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Posted: 3/6/2008 9:40:15 AM EDT
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A buddy of mine was recently issued several 30 round mags through his large Federal Agency. They had Adventureline floorplates, LEO markings, "9-03" date stamps, green followers, the "33710" Cage code (which I know is Okay Ind.) and "Colt's MFG Hartford, CT." on the side (at the same place all Colt mags have it). These mags appear to be brand new/never used. This Agency also issues nothing but Colt M4s...he just doesn't know if the mags were acquired with the carbines or seperately. Now I know that Labelle actually made some mags at one time for Colt, with the same info on the mag body (33710 Cage code, Colt's MFG etc....). I also realize that Adventureline did actually make 30 rounders but I thought they had been bought out by Parsons then Center years ago (does anyone know when?). I guess my question is does anyone know if Adventureline ever made any mags for Colt? By my buddies issued mags it would seem so...I guess the Agency he works for could have swapped out floorplates for Adventureline ones but what would be the point?? Any info/insight would be great, thanks |
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I once googled and read the history of LaBelle. You should do the same. Turns out that during the time LaBelle had a USGI contract, they were having QA troubles and were not able to meet their contract quota, without monetary penalties. They farmed out the mfg of mags to keep pace. I believe Parson's and O'Kay Industries may have done some of their workload. Not sure whether the finished products were LaBelle marked, though. Not sure if Colt's contracted LaBelle to make their product. The transposition of the name Parson's and Adventureline has happened. Not sure how the the two name's coincide, but they were both located out of Parsons, KS. believe that Adventureline was an older name for 20 round mags and have seen it on 30 rounders. Perhaps the Adventureline was used on the 30's much later than the late 60's/early 70's. Center Industries was/is located in Wichita. Do a Google search to get better info. The first thing that strikes me about your LE friend's mags is someone has switched the floorplates. Some people use the dishwasher to clean their mags. Maybe someone did this and accidentally got the floorplates mixed-up. |
What doesn't make any sense to me is why Gov't Armorers would acquire hundreds if not thousands of 30 round Colt mags then switch all of their floorplates out for brand new Adventureline ones?!?!? Doesn't make any sense. Why would they go through all of that headache? It seems more likely that they are in fact Adventureline 30 rounders, but I can't find anyone who can confirm that Adventureline actually made mags for Colt at one time. Maybe it'll just remain a mystery unless someone has some other insight. |
How about this: OKay manufacturing found 50k Adventureline floorplates left over from the Adventureline contract, and got a variance to use them? Since the floorplates were from another authorized contractor, the variance was granted, and they got used. The AR mag faq does say that the machinery used to make mags was shuffled around to whoever managed to get the contract, so it wouldn't surprise me if parts got shuffled around as well, especially if those parts met contract requirements. |
| Wow stfram, I hadn't thought of that possibility before. I too have read about the shuffling of the tooling from manufacturer to manufacturer....just never thought of them using some of the old pieces. But that makes more sense to me than a Gov't armorer swapping out thousands of floorplates for no particular reason. Thanks for the different perspective on this one stfram! |
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