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Posted: 10/29/2016 8:33:38 PM EDT
Purchased as a complete rifle and trying to figure out what parts were used in the build. 604 M16 upper maybe, but no markings below rear sight, does have faint square and triangle markings. Looks like a 6, R and crown on the FSB. Front pivot hole on left side has a recess I haven't noticed before. Barrel is a 20" pencil FMNI MP CHROME BORE, so assuming 1/12 twist. Lower is an E.A. CO. Essential Arms J-15, so cast preban. Upper and lower are Colt gray. Newer standard charging handle. Bolt carrier is a M16 stamped with an "N" and best I could find was National Aerospace made for Smith Enterprises ( I think ) and the bolt has no markings. Trapdoor buttstock and newer grip. I'm not into retro stuff so please correct my assumptions from some quick google searching. Any added knowledge is appreciated.
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| Is it a Colt upper? Any idea what the hole in the front pivot pin is for? Trigger has two "S" in a square and the number "1". Guessing LPK is newer liked the grip. Hand guards are skinny round, not triangle which seems right for that era. Grip definitely needs to be changed, although the entire rifle is a hodgepodge of different years, so I'm not trying to turn it into a clone. |
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Quoted:
Is it a Colt upper? Any idea what the hole in the front pivot pin is for? Trigger has two "S" in a square and the number "1". Guessing LPK is newer liked the grip. Hand guards are skinny round, not triangle which seems right for that era. Grip definitely needs to be changed, although the entire rifle is a hodgepodge of different years, so I'm not trying to turn it into a clone. yep it's colt. it's before they had forge codes. the proof marks forward of the ejection port are colt. the little rebated area on the front lug are for the early lowers that didn't have a captured pivot pin. there was a little ball bearing that was pressed into the pin and it was captured by the recess. the lpk isn't colt and newer. sell the lower and get on a list for a nodak spud. it wouldn't take much to make this a proper early 604. 
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| Anyone know what the "5" on the barrel indicates? When were these 20" FMNI replacement barrels being used? Did they come complete with the FSB or if this FSB another piece of the puzzle? BCG looks old but not shot more than a few times. Staking is pretty lousy though. The gray Colt upper matches the gray E.A. lower perfectly in color. |
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That Essential arms lower receiver, stripped, is worth $1K + in some ban states, especially CT.
You have a nice build there. Depending on how anal you want to get, toss on an M16A1 buttstock, and a A1 type dust cover, and enjoy. If the barrel is 1/7", that is a bigger plus for a range gun. You might consider putting an order in with Nodak Spud for a retro M16A1 lower. Their lowers are high quality and finish will match your upper nicely. In a few months when the receiver arrives, swap it out and sell your Essential Arms receiver. |
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Bolt carrier was made by Smith Enterprises; stamped "N" for Navy model. Nothing special, but would be period correct for mid to late 80's build. I've never seen anything more than speculation to back this up. National Aerospace marked their carriers, extractors and bolts with an N code. I have pulled NIW components received through the .mil supply system having the N either stamped in or, painted on with white paint. In the mid '90's National Aerospace sold their operation to Advanded Ordnance Corp. who marked their components with an A. Wpns Man |
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I've never seen anything more than speculation to back this up. National Aerospace marked their carriers, extractors and bolts with an N code. I have pulled NIW components received through the .mil supply system having the N either stamped in or, painted on with white paint. In the mid '90's National Aerospace sold their operation to Advanded Ordnance Corp. who marked their components with an A. Wpns Man Quoted:
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Bolt carrier was made by Smith Enterprises; stamped "N" for Navy model. Nothing special, but would be period correct for mid to late 80's build. I've never seen anything more than speculation to back this up. National Aerospace marked their carriers, extractors and bolts with an N code. I have pulled NIW components received through the .mil supply system having the N either stamped in or, painted on with white paint. In the mid '90's National Aerospace sold their operation to Advanded Ordnance Corp. who marked their components with an A. Wpns Man Regardless of who made them, I am partial to the bolts with the N painted bolts. Nice quality, and typically have the tightest headspace tolerances. I have read from numerous sources that Smith Enterprises. made the bolts with painted N. That said, the "N" for Navy sounds like nonsense speculation, considering how USGI supply channels work. |
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Smith Enterprises may have very well made parts under a contract with the Navy,
However, most anything I've seen them produce was either SE, SE within a stopsign or, unmarked. I have personally pulled N coded parts, both stamped and painted out of .mil packaging and researched the CAGE code to National Aerospace in addition to correspondence to a contact I had at TACOM during the 90's. This was about the time the A marked carriers started appearing as when I researched the CAGE code the address was almost identical. The TACOM rep informed me that National had sold operations to Advanced Ord. and yes, regardless they made excellent stuff. Wpns Man |
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Well I see a colt sp1 large hole upper with a bushing in the hole a nice early front takedown pin with the center holes and a essential arms cast lower don't make a carbine out of it I've seen them bend at the buffer extension area nice find it's a 604 upper, not a sp1 upper. that's a rebate you see and not a bushing. a bushing would be offset. also there's a sear relief present. |
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