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Posted: 8/7/2008 4:35:16 AM EDT
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I've noticed here recently that the "C" markings on the M4 upper receivers are punch stamped "C" not the raised "C" that I have seen in the past. In fact, on a recent LE6920 rifle I was looking at, it appeared that some grinding of an existing marking had taken place and a "C" was punched in along side a raised "keyhole" I was appalled at the rough finish where that happened. I'm no Colt expert, but can I only assume that Colt's upper receiver manufacture has been having some issues w/ production? Anybody have any clue to what's going on here ? |
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I had 2 like that. 1 had the rough look, like someone had used a dremmel to widen the punch mark. The other was just a punch mark, like someone had made it with a parts store letter kit. The Colt Canada upper I have has the raised "C" that I'm used to. I got rid of the 2 that were punched when I was selling off extra upper assemblies.....stupid move, now I have 2 more lowers to build on. |
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The problem I see is that any schmuck can buy a punch set and reproduce the markings themselves. Leading to quite a few forgeries starting to float around on places like EE. I could buy Stag uppers and punch the "C" on the side, and have the "M4" engraved on the front.....then touch-up the spots with Alumablack. *Poof*, I'd be able to sell them at a premium. Not so, if they'd stick to the raised "C". |
You would never be able to do this and have it come out looking factory. The punch will chip off the anodizing and the aluminum black will not completely cover this back up smoothly and evenly black. |
This is pure speculation, but given the demand for military production that Colt must be facing, and the fact that the civie market demand is pretty high, I suspect that Colt has had to take some reciever blanks that weren't originally built w/the raised C to meet production requirements. FN isn't building rifles for the USMC any more, so Colt is back to building both M4s and M16A4s---- we've got two wars and the highest civie market demend for ARs in history; so it doesn't surprise me that they might have to "add" the C mark. 
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