AR10 Serial Numbers

[Nick S]

Does anyone have a list of early AR10 serial numbers from the AI factory? I'm trying to find out the number breakdown between the different variants they made.

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.

[HHollow]

Most of the original AI AR10 factory documents have been preserved in a private collection in the Netherlands. I have personally inspected the trove of documents and some rifles are described in much more than others. For instance, each of the rifles shipped as a part of the Sudan and Portugal contracts are noted as such, but with no other inromation. I am in possession of a fully automatic Portuguese contract rifle imported intot the US in 1961 and I was lucky enough to get copies of the original import/export permits and shipping bills and invoice.

In the next 2 years a Dutch collector will complete a book documenting the AI AR10 and he will probably give a complete listing of serials. The Sudanese contract rifle serial numbers spanned from less than about 100 to nearly 3000. There were maybe 4 Sudanese guns with serials less than 100. The Guatemalan training academy rifles ranges in serial number from about 3050 to about 3450. There are just a few Portuguese AR10s in the 4xxxx and 5xxx ranges with most Portuguese AR10s being 6xxx-8xxx. The Transitional AR10 rifles started as low as 3400 and have been seen in the 6xxx range.

Canada is a great place for AR10's because Lever Ams apparently imported some NOS rifles left over from the factory. Of course, Wilke imported scads of well worn contract rifles which are easily identified due to their relatively poor condition and presence of replacement parts.

[georgepugh]

Good, any more detail?