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Well here is the seller info deal, he is a ham radio friend of a very good friend of mine, he is an elder man, collects guns , blah blah, I am looking to inspect the gun this week. SO what all do I need to be looking at as for as pre-ban or post-ban on these ?
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You'll need to use the serial number database on this site to see if the rifle was manufactured after the Sept 94 "assault" weapons ban. The Colt Factory will also verify it for you, just give them a call, and they have even provided me with documentation letters on my preban.
Pre Ban vs Post Ban in an very convoluted and smartass nutshell:
If it was manufactured after Sept 94 then it is a post ban and cannot legally have more than two of the "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL" features that make pre bans more dangerous than post bans (Things like flash supressors, threaded barrels, collapsible stocks, bayonet lugs etc...) due to the ability of the rifle to accept detachable magazines and the "conspicuously protuding pistol grip" which are, on a post ban AR, typically the two features of the EEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL ones that use up your alotment of two. (You can have two out of the seven and the weapon is NOT considerd an "assault weapon", but add that damn bayonet lug and BAM! You're a felon over less than an ounce of steel, even though the functionality of the rifle is not in any way affected, and it sure as hell will shoot you just as dead without one. Make sense yet? Hey, look on the bright side...all the Drive-By bayonettings have stopped since 94, haven't they?).
Since a preban can have any and all of these features and still be legal, and because it'll be a cold day in Hell before civilians can own them this way ever again, pre bans command a higher price/value than post bans. If it checks out to be a preban...JUMP ON IT. Post ban...IMO, you can do much better for less buckage. Good luck...you'll love the AR.