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Posted: 10/30/2015 5:49:05 PM EDT
| I was looking at an AR-15 this afternoon that had a PWA cast A2 type lower, A1 stock, and A2 grip. The upper was an A2 with A2 handguards and what appeared to be an A2 profile barrel. No markings were visible on the barrel (maybe under the handguards) and no forge codes on the receiver. I know that the PWA lowers can be worth a little bit these days, but I am curious at to what you guys think about this AR. The LGS has a price of $1295 on it which is pretty steep considering what it is. I am considering buying this AR, but I need to have a consensus of what you guys think. My thought is about $700 to maybe $800. The AR is in really nice condition. |
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Quoted:
I was looking at an AR-15 this afternoon that had a PWA cast A2 type lower, A1 stock, and A2 grip. The upper was an A2 with A2 handguards and what appeared to be an A2 profile barrel. No markings were visible on the barrel (maybe under the handguards) and no forge codes on the receiver. I know that the PWA lowers can be worth a little bit these days, but I am curious at to what you guys think about this AR. The LGS has a price of $1295 on it which is pretty steep considering what it is. I am considering buying this AR, but I need to have a consensus of what you guys think. My thought is about $700 to maybe $800. The AR is in really nice condition. Unless you're dying to find it a home in a ban state, I'd pass on that. |
| I have two PWA lowers , their early lowers were A1 one of mine is , it is in the 9,000 serial number range. I bought it in 1991. They began using A2 style lowers later although the serial numbers overlapped on A1 and A2 style lowers. Their forgings were rough but they were forged . I cant say they never used a cast lower but neither of mine are cast . I have had my hands on many PWA lowers over the years. In the early 90's I built 20 to 30 AR's for friends etc and we always used PWA lowers , they were great. The complete rifles that I saw in those days from PWA all had PM marked uppers ( Ellisco) and had no markings on the barrels. Very mix master on the parts on them. Im sure their A2 builds would be the same. Of the stripped lowers available at the time the PWA was tops. They are desirable for the ban states but check the serial number for pre ban status. Their are lots of PWA lowers that are not pre ban. $1200 does not leave much room for profit. |
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Quoted:
I have two PWA lowers , their early lowers were A1 one of mine is , it is in the 9,000 serial number range. I bought it in 1991. They began using A2 style lowers later although the serial numbers overlapped on A1 and A2 style lowers. Their forgings were rough but they were forged . I cant say they never used a cast lower but neither of mine are cast . I have had my hands on many PWA lowers over the years. In the early 90's I built 20 to 30 AR's for friends etc and we always used PWA lowers , they were great. The complete rifles that I saw in those days from PWA all had PM marked uppers ( Ellisco) and had no markings on the barrels. Very mix master on the parts on them. Im sure their A2 builds would be the same. Of the stripped lowers available at the time the PWA was tops. They are desirable for the ban states but check the serial number for pre ban status. Their are lots of PWA lowers that are not pre ban. $1200 does not leave much room for profit. I would be buying this for my collection with no intention for resale. From my knowledge of various ARs made over the years and the parts associated with them, I do not think that this is worth anymore than maybe $700 given what it is. Most of the value is in the lower itself. I appreciate your input. What do you think this AR maybe valued? |
| It all comes down to the serial number. If it is pre ban then the lower is worth $500-$600. You can sell the pre ban PWA lowers pretty fast , as a complete rifle they take a while to sell. That quick cash thing drives up prices. If you are like me and live in a non ban state then it really is only worth what an old used commercial 20 inch ar is worth ....maybe $600 bucks. Those remaining ban states really mess us up. I have a nostalgic fondness for the PWA lowers. I want to buy every one of them I see but because of their ban state appeal they are always high. I have even seen post ban PWA lowers being offered for $500 bucks, I guess people look them up on gun broker and see high prices and think PWA's are super high end ar's or something. Their good quality for the time but not worth any more than anything else. My PWA A1 lower is set up as a Colt lightweight Govt carbine all Colt parts. It has been in that configuration for twenty plus years ...lots of camping trips on that gun. From a collectors standpoint PWA seemed to use whatever they could use to build a rifle . 99% of PWA lowers were sold stripped so you can set them up with period parts and have something cool. Both my PWA's are all Colt . Michael |
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Quoted:
It all comes down to the serial number. If it is pre ban then the lower is worth $500-$600. You can sell the pre ban PWA lowers pretty fast , as a complete rifle they take a while to sell. That quick cash thing drives up prices. If you are like me and live in a non ban state then it really is only worth what an old used commercial 20 inch ar is worth ....maybe $600 bucks. Those remaining ban states really mess us up. I have a nostalgic fondness for the PWA lowers. I want to buy every one of them I see but because of their ban state appeal they are always high. I have even seen post ban PWA lowers being offered for $500 bucks, I guess people look them up on gun broker and see high prices and think PWA's are super high end ar's or something. Their good quality for the time but not worth any more than anything else. My PWA A1 lower is set up as a Colt lightweight Govt carbine all Colt parts. It has been in that configuration for twenty plus years ...lots of camping trips on that gun. From a collectors standpoint PWA seemed to use whatever they could use to build a rifle . 99% of PWA lowers were sold stripped so you can set them up with period parts and have something cool. Both my PWA's are all Colt . Michael Thanks. It is great living in a free state these days. Since this AR will not be sold off, I think I am going to see how little he will take. He may think he has an AR that is worth a lot, but he does not. Like I said, the lower is the only thing on the AR that has any real value and in a free state, it may only be $200-$300. |
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Quoted:
I would be buying this for my collection with no intention for resale. From my knowledge of various ARs made over the years and the parts associated with them, I do not think that this is worth anymore than maybe $700 given what it is. Most of the value is in the lower itself. I appreciate your input. What do you think this AR maybe valued? Quoted:
Quoted:
I have two PWA lowers , their early lowers were A1 one of mine is , it is in the 9,000 serial number range. I bought it in 1991. They began using A2 style lowers later although the serial numbers overlapped on A1 and A2 style lowers. Their forgings were rough but they were forged . I cant say they never used a cast lower but neither of mine are cast . I have had my hands on many PWA lowers over the years. In the early 90's I built 20 to 30 AR's for friends etc and we always used PWA lowers , they were great. The complete rifles that I saw in those days from PWA all had PM marked uppers ( Ellisco) and had no markings on the barrels. Very mix master on the parts on them. Im sure their A2 builds would be the same. Of the stripped lowers available at the time the PWA was tops. They are desirable for the ban states but check the serial number for pre ban status. Their are lots of PWA lowers that are not pre ban. $1200 does not leave much room for profit. I would be buying this for my collection with no intention for resale. From my knowledge of various ARs made over the years and the parts associated with them, I do not think that this is worth anymore than maybe $700 given what it is. Most of the value is in the lower itself. I appreciate your input. What do you think this AR maybe valued? You're right on the money! |
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