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8/1/2004 3:31:28 PM EDT
Essential Arms of Krotz Springs, Lousiana produced the best cast receiver just before the AWB.  They closed their doors about the time of the ban, and most all of their receivers are" preban."  Their receivers were investment cast (most by Ruger) and well machined.  In fact I have seen many AR's built on these receivers, and never saw a malfunction or problem due to this lower receiver.

Yes, they were cast, but were well done by Rugar, and were the best of the cast receivers.  The last price I saw on them was $59, 3 or more for $55.

They were the original gray finish, the same color as the moly dry lube on M16 magazines.  This was the original Colt color.

I just got off the phone with Bob Johnson of Essential Arms, and they are back in business. They have the receivers in gray, but no matching gray upper receivers as they offered before the ban.  They can supply them with a black coating, he was not specific if duracoat or what brand.

But this is interesting... they will soon, in a few weeks, have investment cast steel lowers.  Also, they will have forged aluminum receivers soon.

But whether you care for cast lowers or not, that is not the point of this post... what the point is, here is at least one mfg who is confident of the future of our civil rights to reopen.
8/1/2004 3:57:56 PM EDT
[#1]
I love my EA.  I wasn't impressed with the upper that was on it, but I replaced that.  The lower has had zero problems.  I read in another post on this site that EA has been making AR parts, specifically CAR stocks for the other manufacturers.
8/1/2004 4:28:04 PM EDT
[#2]
A few weeks is what he told me a few months ago.
8/1/2004 6:17:31 PM EDT
[#3]
fq1234:  Essential Arms makes the rubber covered aluminum CAR buttstock for some mfgs.  

All Essential Arms rifles you see are parts guns.  The upper on your EA could have come from anywhere.  Essential never made complete rifles.  In fact, they never stocked barrels at all.
8/1/2004 6:20:20 PM EDT
[#4]
But the question of MY day is; will they be A1 or A2 profile pieces?  If A2, he's just jumping in where a dozen other people are already swimming.  If A1, he has a smaller, but rabid, market all to himself
8/1/2004 6:42:18 PM EDT
[#5]
I have a preban rifle built on an EA lower and it's run just fine for me for about 15 years. I've had three different uppers on it--M16A1, M&A midlength and DPMS .22 M4--and there's never been any fit or function problem with any of them.

I got the thing as a complete assembled lower from Quality Parts Co., which I believe is known today as Bushmaster.
8/1/2004 7:37:29 PM EDT
[#6]
Aw, damn! I just passed up a $875 preban AR-15 A1 on an EA lower, and now you tell me that EA is good! And I was already kicking my own ass for passing up a Beretta 96 with night sights for $300!
8/12/2004 6:53:36 AM EDT
[#7]
Do they have a website up and running yet? I have had nothing but great service of my old EA lower.
8/12/2004 11:55:15 AM EDT
[#8]
No, no website.
8/17/2004 10:25:08 PM EDT
[#9]
How about doing us and Essential Arms a big favor.  Post their contact info so that we can buy their product.  

ALPHA142
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