Posted: 7/23/2016 9:08:29 AM EDT
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Recently I received a carry handle with a keyhole 8 marking. It was sold to me as a Colt however the knobs spin off the threads for the hold downs. None of my Colt carry handles do the knobs come off so I am inclined to believe this one is not a Colt ... Anyone have a newer carry handle that the knobs come off ? |
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I've got three, one made in 2002 on my 6721 carbine (HBAR) have the forge marks splintered A forged by Anchor Harvey and letter B, another from my 6920 M4 carbine made in 2011 with square forge mark by Brass Aluminum Forging Enterprises, and last from my other 6920 made in 2012 with the same square forge mark, all of them the knobs don't come completely off.
The last time detachable carry handles was included on most carbines was in 2012, currently I believe the only model that have them are the AR15A4 rifles. Most of the latest carry handles I've seen have the square forge marks. |
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I just went thru 5 carry handle I am certain came off Colts:
Two Cardinal forge from very early 6933, one has captive one does not. Two KeyHole, one marked 8 one marked 5. 8 is captive 5 is not. One of these was from a 6921 one was from a 6920. I don't recall which came with which. Square forge is also captive, This was a GI carry handle. |
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Thank you all for the replies - I do appreciate it. Needed some time to check into mine to be sure and all the ones I have the nuts are captive , no matter the forge marks. I will say though that this is the one I have with a keyhole 8 ... I thought the TDP was captive however I don't have any source just what I've read over the years. If you guys that have ones that the nuts come off , and are sure they were factory , then I will believe this one is a Colt. Thanks again. |
Talking about carry handles I'd like to jump on the team and join on in: I just checked my two carry handles. I bought them both as spares.
The one on the top has a flat black finish, matching the color of current Colt Carbines. It is marked A2. It is at least 10 years old. The nuts won't come off. 
The one on the bottom is grey and is from the late 1990s/early 2000s. The nuts will come completely off. The arrows under "UP" and "DN" are different. This could be a replica I was told, but very early M4 Carbines came in grey with carry handles that had that forge code ... 
Please note you can't really recognize the difference in color in this picture due to the lighting. |