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Posted: 11/5/2009 10:40:49 PM EDT
| Are there many XM16E1's left? Were the majority of them demilled? Where are the remaining ones kept? Just curious. They are my favorite retro models with the partial fence lowers and tear drop forward assists. Thanks |
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Many were rebuilt or upgraded as Mil Standards changed, then de-milled over time. Though rare, I think some XM's are still in service today; at least the lowers are.
The Air Force hung onto quite a few. Until recently, many AFB's still had unused 601's in their armories. Many Police Dept's still have them too. |
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If you are talking about M16E1s still being in service, you are mostly just talking about the lowers. As indicated above, many if not most were upgraded to the latest A1 standard at some point and in at least a few cases with A2 uppers and internals to essentially the A2 standard. Simply put there was no reason for the military to stick with the E1 configuration when a rifle came in for major work or a rebuild.
In the mid to late eighties I ecountered slick side and partial fence E1 lowers on a regular basis that were essentially brought as close as possible to the current A1 standard and people in after me reported similar hybrids upgraded to the general A2 configuration in training units. I suspect liike many A1s, E1s have probably also been surplused through foreign sales or to LEAs. |
Yep, when it comes to preserving historic firearms, the military really couldn't care less, which is perfectly understandable: they're tools, not relics. I always chuckle when I read about M1 Carbine collectors bemoaning the fact that hardly any M1 Carbines were spared from post-war rebuilds, having their flip sights replaced with adjustable sights, and having bayonet lugs installed. Well of course they were; they make a better weapon!  |
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