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Posted: 3/19/2018 1:50:13 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted:
When did lower colors get darker? I have a M16 roll marked lower in transfer that looks pretty much a dull black. Does not look like a refinish. I have looked at other 9 million serial guns that also were very dark. Anything to be concerned about? Colt was pretty inconsistent when anodizing M16s. While they strove for an exact color on Title 1 firearms as a quality issue, the military and law enforcement contracts did not specify a color, just that the guns be anodized correctly. Thus, depending on whether a gun was the first one into the anodizing bath or the last one determined the color. The chemicals were changed only when the quality of the finish was questioned, not the color. Colt was better about this at first, but during their financial troubles in the '80s and '90s, anodizing color on contract guns did not get much attention. My M16A1 was built on March 7, 1978 and was the correct grey. Since I bought it in 1994, the color has darkened somewhat from use (over 50k rounds through it). No dings or scratches, but a lot of residual oil on the finish. I don't worry about it. Hope that is of some help. |
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Posted: 3/19/2018 8:35:51 PM EDT
[#2]
Just wondered if there was an actual change in color. I was in the Army in the early 80's and all the rifles I saw were black.
The M16 I have in transfer has the paint splotch still at the bolt catch, so I'm confident it is original finish. Thanks Tony |
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Posted: 3/19/2018 8:52:06 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Just wondered if there was an actual change in color. I was in the Army in the early 80's and all the rifles I saw were black. The M16 I have in transfer has the paint splotch still at the bolt catch, so I'm confident it is original finish. Thanks Tony |
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Posted: 3/19/2018 10:29:11 PM EDT
[#4]
When the roll pin for the bolt catch was installed,it often left a bare aluminum spot from the punch. Assembler would then dab a "splotch" or "spot" of black or grey paint to cover the bare spot.
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Posted: 3/20/2018 12:04:53 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
When the roll pin for the bolt catch was installed,it often left a bare aluminum spot from the punch. Assembler would then dab a "splotch" or "spot" of black or grey paint to cover the bare spot. Also, my receiver is pretty dark, and the roll mark depth is uneven. |
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Posted: 3/20/2018 8:57:30 PM EDT
[#6]
Yeah, could have just didn't get the paint added. The one I have in transfer is M16 roll marked. It's pretty even in depth. It's 902xxxx serial range
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Posted: 3/21/2018 4:37:14 PM EDT
[#7]
my 1984-85 M16a2 is grey.....ive got a new 14" socom colt upper..its black
there was a color change from grey to black at some point in the late 80's early 90's.....its one way to ID a refinish i believe if you have a black transferable colt M16a2 and its black vs grey you have a refinish...ive seen plenty for sale...some have A3 features...some have post 86 colt roll marks....most of those NIB ones seemed to be correct....some clearly were post 86 guns that some how got in the registry.... one thing to look for...open the trap door---you should find a piece of paper with your serial # on it...i think some stickers...these should look 30 years old here's mine with a BCM upper on it...notice the color difference----also take note--if yours is NIB its full of grease....when i cleaned mine the color lightened up 
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Posted: 3/22/2018 11:46:14 AM EDT
[#8]
My Colt M16a1 is a medium grey, 1979, 926866x.
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Posted: 3/24/2018 11:46:51 AM EDT
[#9]
I have seen many mil surplus M16A1 uppers that were coated black over the gray.
What is the coating and how best to remove it? |
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Posted: 4/12/2018 2:03:16 AM EDT
[#10]
As someone who has been around a long time, ya I'm getting old, from the Colt semi auto AR15s the color change came about 1994/95. I still have 2 target sporter and a competition HBAR made in 1993 that are gray. There're the same gray as the SP1 I bought in 1979.
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