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2Ufg2rch.jpg

View Quote

HELL YEAH! That looks like an early square forged 603 upper! NICE!

Posted: 3/12/2020 4:04:05 PM EDT

[#21]

Looks like it in those poor pictures, but it is a round forge upper.

Posted: 3/12/2020 8:30:56 PM EDT

[#22]

It's going to look great when your done! I don't look at these rifles as clones, but as partial restorations. When you are done you will have a rifle that is about as original as you can get without having a Class 3 machine gun license!

Posted: 3/12/2020 8:54:41 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looks like it in those poor pictures, but it is a round forge upper.
https://i.imgur.com/iHBO6S9l.jpg

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That’s a nice looking upper!!! Those original no Forge code uppers are getting harder and harder to find!! A few weeks back I had to go to a gun show in Virginia to find mine! (I live in PA)

Posted: 3/12/2020 8:55:57 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's going to look great when your done! I don't look at these rifles as clones, but as partial restorations. When you are done you will have a rifle that is about as original as you can get without having a Class 3 machine gun license!

View Quote

I look at them the same way, OP’s is gonna be a semi automatic converted Vietnam era M16A1

Posted: 3/30/2020 4:00:34 PM EDT

[#25]

Hi all,

I haven't finalized all of the small details yet, but I figured that I should post a photo or two before this thread slips off into the archives.

I promise a better photo shoot in the near future.
The Norrells actually matches better to the eye, than the digital camera depicts.

Posted: 3/30/2020 6:31:00 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Hi all,

I haven't finalized all of the small details yet, but I figured that I should post a photo or two before this thread slips off into the archives.

I promise a better photo shoot in the near future.
The Norrells actually matches better to the eye, than the digital camera depicts.

https://i.imgur.com/UhujblWh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MQSVjN2h.jpg

View Quote

HELL YEAH!

Posted: 3/31/2020 9:14:52 AM EDT

[#27]

That looks amazing. I wonder what John Norrels rewelds looked like. Isn’t that what his paint was made for.

Posted: 3/31/2020 9:25:55 AM EDT

[#28]

Wow. Looks like the A1 I was issued in 1979.

Impressive!

Posted: 3/31/2020 7:43:28 PM EDT

[#29]

Just beautiful

Posted: 4/2/2020 8:26:55 PM EDT

[#30]

Turned out Great!

Posted: 4/4/2020 10:12:41 PM EDT

[#31]

New guy here, is it possible to get info on guy that does this work, Thank you

Posted: 4/4/2020 11:44:37 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
New guy here, is it possible to get info on guy that does this work, Thank you

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:
New guy here, is it possible to get info on guy that does this work, Thank you

Quoted:
Going start this thread with a photo that I just have received from braceman.
Seeing this photo, was as exciting as the time that I saw a photo of a 607 stock lying on Matts work bench, with my name taped on it

Send that guy an IM