I tried to take some decent photos of my 601 assembly but they still aren't the best, I'll try harder, promise.


This is the original brown(unpainted)handguard.



This handguard was painted green originally:

This side is an original brown, that's why I stripped the paint off of the first one.


The barrel is wrong also.

And some pictures of the innards.

simply gorgeous!

Sweet!!   Nice build!!

I KNOW you want to sell it to me! Beautiful!

The Holy Grail.

Here's mine:
It is mostly original, except for lower, waffle mag, magazine button, and sight wheel.
I was toying with the idea of selling it, but I talked myself out of it...at least for now.

Here's my replica:

John Thomas

Those are two fine builds.

Fixed it for ya!

I love to see history preserved in those Retro rifles.


Edit:  Hey GUTS, is that a retro Crown Royal bag?

How's this for vintage Crown Royal?
b

Yours looks great, GUTS.  Here's mine.  I have the same barrel as you, so I still need a barrel and buffer tube.  The sight wheel, and lower parts are H&B, and the FH is 45bravo.  The rest is authentic.

ETA:  I almost forgot, the lower is a pre-NDS DPMS I converted.

You need to hurry up and drink that before it goes bad.

I was one of the lucky ones, NoDak Spud was around when I started.

Mine...









pics stolen from ARFCOM and the web....

ooooooh.....#43.  My favorite 601.

Sorry,only pic on file with her younger brother 602.Hope you don't mind..Every single part on both are period correct Colt except for the lowers right down to the correct early disconnects.Lowers are 80%ers reprofiled to slabsides..

Here's my example..all 601 with the exception of the lower and some of its innards.

This really should be made into a sticky - maybe we could combine a couple technical sticky threads to make room for it? awesome builds guys! Oh and paging Olgunner...paging Olgunner...

That rifle makes me envy you.

I think it would make a good stickied picture reference and a motivational thread. How could you not want one when you see these, especially olgunners.

And by the way, where's all the brown ones?

You want brown, eh?

604 Upper modded by VAAR
Bayonet grip by Postino
gray/brown anodizing by US Anodizing
Flash Hider by 45Bravo
buttons, selector and (I think) Port Door by Heatnbeat
NDS601 lower Ser. # 10
NDS mag
VP marked Barrel

Original parts are:
Type B Stock, pistol grip, handguards, Charging Handle, Bolt Carrier, Rear sight windage disc, Gas tube.

Stll looking for an affordable Edgewater Buffer. I'll eventually find one too!

I spent a few minutes and tried to get some "artistic" photos...

John Thomas

John I might just have to get you to do one of those bayonets for me.I really like how they look.You are one talented person.

Thanks a lot... the green one was done by "Postino".  I did the brown one.  Email me at [email protected] if you want to work out some details.

John Thomas

Man, there are some nice looking rifles here.  And some great photos. Someday I'm going to learn to make decent gun porn! (Glad I'm not on a dial-up connection, though––and my apologies to any of you who do!)

Here are some shots of my first two.  A brown one is in the works, but I just haven't been able to pull the trigger on it yet (no pun intended!). Problem is, I have a very nice green Type B stock, but I can't bring myself to strip it for use on a brown build.  I think I'll keep looking for a Type A in brown or with enough wear on it that I won't feel guilty taking it the rest of the way down.

Anyway, here's the black and green pair.  The black one is the real deal and (to the best of my belief, understanding and ability to verify) is all original.  The green one is a clone, using all original parts except the lower and a few pieces of the lower parts kit.  I do have a few more original parts, though, so by the time it's finished, the NDS lower will be the only non-Colt component.

You'll notice the barrels have noticeably different finishes. Both are 1-14 tubes but the one on the clone is Colt-made and the one on the early original is apparently a Winchester-made barrel, but has the Colt "tiny VP" proof mark between the sight legs (no other marks on the barrel).  That VP mark raised some questions about the originality of the barrel, but I did another check...
According to Ekie, when Colt started making their own, they changed the original Armalite design: "Diameter was increased from app. .565" to app. .575" in front of the front sight base."  If this one measured "approximately .565 inch", then, it would likely be an early, Winchester-made barrel––as expected from the 3-digit serial number.  So I dug out the old Starrett micrometers I inherited from my dad and took the measurements.  The diameter tapers from 5.697" about 3/4" forward of the front sight to 5.628" about 3/4" aft of the flash hider.  To me, that indicates Winchester manufacturing, but proofed by Colt.

OH...and until I took these inside for another wipedown, I never noticed that the trigger pin on the clone was walking out on me!

















Now, if you look close enough at the pics above, you might notice something I didn't see until today.  I have examined the Mod. 01 closely several times, but until I took it outside today, I'd missed something.  Today, I was wiping it down with some CLP and the sunlight hit it at just the right angle and suddenly I was looking at some light but very definite pencil engraving on the left side of the carry handle.  Honestly, when the handle is dry, this is almost invisible...or it was, at least. Now, of course, the marking leaps out at me!

