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Posted: 7/14/2026 1:02:37 PM EDT
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I apologize for posting about this M16A4 in the Retro Forum, but I figured this particular group has by far the most experience with recovering and refinishing old components to build clones. I posted this in the main M16A4 clone thread last year and didn't receive any feedback. I've been working on a clone of my issued rifle from my first Iraq deployment in 2005, which featured an unobtainable FN upper receiver with a raised "F" forge mark. I finally found that cloning "white whale" last year, but the finish is heavily worn as shown in these photos. I'm wondering if it's possible to have this re-anodized to more closely replicate the nearly brand new rifle I was issued. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File I'm not interested in Cerakote or other painting methods because I want it to be anodized to match the lower and look like the new rifle I was issued. I'm also not interested in a worn, battlefield look because that's not how I remember my issued rifle. From my research so far, I understand that parts can be stripped and re-anodized, which comes with the risk of slight changes in dimensions. I've read that you can mask off areas that you don't want stripped and redone, which sounds like it could be an option to leave the interior of the receiver unchanged and just redo the exterior. What I'm not sure about is how aggressive the stripping is, e.g. if it could damage the forge marks that are the entire point of having this upper. Can anyone tell me if this is feasible, and perhaps recommend a good anodizer that I could consult with on this to get their feedback on whether this might work? I imagine this group has experience with this given the condition many surplus M16 parts are in. In the end, I may just stick with the stamped F upper that I already have and keep this one as a memento of my old rifle. I'm just glad to have this one after all these years of wondering if I'd ever find one. Thanks! |
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I'd sell or trade that one. It's worn and has the purple color that many look for. I think the only place that will still anodize has a minimum of 10 items to do work. To strip anodizing, you can soak it in lye, (draino crystals and water) Hunter rifle works |
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Originally Posted By gurn-blanston: I'd sell or trade that one. It's worn and has the purple color that many look for. I think the only place that will still anodize has a minimum of 10 items to do work. To strip anodizing, you can soak it in lye, (draino crystals and water) Hunter rifle works Thanks for the link. After a decade of searching, this was the only time I’ve ever seen this type of early FN upper receiver available for sale. Even online photos of them are rare. FN switched over to stamping the F after the first few years. I’ll never part with this one, even if I can’t refinish it. I doubt I’ll ever see them for sale again. I have two of the stamped F receivers in new condition that I can use if I can’t refinish this one. I used Outlaw Anodizing in Houston a few years ago for an unfinished lower, and they did a great job. I’ll try asking them if they can do it, but I trust this group for a broader range of experience. |
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Originally Posted By 3ACR_Scout: I apologize for posting about this M16A4 in the Retro Forum, but I figured this particular group has by far the most experience with recovering and refinishing old components to build clones. I posted this in the main M16A4 clone thread last year and didn't receive any feedback. I've been working on a clone of my issued rifle from my first Iraq deployment in 2005, which featured an unobtainable FN upper receiver with a raised "F" forge mark. I finally found that cloning "white whale" last year, but the finish is heavily worn as shown in these photos. I'm wondering if it's possible to have this re-anodized to more closely replicate the nearly brand new rifle I was issued. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_01_jpg-3608323.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_02_jpg-3608324.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_03_jpg-3608325.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_04_jpg-3608326.JPG I'm not interested in Cerakote or other painting methods because I want it to be anodized to match the lower and look like the new rifle I was issued. I'm also not interested in a worn, battlefield look because that's not how I remember my issued rifle. From my research so far, I understand that parts can be stripped and re-anodized, which comes with the risk of slight changes in dimensions. I've read that you can mask off areas that you don't want stripped and redone, which sounds like it could be an option to leave the interior of the receiver unchanged and just redo the exterior. What I'm not sure about is how aggressive the stripping is, e.g. if it could damage the forge marks that are the entire point of having this upper. Can anyone tell me if this is feasible, and perhaps recommend a good anodizer that I could consult with on this to get their feedback on whether this might work? I imagine this group has experience with this given the condition many surplus M16 parts are in. In the end, I may just stick with the stamped F upper that I already have and keep this one as a memento of my old rifle. I'm just glad to have this one after all these years of wondering if I'd ever find one. Thanks! Sometime in 1995, I bought this PWA lower receiver brand new. It was anodized in flat black. I wanted to make an AR in 9mm with it, so a friend and I modified it to take Colt-style 9mm mag blocks. I also wanted to use it with an original 602 upper I had (no, I didn't know what it was at the time). I didn't want to re-anodize the upper, so I had the lower changed. They couldn't match the upper, so they stripped and hard-anodized it with no color to this.   