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Posted: 3/3/2005 6:42:23 AM EDT
| What exactly is an A1 slick side and what is the difference between that and a A2 or reg A1. Are they any good? Thanks |
| I'm assuming they mean no brass deflector. a true A1 has no brass deflector. A C7 style A1 has the brass deflector. The Air Force M16 style upper has no brass deflector nor does it have a forward assist. These are the true slick side uppers. So, technically an A1 upper isn't a slick side upper. |
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By definition, an A1 is not a slick side. An A1 receiver lacks the brass deflector but has a forward assist, carry handle, and the simple windage adjustable sights. An Air Force receiver (just M16 without the A1) lacks the brass deflector and foward assist. Here's the A3 style:  Here's the A2 style:  Here's the C7 style:  Here's the Air Force M16 style:  DPMS also sells the Army A1 style with the Forward assist and without the brass deflector, they just don't happen to have a picture on their web site now. If you want to order one, call them. For authenticity, if you're building an Air Force clone you'll need a BRIGHT chrome plated bolt carrier that lacks the forward Assist notches. Here's a photoshoped A1 receiver for comparrison: 
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It's probably an SP1 upper. Yes, made to true mil-spec for those days. You can't go wrong unless it's been beat-up. |
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The Colt SP1 upper is a civilian slick side M16- style upper with a huge difference! It has a large pivot pin hole (.315") as opposed to the USGI M16 upper that has a mil-std .250" pivot hole. The serrated (A1-style) bolt carrier would be authentic in a USAF M16 because the AF accepted the serrated carrier in as-issued AF M16's starting in 1967 (around mid year, IIRC). HTH |
True, but remember that the Air Force doesn't get wrapped up in all this standardization crap. There are still serviceable chrome ungrooved bolt carriers in use. By that standard, virtually anything is acceptable to us. As delivered to the Air Force, bolt carrriers were smooth chrome plated up until 1967, I think, as you indicated. After that point, we simply got the same mil-spec as the Army was getting in spite of the fact that the notches were useless on our carriers. Forgot about the larger pin holes... that's just retarded though. Colt can suck my M14. |
| Now your starting to confuse me a little. This upper is supposed to have the small hole. Again ,is this a good, great, or crappy upper compared to say a bushy or RR. It looks cool with the aluminum color instead of black. whats it worth COMPLETE w/ bushy carrier/bolt, and ch.handle. 100 rds thru it. |
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It's a Colt upper. Quality is second to none, when it was new. So base your decision on how close to new it is. Sounds like it's pretty close. I've seen the uppers alone go for $60 - $80 in EE. I don't know the price of a Bushie carrier assbly w/ch, but I've gotten two RRA bolt/carrier/ch in EE for $115 ea. So a fair price would be around....oh...$175 - $200? |
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Oh. I guess I missed the barrel and all. These sold recently in EE for $260. I got one and it was brand, spanking new. Best $260 I ever spent. I added one of the $115 RRA sets to it. So I have $375 wrapped up into one very nice rifle. I'll put it on a new lower later this spring. Now that that supplier has sold out and they are no longer readily available price might have gone up when someone resells the kit. So maybe $400ish? |
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What is this "aluminum" color you're refering too? Colt's of this vintage were a dark grey. Dark enough to look black at times until you set them against a rifle that is black. Colt made a limited run of large pivot hole rifles that were an electorless nickel color in the early '80's. These sell for top dollar now. Have you seen a picture of this setup or seen it in person? As long as it's not abused $275 would be a great price. |
| Back during the Vietnam timeframe there were a few bronze colored uppers out there. There was a kids movie called Operation Dumbo Drop (yeah I know!) and Ray Liotta carried one if I am not mistaken. I have seen them elsewhere a few times. Is that the aluminum finish you talk of? |
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Check out the last two pics on this page: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=29&t=145905&page=2 This is the electorless nickel color I was refering too. As far as I know Colt didn't make any with a small (standard) pivot pin. They were a limited edition commercial AR15 with a large pivot pin. |
Not always. Some were a lighter grey. My SP1 lower/Air Force upper are a lighter grey. Very discernable from black. then again, colt is known for having many varying shades. |
How is this for a mismatch? This is a Colt gray upper. It is not to be confused with the color of a later A2 Colt upper that is still considered gray. The lower is a Lauer Weaponry and the charging handle is a DPMS. The Lauer is naturally light and mismatches with some modern uppers but the Colt A1 upper is as pasty as a GI magazine. I don't usually keep these together but it is just for picture purposes. In fact this picture makes it look even darker than it actually is.
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Nope. Not likely. You may find a new fangled finish that will match. Norrell's Molyresin is a good one, as is Duracoat and a couple of others. Norrell's has a dark grey that is spot on for the Colt dark grey. I've been using it to match up some parts. But I don't know if they make a light grey or not. http://www.molyresin.com/ |
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