Quoted:
I am building a Model 727 (M16A2) carbine and have been trying to find photos of the left side for the markings.  Can anyone help me out with that on a USGI version?  Also, I am trying to find left side photos for markings for a later (current) M4 or M4A1.  I have found photos of the non-mil version Colt sells, but I am looking for photos that are definitely of a USGI version.  Thanks.

Sorry, I just realized I put this in the wrong forum, since most folks don't consider A2's retro.

I served between 1980- 2000. Most operators in 1993 had 723 carbines that were cots purchases. In the late 80's my unit did test the XM 4. Most people did not like the A2 sights. The rifles we tested had the current M4 type profile barrel. I was surprised to see the picture of the Rangers with the 727 carbines. We did not like them and we purchased the 723 because of the M16A1 sights and also continued to use updated 653 carbines with1/7 replacement barrels and a few 733s. I was not issued a 727 until 1995. I bet that the Rangers purchased the 727 cots because they wanted all of their weapons to have the same type of sights.

Regards Joescuba

Hi Augee, I never specifically said what unit I was in. I don't want to seem flippant, but if you are wanting my bonafides, let just say I served in U.S. Army Special Operations (JSOC) and prefer not to get any more specific than that. In regards to the XM4 trials, we received only a limited number of these weapons. They were issued to operators as their weapon. The weapons were deployed world wide to various hot spots. After a year the weapons were returned, and the operators were interviewed and offered input as to any improvements that they felt could improve the performance of the weapon. These weapons had alot of trigger time. When going through a training cycle, operators could shoot at least 500-1000 rounds during a daily training session, 5000 plus rounds a week or more. We were rough on our gear. The XM4s never missed a beat. The only problem was the sights for us. No one liked the A2 sights. We where use to the A1 type sights and felt that a carbine should have a more simple sight. We never had any problems with the A2 sight, but all of our carbines had A1 sights and that is what we were acustom to. I am sorry but I can not recall the Roll Marks on the XM 4s we tested. All of our weapons were S-1-F.
However the XM-4s could have started life in our unit S-1-3. I recall that you could disconect the burst cam and we were not a TO&E unit, so we could do somethings that other organizations couldn't do. Most of our weapons (75%) had to be sterile. Most of our carbines were COTS purchases from overseas and were commerical marked,weapons.

During Desert Sheild/Storm, I worked with a B.S.O. unit (British Special Operations) and was issued a Colt 653 carbine. It had been rebuilt and had a new lightweight 1/7 barrel. We were deployed before the invasions of Kuwait (early summer of 90) on a training exercise, practicing strategic reconaissance. When the invasion happened we deployed with the B.S.O to Kuwait and spent several months in that AO. I served with that unit and did not return to my parent orginizations until the fall 91.

In 1993 I worked in the Sudan and Somalia and was issued/used the 733. It was more handy for what we were doing. Others members of the team used the 723 carbine.
I liked the 723 better than the 733. Both the 723/733 were COTS purchased weapons with commercial roll marks.


I was issued the 727 around 95 and used that weapon while working on various projects in Latin / South America , Bosnia and the Middle East. All of the above weapons had two position stocks. However we often had the lower receiver extention tubes modified by maching extra position in them. These weapons didn't stay original very long, and these mods were done in house. I do not claim to be an expert on weapon configurations/civilian model number etc. I was just an end user , trained observer, with a reasonable good memory. I hope this helps Augee.

Regards/Cheers

Joescuba