steel gas tube

[RCS]

I came across some parts (original) that were set aside for projects, I noticed the gas tube is steel as a magnet will grab it, tested the magnet on about a dozen old gas tubes but only this one will grab the magnet.

How long did these last in the system ? I would guess 1963 or 1964 ?

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Wouldn't have been long as they were the ones that rusted shut in use. Imagine that...yes, about a year.

[Frederick303]

I seem to recall when working on figuring out changes, there is a instruction to replace these tubes when the rifles come in for inspection or rework, but I forget the echelon maintenance level where that update was to occur.

In that same instruction was the order to change out the old buffer, with the heavier one, to replace the firing pin if it was the old pattern and replace the rear butt screw with one that had a drain hole. I seem to recall the heavy firing pin was expected to be found in M16 only, not M16E1 or M16A1 rifles.

[RCS]

The Edgewater buffer was being replaced during 1967-68 but I believe the steel gas tube was changed out much sooner ?

[AlexRod85]

I guess that's between a mid length and rifle length and, i think that's 13.25 inches long for me.

[browningautorifle]

that's between a mid length and rifle length

These were used long before the new odd sizes of barrel lengths.

[RCS]

Which brings up another question, how long did Colt use the Edgewater buffer in the civilian AR-15 (SP1) rifle ? My four digit 25xx still has the Edgewater buffer and being used in semi auto rifles should be trouble free ?

photo shows three digit with Edgewater buffer

[BEAR]

I purchased a 5 digit (sp 183XX) AR in 1971. It had a Edgewater buffer and a black bcg with forward assist notches. A few years later I swapped it for the newer buffer with my unit armorer. Looking at the prices of the Edgewater now I wish I had kept it (and the AR sp).

BEAR