As you can see below, it says "L.P.D. #1".  (When I took delivery of the rifle, there was a small, very old piece of tape with "L.P.D." written on it, stuck on the inside of the pistol grip.)  It seems obvious that this rifle originally went to some "L" police department, but I seriously doubt I'll ever find out which one.  I'm submitting a FOIA request, but don't expect that will give much helpful info.

When I first saw the marking, my stomach fell.  I couldn't believe someone had marked up my beautiful upper!  I even considered whether I should swap the upper––I've got three others that are unmarked, after all!  But then as I thought about it, I realized that it's just another piece of the rifle's history.  Rather than complain about it, I'm embracing the inscription!
This also helps me settle another issue I was considering. Someone around here asked once if I would keep the black furniture on this or swap it for green.  that was a tempting idea because I think most of us associate the 601's with green furniture more than we do black.  But now––this rifle will be kept black.  It's a police rifle, no doubt.
As a police rifle, this will be black with the delft scope.  The green one will get the early (green) bayonet, and the brown one––when finished––will get a bipod (when I finally find one) and maybe the grenade setup.

...Ain't collecting fun?!

Thanks for sharing that Sir! Outstanding! There is a nice number of very fine builds here, along with the Real Deal, it's getting better all the time.

+1 on the build guide/motivational sticky!

Could anyone give me a rundown on repro parts for a 601 build? Obviously nodak for the upper, lower, countersunk pin, and mags. But where to find furniture that will pass muster as "pretty close", and small parts?

Thanks!

OlGunner your trigger pin is walking....is your hammer spring installed correctly??

holy Buddha those are beautiful guys!!  I am so jealous

This fellow does a superb job of faux painting of the furniture.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=123&t=512034

Here is a previous thread about the cost of parts.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=123&t=514703

Any more?

There are some beautiful rifles in this thread.  You've all done a great job!

Here are a couple that I've had fun working on. Though they are complete and shoot just fine, in many ways I still consider them builds-in-progress.  

The green one has:
601 upper receiver with original rear sight and port door
601 hand guards, grip, and type A stock
Early triangular charging handle
Correct early bolt carrier group
601 sling
Later C MP C barrel
NDS-601 Lower receiver
Pins, selector, and bolt catch are from Heatnbeat
Current buffer, tube, and parts kit

The brown one is similar with:
601 upper receiver, original rear sight and port door
601 grip and Type A stock
Original AR-10 Sudanese hand guard
Early triangle charging handle
Early bolt carrier group
Later C MP C barrel
NDS-601 lower receiver
Pins, selector, bolt catch from Heatnbeat
Current buffer, tube, and parts kit

Seems the day is getting closer when this rifle may have a retro prototype front sight base and prototype 3-prong flash suppressor :-)

ETA - The magazine pictured has a standard 20 round body. It's just not inserted all the way so it looks like a 25 rounder. I do wish it was real though

Very, Very Nice !  That proto FSB will be just what the doctor ordered.

Ol Budda your trigger pin slipping out can have three bad consequences. 1) your pin holes will egg out, 2) the pin can break, 3) your gun may start firing in bursts making it an illegal machine gun. Don't ask me how I know......

Up! Any more?

Late to the game, but I brought new pictures! (As a disclaimer, I'm not a very good photographer & it is still cold outside so I was hurrying.)




This one look familiar GUTS?

That looks so nice that even though I have one I still envy you. Isn't it strange the way those two handguards came together, I don't think you could have picked a better match!

I'm a huge fan of the green ones, but very nice brown, HK!

My version of an early 601 prototype...

It is very strange how they matched together so close in color, almost like they were bought a complete set. Very happy with it.

That 601's furniture looks awesome!

There are some fantastic looking rifles in this thread.

All of these rifles are great.  Nice to finally see OLGunners Model 01.  My Model 01 has made it's first transfer and the paperwork has gone in for the Form 4.  As I promised, I will post photos of 1117 when I can bring it to the house.  The rifle was indeed in need of a cleaning and I would be embarrased to post photos of it before getting it cleaned up a bit.  Still in need of an original front takedown pin for it though.......Great rifles......thanks for sharing.........Regards.....MGMike601

I got a few retro 01 pics..

Some updated pics of my 601 replica...

John Thomas

I think we are doing a great job of saving 601 pieces from obscurity and the rifles look excellent!

Nice rifles! I love that 604! Your slings are on backwards on the 601 and 604, though.

Awesome looking 601. I love the green rifles as much as I do the brown. I wish I had a set of green too.

Did you know heatnbeat makes a reproduction rear sight wheel? Get one of those from him & you'll be dead on for an accurate reproduction 601.

The pics are a bit old.  I have upgraded many parts.  I have an original sling, installed properly, and an original rear sight wheel.

Thanks!     Keep the 01 pics coming.

Not anywhere as good as some of yours....but here is my replica...built more as a shooter so it has mostly repo parts.  I do have a 601 upper than needs re-anodized so then it will at least have a major 601 part!