My new Colt Model 602 AR-15 build

[imarangemaster]

I had a nice Colt Model 602 build before, but for a variety of really stupid reasons, I sold off everything except the NDS 601 slab-side lower. (actually, it was to build a 300 BLK for a patrol carbine for the high-country security contract I had.) Anyway, the Green stocked 601s and 1st revision black stocked 602 AR-15s are my favorite platforms, so I just had to have another one!.

A short History lesson is that in about 1960-1961, the Army tested the radical new weapon designed by Eugene Stoner's team at the ArmaLite Division of Fairchild Aircraft Corp. The United States Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration, (ARPA), tested the Model 601 AR-15 in Project AGILE starting in mid-1961 with Army "Advisors" in the Republic of Vietnam. It was wildly successful, though several changes were requested, and embodied in the Model 602 starting in Late 1962 or early 1963. The most visible change was the change from green painted brown composite furniture to furniture molded from black composite. You can find numerous pictures of Advisors and early Navy Seals in the jungle wearing Beau Gam "duck hunter fatigues, toting the early AR-15s and US M2 Carbines.



MY 602:

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[imarangemaster]

Parts list:
-NODAK SPUD 601 lower
-Early square forged 604 upper from HKKILLER
-Chrome 601/602 Bolt Carrier with full round key, from SNIPERTEWG (IIRC)
-Stag Arms chrome bolt assembly
-Colt M16 LPK from JGLOCK
-dimpled semi-selector from Heat N Beat
-601 pivot pin from NDS
-Colt: A1 grip, buffer tube, spring, and red wine buffer from JGLOCK
-Type D stock from EBAY
-Handguards from member 5437
-Barrel is 1/9 pencil from AR15sport
-Colt 20 round magazine, early with aluminum follower and "223" marking. Blocked to 10 rounds for Kalifornistan
-Bullet button so I can have my evil features in Kalifornication. Just could not bear to put a kydex paddle and muzzle break on this one.
-601 f duckbill flash hider and lock washer from Innovative industries
-Grenade spring from another member (can't remember who, so speak up and take a bow!)
-Bayonet from What a Country
-Colt bipod and early case I have had for 30 years or so
-Web sling, an original from EBAY,
-The two pocket 601 pouch I got on Pay it Forward from another member
-The comic book is an original I got as an amorer in the Air Guard. USAF reserve in the late 70s
-The web gear, various places, though some was actually mine in the 70s, when I was in the Army
-The Beau Gam Kamo brand duck hunter top. Got it on EBAY from an old guy who actually wore them back in the day in the early 60s. I have a pair of Kamo brand pants that match that I got on EBAY from Thailand pants, and a Beau Gam hat from
ebay, too.
-I have some Chieu Hoi mag bags that I got back in the USAF armory same time as the comic book manual.

[RCS]

Attachment 52240Attachment 52241Attachment 52242Attachment 52243Attachment 52244Attachment 52245Attachment 52246Attachment 52247

Rifle in photo is a three digit Colt SP1 semi auto, I started looking for early parts a very long time ago. Use to find the fiber parts in the salvage yards. Difficult to believe they repro almost every part now for the new collectors

[imarangemaster]

RCS< Nice cast FSB and barrel. What barrel is it? Also nice original waffle mags. I'm getting a Nodak Spud one soon.

[RCS]

Attachment 52254Attachment 52255Attachment 52256Attachment 52257Attachment 52258Attachment 52259Attachment 52260

Some additional photos. The early front sight base and barrel marked 12 is from the three digit Colt SP1. The early SP1 rifles had early parts which changed during production. The early triangle charging handle was never used on the civilian SP1. The waffle magazines are also difficult to find under $200, the repro is without the original follower and bottom plate but look good. It is interesting that you can build up a nice example from the early 60's period.
Cartridges are 224 Winchester and 222 REM SPECIAL

[RCS]

Attachment 52254Attachment 52255Attachment 52256Attachment 52257Attachment 52258Attachment 52259Attachment 52260

Some additional photos. The early front sight base and barrel marked 12 is from the three digit Colt SP1. The early SP1 rifles had early parts which changed during production. The early triangle charging handle was never used on the civilian SP1. The waffle magazines are also difficult to find under $200, the repro is without the original follower and bottom plate but look good. It is interesting that you can build up a nice example from the early 60's period.
Cartridges are 224 Winchester and 222 REM SPECIAL The gas tube is steel too

[imarangemaster]

DANG! You have such nice stuff, RCS! I am jealous. I used to have a full set of green 601 furniture (80% or better) and an original 601 duck bill that I had on a mid-70s SP1. I friend talked me out of them, saying her would replace them. I gave them to him, that is how much I trusted him. I never got any back. That was 25 years ago. Back then, they weren't quite as rare or spendy. He is not a friend any longer.

[imarangemaster]

The original slick side AR15/M16 with a 20" barrel is still under 6 lbs, and maximizes the devastating effect of M193 ammo at 3300 FPS. It is Armalite designed perfection.

[imarangemaster]

For those not familiar with the funny looking spring petals behind the early duckbill flash hider, it was a retention device for the ENERGA HEAT (High Explosive, Anti Tank) grenade. The ENERGA rifle grenades were used with great effect in 1961-1963 by Advisors in Vietnam during project AGILE. I have read some of the after action reports, and they really liked them. That was, of course, before the general issuance of 66mm M72 LAWS rockets in 1963, and the 40mm M79 grenade launcher, also in the early 1960s.

[cquickel]

Wow great bill
Where did you give the gray take down pins,
Mag release, and bolt release. Also were you
Able to find an early gas tube?

Thanks

Curt