HELP! AR15/M16 question

[NOPCKL]

BCG is definitely semi-auto. It was purchased seperately from the upper with the intention of eventually building a recreational plinker.

The upper is the piece I am wondering about as far as value / lineage / application.

Have a couple interested parties and hoped I could get a guess as to value and history so as to neither give the piece away nor mislead the next owner.

Thanks.

 

[CAR-AR-M16]

Colt Model 602 barrels were manufactured in house were proof tested and like some 601 barrels were stamped with Colt's proof stamp a V & P in triangle (Verified Proof) on the right side, the barrel extension was also marked with a C (C stamp was used through 1965):

A "12" marking was added just over and inch from the muzzle to differentiate it from the earlier barrels. Marking was used from 1963 till the Fall of 1967:

 

[CAR-AR-M16]

The upper is also a Colt. Colt Proof Marks for an early 601/ 602 - Triangle & Square with "C" Located in front of ejection port.


[Broken External Image]

 

[CAR-AR-M16]

Can you pull the handguards and see if you have an early or late model gas tube?

ArmaLite gas tubes were carbon steel. These were used on the AR-15, and on the M16/XM16E1 for a short time before switching to stainless steel:

New bend was in use by 1969 and serial number 1,750,XXX:

 

[NOPCKL]

Apparently this particular upper has the early ArmaLite gas tube:

In better light I noticed the VP and an M mark here:

 

[CAR-AR-M16]

Can you post a pic of the ejection port cover with it closed (to see if you have an early or late model door) and a pic of the rear sight adjustment wheel. From your one picture it looks like the direction marking is raised like the pic below which would make the receiver a later 604 model.

[Broken External Image]


ArmaLite port door. This part was used on the AR-15, and early M16 and XM16E1 rifles, and was dropped in 1964:

Later M16 and XM16E1 rifles used a new port door starting in 1964. This port door was also used on the M16A1:

 

[NOPCKL]

I appreciate the help.

Just out of curiosity, am I out-of-line asking around $400 for the upper with the BCG?

 

[CAR-AR-M16]

Thanks for the additional pics. Your upper receiver is a rather common USAF M16 (model 604) with a standard port door. The barrel and gas tube are much earlier. Let me check with some of the Retro experts on another forum as I think that the gas tube and barrel could be more valuable.

 

[CAR-AR-M16]

PM coming with info.

 

[DRC458]

Thank you, folks, for all of your help.

And, welcome aboard, Jeff! I KNEW this group could answer all of your questions! And, don't be a stranger now!