Interesting M16/AR-15 "dust cover"

[RCS]

You really do not find many "dust covers' like this variationAttachment 79287Attachment 79288

Information

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[browningautorifle]

So, that one's very early? Never have I seen one without the outer bumper. The receiver is flatside and there's a large head pin so I can't see if it's a small or large hole front. I'm guessing it's a big hole AR SP1? What serial range?

[RCS]

Jim, I posted the photos as a quiz, it is not really early. It looks like some of the early AR-10 dust covers. I would think someone would identify it soon ?

[Tom in N.J.]

I have one on my"retro build"... I always thought it was an early version, but I have been advised by an advanced collector that it is a non military replacement made in the 1980s to fill a need for parts.

Attachment 79293

[Bill Hollinger]

Not early or at least the lower in its configuration isn't. The hammer and trigger pins are later and I think perhaps Elisco???

[RCS]

Tom in NJ is correct. There was a company in Northern Illinois that manufactured AR-15 uppers, at some point around 1982, they were unable to get military port covers or as the XM16E1 manual calls
them "dust covers". They decided to have a short production run of dust covers to fill the need, that is where these came from - they fooled me into thinking they are early too.

Bill, the photo: mixmaster of parts, SP1 (1974) lower with my CAR 15 stock, upper CM with my own home-made take-down pin. Fake cover looks good

[browningautorifle]

I knew the front pin was a civilian thing to make stripping easier. I can't imagine there having been a shortage of those...