M16A1 contract info

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

A New Zealand based collector, lucky enough to be allowed such toys, has just bought Colt manufactured M16A1 S/N 9326646
Any idea of contract chaps?

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.

[fjruple]

I believe that serial number puts the rifle in a foreign military contract range. I don't know which country. Better to get several pics of the lower receiver and see. Generally Colt direct military contracts will not be marked "Proprietary of US Government". M16A1 rifles with those markings probably were paid for by the US Government as part of a military assistance program. The receiving country would be required to get the US Government permission for resale. The receiving country can buy the rifles at a later date, or return them, or destroy them. Often the receiving countries will disassemble the rifles and sale the parts and destroy the lower receivers.

--fjruple

--fjruple

[mrclark303]

Many thanks indeed for the info. I will pass that on and see what comes back.

Cheers John

[browningautorifle]

Proprietary of US Government

I thought it was property...?

Often the receiving countries will disassemble the rifles and sale the parts and destroy the lower receivers.

So that's where all those parts kits come from over time...

[fjruple]

Jim--

My bad on the "Proprietary" it should be "Property". Also of these disassembled parts are found "Police" weapons with the barrels, FA parts (auto sear), and lower removed. Our "US" government believes that barrels made for military firearms are not for sporting purposes.

--fjruple

[mrclark303]

Here's the pics guys, well used and dropped a few times me thinks....

[Gil Boyd]

John,
She certainly looks like she had a hard operational life!

[mrclark303]

John,
She certainly looks like she had a hard operational life!

Ironically Gil, the bore and working parts are in good condition, so more carried/ dropped and bounced about in the back of lorries than actually used for its intended purpose.

[nzl1a1collector]

I don't collect the things but here are a couple of ex NZ Army examples

The New Zealand Army engraved the serial number on the upper, bolt carrier and bolt (the same as the L1A1 rifle) so from the photos above the rifle might not be ex NZ Army

[Gil Boyd]

I probably go against the grain here.........I have never been a great lover of the Armalite, and can't really put my finger on the reasons for that, but probably because it seemed to rattle a great deal when you didn't want to make a sound!!