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Page AR-15 » AR-15 / M-16 Retro Forum
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Posted: 12/31/2006 7:29:15 PM EST
Which is correct for a 13,XXX serial (1968) AR-15 rifle, 3 prong or cage? Seems the 3 prong is correct according to the data but you never see any installed. Did these get changed out over the years due to the cage being a better mousetrap?

Thanks for the help.

Col Kurtz Too
Link Posted: 12/31/2006 10:15:49 PM EST
[#1]

Quoted:
Which is correct for a 13,XXX serial (1968) AR-15 rifle, 3 prong or cage? Seems the 3 prong is correct according to the data but you never see any installed. Did these get changed out over the years due to the cage being a better mousetrap?

Thanks for the help.

Col Kurtz Too

XM16E1(1965-1967)= 3 prong
M16A1(1967-1982?)= Bird cage      
How ever 3 prongs have been seen on A1s and bird cages have been seen one E1s.
Happy new year!
Link Posted: 1/1/2007 5:50:06 AM EST
[#2]

Quoted:
Which is correct for a 13,XXX serial (1968) AR-15 rifle, 3 prong or cage? Seems the 3 prong is correct according to the data but you never see any installed. Did these get changed out over the years due to the cage being a better mousetrap?

Thanks for the help.

Col Kurtz Too


According to the AR15 SP1 Database...

162XX Birdcage, Plain hard rubber (?) buttplate W/drain hole top screw, black carrier "C" stamped, + on lower, ,notches in the black carrier, C MP C ubarrel, bobbed disconnector, roll pinned swivels, rubberized and black nylon sling, Came with spare Edgewater buffer & spring

1970

15271 three prong, no hole in selector, no pin on, swivel, pin on front swivel. C MP C

1969

14418 solid buttplate 1969 Three prong

14300 barrel marked c2 12, "polished" FSB, duck bill, roll pin on swivel, + on lower, made in 1969

13192 three prong, no trap door, pinned on front swivel, no roll pin for receiver extention,

13XXX duck bill

1968

12760 three prong, + on lower, MP by FSB, 12 near muzzle, roll pinned front swivel, receiver extention not pinned in, no trap door


That information would lead me to believe that either the three prong or duckbill would be correct for that serial number range. Still, to answer your question, the flash hider could have been changed out for a cage as civilian rifles were often upgraded as parts availability allowed.
Link Posted: 1/1/2007 5:51:34 AM EST
[#3]
Given the date, they were probably using up what three prongs they had left. I've seen a few pictures of A1's during Vietnam with the three prong. Anytime there is a transitional period, pretty much anything can be found. If you want to go strickly off the date, then it should have a cage, but that's not meaning it came with one.
Link Posted: 1/1/2007 2:13:08 PM EST
[#4]
It may indeed be all original.

This was a NY State police dept rifle and has at least one other item that lead me to believe it is in the original configuration; the Edgewater Spring Guide. Given that the bolt carrier is corrrect even with the FA notches, the cage FH may be correct too. I do know that someone replaced the buttstock retaining screw with an incorrect part after it had been dropped hard engough to crack the plastic above the screw. Pretty minor part descrepency. Found a like new replacement stock here on the EE from Noah Zark.

Thought I'd quiz you guys about it.

Thanks for the help.
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