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Posted: 11/17/2009 8:13:59 PM EDT
A couple of weeks ago I was on Davis-Monthan AFB and visited the Combat Arms (CATM) folks. They had a pristine Colt M-16 Model 601, Serial # 007506. I took a few quick pictures and posted them here. Well, today I spoke with the CATM NCOIC, MSgt Smith, and asked if I could take some detailed pictures of their Model 601. He was gracious enough to let me take all the pictures I wanted. When I arrived, he handed me off to Mr. Mike Kincaid (SMSgt, Ret). Mike is a friend of mine and a former member of the Air Force Rifle Team. Mike retrieved "Greenie" as they affectionately call it, and we got to work taking pictures and disassembling the rifle.
Me with "Greenie" 
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Way cool! Is that the original BCG? It looks 'different' and the firing pin is secured by something other then the cotter pin of later models... What is that where the pin goes? Yep, looks original. That is an early machined firing pin retaining pin. Take a look here for other differences. |
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Great photos! many thanks. I've already copied the thread into my reference folder and will refer to it often as I finish my clone.
Nice to know one that complete is still in service. Please thank your Zoomie friends for sharing it with us. Confused, though...did you show us two different bolt carriers here? Some pics show two stake marks and other pics look like six! I haven't been drinking, but my eyes are getting old... Also, it looks like they don't have a roll pin installed for the buffer tube. I don't suppose you checked to see if the tube was an original? ...Looks like a modern buffer, too, right? |
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Great photos! many thanks. I've already copied the thread into my reference folder and will refer to it often as I finish my clone. Nice to know one that complete is still in service. Please thank your Zoomie friends for sharing it with us. Confused, though...did you show us two different bolt carriers here? Some pics show two stake marks and other pics look like six! I haven't been drinking, but my eyes are getting old... Also, it looks like they don't have a roll pin installed for the buffer tube. I don't suppose you checked to see if the tube was an original? ...Looks like a modern buffer, too, right? Good catch....yes there are two bolt carriers. While I was taking pictures of Greenie, Mike brought out the second BC, fireing pin, and charging handle. He was just showing me that they even had some Model 601 spare parts. The BCG that was in the rifle had two stake marks. I don't know much about the buffers and I didn't remove it. It looks like it may have been replaced at some time. |
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Great photos! many thanks. I've already copied the thread into my reference folder and will refer to it often as I finish my clone. Nice to know one that complete is still in service. Please thank your Zoomie friends for sharing it with us. Confused, though...did you show us two different bolt carriers here? Some pics show two stake marks and other pics look like six! I haven't been drinking, but my eyes are getting old... Also, it looks like they don't have a roll pin installed for the buffer tube. I don't suppose you checked to see if the tube was an original? ...Looks like a modern buffer, too, right? I noticed that as well. What gives? EDIT - Never mind - I see you already answered that question. |
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If you look carefully at the one photo from the front of the lower receiver, you can see the tell-tale shape of a modern (non-Edgewater) buffer profile. Who knows when it was replaced, but for the sake of the rifle with the modern ammo, probably a good thing.
Curious if the 2-stake BCG from in the gun had the heavy-head firing pin or the new type. Overall, what a bunch of wonderful photos, thanks so very much for taking the time and all of the effort needed to ask and gain access to this beautiful and important piece of history. I note that many of the fragile cosmetic items (handguards, slip ring, pistol grip, etc.) were in, for me, surprisingly good shape. One more question, did you notice any other barrel markings between the FSB legs on the underside? |
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If you look carefully at the one photo from the front of the lower receiver, you can see the tell-tale shape of a modern (non-Edgewater) buffer profile. Who knows when it was replaced, but for the sake of the rifle with the modern ammo, probably a good thing. Curious if the 2-stake BCG from in the gun had the heavy-head firing pin or the new type. Overall, what a bunch of wonderful photos, thanks so very much for taking the time and all of the effort needed to ask and gain access to this beautiful and important piece of history. I note that many of the fragile cosmetic items (handguards, slip ring, pistol grip, etc.) were in, for me, surprisingly good shape. One more question, did you notice any other barrel markings between the FSB legs on the underside? In one of the pictures you can see the BCG did have the large firing pin. I didn't notice any other barrel markings. I took the handguards off looking for markings. Of note, the barrel didn't appear to be chrome lined. It was likely a 1:14 twist. |
WOW,great pics,,thanks Bro.. Hey,I'd be happy to restore that rifle with dimpled pins,edgewater buffer and any other parts it needs!! HEY HEATNBEAT,ahhh,,I need a favor And do I understand you now paint "greeney" stuff.
ETA: We ALL need to bow our heads for that pic above^^^...THANK YOU GENERAL LEMAY!!!!! |
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Special thanks to the folks at the 355 SFS CATM office!!!! http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/AFMarksman/Signature.jpg MSgt David Johnson Air Force Rifle Team And a very special thanks to you for sharing this with us. |
Awesome work, EL_TIRADOR! This ought to be a sticky.
