I'm a newbie to the AR world, and have been offered what seems like a good deal on a Colt Sp1. I have done as much research on these as possible (including reading Duff/Kuleck), but have one question:

In the interest of collectibility, is there a way to tell if the furniture (i.e. buttstock, handguards, etc) is original to this rifle (vs Numrich or other replacement brand)? It seems like the wear on the metal doesn't quite match the wear on the plastic. Did Colt mark these furniture pieces in any way?

Thank you.

If it has the triangle front handguards and the buttstock doesn't have a trap door, then the pieces are certainly Colt. If the butt stock has a trap door but only the door is checkered, and the rest is smooth, and the stock is 9 7/8" long from the rear of the reciever to the back, it is probably Colt.

Having said that, it's entirely possible that the stocks can be Colt, and still be replacements. Bunches of milsurp Colt M16A1 pieces are on the market these days, and if the original stock pieces were all banged up, the seller might well have spent  $30 or so to get a set and replace the originals. But WTH, if they're the original type, and Colt pieces, why worry