The fit on everything is tight, and none of the lettering lost any definition. You might have better luck on color matching if you want black. But, there is always the chance of the purple tint. I got that on two raw upper receivers I had anodized years later. I've used the same local shop over many years, but it's been a while. And, the results have varied from very good to okay, I'll make it work. |
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Originally Posted By 3ACR_Scout: Thanks for the link. After a decade of searching, this was the only time I’ve ever seen this type of early FN upper receiver available for sale. Even online photos of them are rare. FN switched over to stamping the F after the first few years. I’ll never part with this one, even if I can’t refinish it. I doubt I’ll ever see them for sale again. I have two of the stamped F receivers in new condition that I can use if I can’t refinish this one. I used Outlaw Anodizing in Houston a few years ago for an unfinished lower, and they did a great job. I’ll try asking them if they can do it, but I trust this group for a broader range of experience. I still wouldn't refinish your upper, it is rare with the marking and color. I'd keep it as is. I've done lots of builds with worn finishes to mimic that look. There is a guy on Reddit "CeramicCoatingsChef" that has been working on recreating that purple anodized look using cerakote. He does fake bakelite and all kinds of stuff. There are multiple threads by people trying to alter their anodized parts, upper and lowers to get that purple. |
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Hello. Years ago I had a lower receiver and other parts re-anodized by US Anodizing, but I don't think they do that any more and I think the business has been closed or sold. Since you're doing an upper it will be much simpler, no FFL mess and there will be many more anodizing shops available to you. I don't know what process they use to strip the part, but I would not strip it myself. I would let who ever anodizes strip it by what ever process they like. That is a pretty cool looking part, if you haven't tried you might post a WTT ad to see if someone will trade for a nicer finish part. Originally Posted By 3ACR_Scout: I apologize for posting about this M16A4 in the Retro Forum, but I figured this particular group has by far the most experience with recovering and refinishing old components to build clones. I posted this in the main M16A4 clone thread last year and didn't receive any feedback. I've been working on a clone of my issued rifle from my first Iraq deployment in 2005, which featured an unobtainable FN upper receiver with a raised "F" forge mark. I finally found that cloning "white whale" last year, but the finish is heavily worn as shown in these photos. I'm wondering if it's possible to have this re-anodized to more closely replicate the nearly brand new rifle I was issued. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_01_jpg-3608323.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_02_jpg-3608324.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_03_jpg-3608325.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/FN_M16A4_Upper_Receiver_04_jpg-3608326.JPG I'm not interested in Cerakote or other painting methods because I want it to be anodized to match the lower and look like the new rifle I was issued. I'm also not interested in a worn, battlefield look because that's not how I remember my issued rifle. From my research so far, I understand that parts can be stripped and re-anodized, which comes with the risk of slight changes in dimensions. I've read that you can mask off areas that you don't want stripped and redone, which sounds like it could be an option to leave the interior of the receiver unchanged and just redo the exterior. What I'm not sure about is how aggressive the stripping is, e.g. if it could damage the forge marks that are the entire point of having this upper. Can anyone tell me if this is feasible, and perhaps recommend a good anodizer that I could consult with on this to get their feedback on whether this might work? I imagine this group has experience with this given the condition many surplus M16 parts are in. In the end, I may just stick with the stamped F upper that I already have and keep this one as a memento of my old rifle. I'm just glad to have this one after all these years of wondering if I'd ever find one. Thanks! |
| Purple Ano is a gem. I’d try and trade it |
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"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"
“So Freedom Will Reign” / “SEEK! STRIKE! DESTROY!” / “Led By Love Of Country!”
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Originally Posted By gurn-blanston: I'd sell or trade that one. It's worn and has the purple color that many look for. I think the only place that will still anodize has a minimum of 10 items to do work. To strip anodizing, you can soak it in lye, (draino crystals and water) Hunter rifle works He does great work. |
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