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I handled this very rifle at the last air show DM put on a few years back.
It was in a static display with a few other rifles, and was marked "early M-16" or something similar to differentiate it from the A2 and the M4 laying next to it. Everyone else was hogging the M4, I went right for that little Armalite! I was shocked at the condition at the time, and knew even then I was handling something very special. I even asked the airman manning the display if he knew the significance of the rifle, and he reassured me that they had no intention of ever converting it over to an A2. And, of course, as soon as I got home I posted here in the Retro Forum raving about this rifle, and amusingly enough, someone already knew about it and posted some good pics of it. That person also noted that the buffer wasn't original to the rifle. It's good to see that rifle again! |
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I handled this very rifle at the last air show DM put on a few years back. It was in a static display with a few other rifles, and was marked "early M-16" or something similar to differentiate it from the A2 and the M4 laying next to it. Everyone else was hogging the M4, I went right for that little Armalite! I was shocked at the condition at the time, and knew even then I was handling something very special. I even asked the airman manning the display if he knew the significance of the rifle, and he reassured me that they had no intention of ever converting it over to an A2. And, of course, as soon as I got home I posted here in the Retro Forum raving about this rifle, and amusingly enough, someone already knew about it and posted some good pics of it. That person also noted that the buffer wasn't original to the rifle. It's good to see that rifle again! Yea, the first time I saw it was a few weeks ago when they had their booth at a Junior Expeditionary Day. Now if they will let me shoot it?!?! |
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Beautiful pristine example......hopefully the AF folks recognize what a historic treasure they have on their hands. I woud hate to see that gun chopped up or somehow diminshed.
Something like that belongs in a museum. The Air Force has several museums that would no doubt welcome that AR. |
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Beautiful pristine example......hopefully the AF folks recognize what a historic treasure they have on their hands. I woud hate to see that gun chopped up or somehow diminshed. There was a national guard unit that found several old Armalite AR-15's in near-new condition in hiding in their arms room. They were going to be destroyed, but a member of the unit realized what they were, and asked if he could see about preserving them somehow, getting them over to a museum or something. He got permission to try, and he called around and eventually decided to call Colt, and they agreed to swap the rifles for a number of new M4's. Colt got some nice rifles to preserve in their vault, and to transfer out to museums or whatever, and a national guard unit got new M4's to add to their property books at no cost to the taxpayer (other than what it cost the government back in the 60s for those rifles). Everybody won. |
We had one at our CATM range down at MacDill in 2000. It was pristine. Hopefully the new guys didn't convert it. We used to see 3 digit Armalite marked lowers all of the time. Most were eventually converted to A2. The AF never did buy complete new A2's when switching over. They sent us MOD kits and we changed everything over except the lowers. Most shops had 800 plus man hours in converting these. All the old parts were turned in to for destruction. It would make most of you cry because we still had original M16 and M16A1's that had zero rounds through them. Hell, we still had a few original moderators in our benchstock at that time
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We had one at our CATM range down at MacDill in 2000. It was pristine. Hopefully the new guys didn't convert it. We used to see 3 digit Armalite marked lowers all of the time. Most were eventually converted to A2. The AF never did buy complete new A2's when switching over. They sent us MOD kits and we changed everything over except the lowers. Most shops had 800 plus man hours in converting these. All the old parts were turned in to for destruction. It would make most of you cry because we still had original M16 and M16A1's that had zero rounds through them. Hell, we still had a few original moderators in our benchstock at that time I cringed when I read that. 
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Really appreciate the update. Nice to know it's still fit for use––not just a museum piece.
A favor to ask if you have the chance––I'd love to see a close up photo of the rear sight windage wheel. I'm gathering photos of verified original wheels and think we can all agree that this one is legit! The better detail in the photo, the better. If you don't have one or can't get it, I understand––you've supplied many great pics already. Many thanks! |
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Awesome work, thanks so much. Might you be going to the Crossroads/SAR West show this weekend? I am flying in from Michigan tomorrow for it, and to see some family in Tempe. I would love to go, it's the best show of the year, but I'm flying to El Salvador on Saturday. Dave |
Oh great. I'd been wondering what I was going to do about the 601 charging handle, big head firing pin, and wide band chrome bolt I had... I suppose the Edgewater buffer may come out of the XM16E1 clone, too. 
Funny thing is, I was never even looking for these parts! You're going to make me turn them into a 601, aren't you?! God, I've got to get rid of that stuff before they end up costing me a fortune...
Great stuff! ~Augee |
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Oh great. I'd been wondering what I was going to do about the 601 charging handle, big head firing pin, and wide band chrome bolt I had... I suppose the Edgewater buffer may come out of the XM16E1 clone, too.
Funny thing is, I was never even looking for these parts! You're going to make me turn them into a 601, aren't you?! God, I've got to get rid of that stuff before they end up costing me a fortune...
Great stuff! ~Augee No worries......I'll take the buffer off your hands! 
Dave |
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