Early M16 in Viet Nam photo

[RCS]

Look at all the early parts on this M16

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I remember the early footage at the time showing chrome bolt carriers and type 2(I think) flash hiders. Do you think this pic was stock or just an early rifle that was hiding in a small arms locker? Finally seeing the light of day in 1975? And the waffle mag?

[Victor Six Bravo]

A sergeant i knew found some (and issued them) original, green-stocked M16s while on a stopover in England. Never fired, never issued up to that point.

This was in 2006. USAF armory at one of the bases their, they needed to post guards and all the other rifles were spoken for and theirs were packed on an aircraft and sealed IIRC.

[browningautorifle]

I remember coming across a rack of 10 or so EX1 FNs in Victoria BC in a QM lock up. There was a sign at the bottom "Do not issue" and I was quickly escorted away when I made known I knew what they were. The next time I went in there they were gone. This was 1984.

[imarangemaster]

That looks like a late version of the Model 602, non-forward assist, with a waffle mag. Current style charging handle and later three prong. We had a green stocked 601 in my AF SP arms room in the late 80s.

Edit: after looking harder, it might be a partial fence lower, which would make it a very early 604 Model used by Air Force and Navy.

[Roscoe Snyder]

From the way the port cover sticks out at an angle there is no doubt that it has the partial fence lower.

[Bill Hollinger]

Roscoe, doesn't the dust cover hold out due to the take down pin boss?

[GUTS]

Bill, the fence on the partial fence lower is what holds the ejection port cover out a little ways, the cover doesn't quite reach the pivot pin. The takedown pin is the rear pin, the pivot pin is the front pin.

[Bill Hollinger]

Thanks Guts, I did mean the pivot pin

[DaveHH]

I was there in 66-67 and I never saw one that WASN'T forward assist. The big shoot out in Nov 65 in the Ia Drang has lots of 1/7th guys holding FA rifles. The photo almost looks like Marine Corps. You would almost never see an Army guy without the elastic band on that helmet cover. Utilities look awful loose too, Army jungle fatigues had button sleeves. M-14 sling too. Interesting photo. Could be an early adviser before Jungle Fatigues came out which would explain the AR-15.