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Posted: 6/27/2010 7:50:27 AM EDT
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Hello everyone! Long time lurker here.......finally decided to register.
I recently purchase a "pre-ban" PWA Commando AR15. Obviously I know the lower is PWA but I cant figure out who made the upper and barrel? I took the handguards off and looked all over the barrel but no markings, stamps or symbols........nothing on the front sight, and no forge symbol or anything on the upper. The bolt carrier has a C on it which I assume is a colt. Dont know if it makes a difference but the barrel is a heavy barrel. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Defensive_Armament/2010_0509Camera0002.jpg http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Defensive_Armament/2010_0510Camera0005.jpg http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Defensive_Armament/2010_0510Camera0006.jpg |
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It'll be extremely difficult to determine the manufacturer of that upper if there are no markings. Is the FSB cast or forged? To be truthful I'm not sure how to tell the difference? If I had to guess I'd say forged given the appearance of it. The finish looks very clean and defined, not crude at all. |
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It'll be extremely difficult to determine the manufacturer of that upper if there are no markings. Is the FSB cast or forged? To be truthful I'm not sure how to tell the difference? If I had to guess I'd say forged given the appearance of it. The finish looks very clean and defined, not crude at all. Is the <-UP between the ears at the top of the FSB raised or engraved? |
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Oh, I see. It's raised.......so it'd be cast right? Cast...then it's prolly an Oly upper. So Olympic is the only Manufacturer who uses cast FSB's? They always have & still do that I'm aware of because they gave their own casting house. I'm not aware of othe manufacturers that use cast FSBs. Check for a "556" stamping on the barrel. It could be a .223 as well. |
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What throws me off is the lack of markings on the barrel. According to Olympic, all of their barrels will be marked. For the life of me I cant find a single thing on this barrel.
BTW, I appreciate your time and input Warpig8654. From Olympic: http://www.olyarms.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=42 Olympic Arms uses a unique stamping system that identifies it's barrels. You will find these stampings on the barrel itself, just forward of the front sight base assembly. The stampings may be at any angle (top, sides or bottom)
First off, every barrel is stamped with the caliber. Since we make over 20 different calibers that are interchangeable on any standard Olympic (or mil any spec) .223 caliber lower, this should be the first thing you check. The standard .223 caliber rifles are marked "5.56", while the alternative calibers are marked appropriately (9mm, 10mm, 40 S&W, 45ACP, WSSM, etc). |
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Difficult to tell who made the upper with no markings. Could be Oly, but my guess is Nesard. "Nesard" (now M&A Parts, Model 1 Sales and Sherluck) used to provide cheap no-name parts from anywhere they could get them, back in the day. Nice old school A2 upper though. It even has the large diameter forward assist.  However, I would make that rifle a retro A1 and put a surplus A1 upper/barrel assembly with triangle handguards on it. (ETA: M1S and Sherluck also used to be part of nesard) |
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Difficult to tell who made the upper with no markings. Could be Oly, but my guess is Nesard. "Nesard" (now M&A Parts, Model 1 Sales and Sherluck) used to provide cheap no-name parts from anywhere they could get them, back in the day. Nice old school A2 upper though. It even has the large diameter forward assist. However, I would make that rifle a retro A1 and put a surplus A1 upper/barrel assembly with triangle handguards on it. (ETA: M1S and Sherluck also used to be part of nesard) Thanks GulDuCal, that's exactly what I want to do to it. It's in really good shape overall and I only paid $600 for it. Oh well, I may never know who made the damn thing.........regardless, it's was a good deal, so I'll fix er' up and shoot the crap out of it. 
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Look again for a '5.56' on the bottom between the sight lugs. That's Olympic. Also, is it chrome-lined? The rear sight appears to be elevated - is it on the '5'? I wonder if they had to do that to sight in. That would indicate trouble. No 5.56 mark anywhere. |
| This thread made me dig around in the back of the safe. I have a pre-ban PWA with an A2 upper also. The colors/finish of the upper & lower match exactly. The difference is that my upper is the short 12 1/2" barrel with a long permanent flash hider attached to bring it up to legal length and the lower has a collapsible 4-position stock. Obviously made that way. I checked carefully and finally found a small 556 stamped on the bottom of the barrel just in front of the FSB (which is also cast). I bought it in the way-back early 90's privately and it certainly appears to not be a put-together. But who knows? It shoots very well even though I haven't put more than 2-300 rounds down the pipe. Always end up using my A-3 flattops as my old eyes love the red dot. but my oldest likes it. Itneresting weapons though considering their lineage, progressing into the present day LMT. |
| Thanks guys, of all the AR's I've had thus far......this is my favorite. It is by no means as fancy or tricked out as some I have but I am partial to this one. I will never add any rails, lights, lasers, or any tacticool things to this one. A sling is the only thing I've put on it and that's the way it'll stay.........well except maybe some retro triangle handguards. |
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Thanks guys, of all the AR's I've had thus far......this is my favorite. It is by no means as fancy or tricked out as some I have but I am partial to this one. I will never add any rails, lights, lasers, or any tacticool things to this one. A sling is the only thing I've put on it and that's the way it'll stay.........well except maybe some retro triangle handguards. That thing is just what it needs to be.....20" and simple. My 20" A2 is my favorite as well. It lost it's KISS status when I mounted a carry handle scope, though. 
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Difficult to tell who made the upper with no markings. Could be Oly, but my guess is Nesard. "Nesard" (now M&A Parts, Model 1 Sales and Sherluck) used to provide cheap no-name parts from anywhere they could get them, back in the day. Nice old school A2 upper though. It even has the large diameter forward assist. However, I would make that rifle a retro A1 and put a surplus A1 upper/barrel assembly with triangle handguards on it. (ETA: M1S and Sherluck also used to be part of nesard) Thanks GulDuCal, that's exactly what I want to do to it. It's in really good shape overall and I only paid $600 for it. Oh well, I may never know who made the damn thing.........regardless, it's was a good deal, so I'll fix er' up and shoot the crap out of it.
pretty good deal for $600, the preban PWA lower by itself is worth more than that. |
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Really? What would a rifle like this normally sell for? Hard to say. I would guess around $1000 to $1100 for the rifle to someone in a ban state (like NY or CT) The preban PWA lower alone would go for around $650 to $750. Wow, that's cool. I appreciate the info sir. |
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