I came across one of these in a collector's vault a few years ago, and recognized what it was because I'd seen a picture of something like it in TBR
Of course I asked him if he'd sell it! He said no, but he might run into the guy he bought it from and if he did he'd ask if there were any more where that one came from.
Well, a few weeks ago and I got a call from the gentleman saying he had in fact run into the guy and that yes, he had another one.
The collector put me in touch, and I spoke to the fellow with the uppers. He said he'd seen these at a show somewhere; the seller had "several" of these on his table. The story was that the guy at the show had gotten them from a scrap dealer or something. He'd swapped out the barrels and done some other stuff to "a few" of these but didn't need the others so he was selling them.
So the fellow I spoke with bought all that were left, maybe four total. After a short negotiation we struck a deal, and this past weekend I picked it up.
[ETA: This was a friend-of-a-friend kind of thing and I was very lucky to get the one I have. There are no more of these for sale.]
I took some pictures of it, so y'all tell me what you think.
A couple of notes and comments:
First, if you want to look it up, the only information I've ever seen on these is in The Black Rifle (pp. 331-336) and several of the details match up to my upper.
TBR cites a 1971 outline from the Commanding General of CONARC stating that the M16A1 was going to be the service rifle, so the military better get with the program and produce a National Match Rifle.
Most of the outline talks about modifications to the lower and its components, but one thing stands out: "...two heavy barrel versions of the M16 have been tested by the USAMTU. This barrel is standard length, with increased diameter and weighs approximately one pound more than the standard barrel. One version has a 1-9 twist. The other has the standard 1-12 twist." My barrel looks fits this description, and is marked 1/9.
On p.335 there are a couple of pictures of a Navy Match M16A1. The carry handle has been "shaved" and it has been fitted with Redfield Olympic rear sights by means of an in-the-white aluminum plate attached to the carry handle with two hex-head bolts.
The upper receiver appears to be an early M16A1 or maybe XM piece - no evidence of any forge marks.
The lower is an A1.
But the front sight base appears to be a 601 piece - note the curved "ears" around the sight as well as the straight line across the back where "UP" would have been.
As to the sight, TBR caption (fig. 356, p.336) compares the NM sights "with an early model 01 AR-15" and says "The two holes in the standard M16 sight block were filled with silver solder, the block was slotted front-to-rear, and a new blade sight was inserted, approximating the shape and width of the M14 front sight blade."
I tweaked one of the pictures so you can see where the cut was made.
I have several pictures to post, so have a look and see if I really have something here. Note the Redfield Olympic rear sights and so on. The front sight has been re-worked, the barrel is pretty beefy and is marked "XM20668 1/9", Also, the front sight block had to be "opened up" to accommodate the Match rifle's heavy barrel.
The number "2" has been stamped on top of the shaved carry handle and the rear sight body has been etched with "6".
There are no other markings that I can see.
Another thing I noticed is that the handguards look to be the very early "no drainhole" type. Those came with the upper and if you look at the right handguard there is some fouling at the top front which matches up with fouling on the gas tube.
The chamber does not appear to be chromed. The chrome bolt carrier group came with the upper. I have no way of knowing if it's original, but as some parts are obviously of 601 vintage maybe that was there all along. Or maybe some shooter just liked chrome because it was easier to keep clean.