Over the years we have become used to seeing rifle specific lower receiver nomenclatures like AR-15A2 Sporter II, AR-15A4, AR-15A4 Lightweight LE Carbine, M4 Carbine and M4A1 Carbine to name a few. After two to three months in the market, the reduction of ‘character’ in the lower receiver markings continues to draw criticism. Many committed Colt AR-15 fans did not receive this lower receiver design change very well. Photograph of the new ‘Carbine’ lower receiver Above the text is the renowned ‘Rampant Pony’ that we know and love. In an effort to streamline production and reduce production costs, Colt standardized the lower receiver markings to simply say ‘Carbine Cal. I was surprised to see that during the temporary hiatus from the market, Colt had revamped its AR-15 lower receiver design and manufacturing strategy. On October 3rd, 2020 on Gun Broker I saw the first listing for the new Colt AR-15’s. You can see the story here: Īfter reading the article, I began watching the retail market and firearms sales sites like Gun Broker looking for the new rifles coming into the market. On J published a short article stating that Colt had announced it was going to start shipping commercial rifles again. Many of us understood that Colt was simply balancing market realities and priorities and that once existing inventories got low and military/le contracts got caught up, Colt would begin production again. The reality was that Colt had excess inventory and were back-logged with military and law enforcement orders which was completely consuming their manufacturing capacity. Many on the internet immediately jumped to the conclusion (incorrectly) that Colt had caved to anti-gun bureaucrats and cut off the civilian market. Around August of 2019, the internet came alive with second-hand word that Colt wasn’t going to sell their LE-series of AR-15’s to civilian consumers anymore.
Colt ar 15s serial numbers#
I kept an informal Colt SP1 notes about serial numbers that was discussed in a large AR site survey.1983 - 1985 2116XX173XXX1982173XXX140XXXSo yours would be made about 1983, a lot of people said that the production of the SP1 model ended in 1982, but they probably made some more from 1983 to 1985.My first ever Colt AR-15 was a new SP1 rifle that I bought in 1971, it had an A1 type birdcage flash suppressor, no forward assist, and no storage compartment in the buttstock.I had never seen a factory new SP1 with a forward assist, if there are a few the owners probably upgraded their upper receiver with an A1 type with forward assist later on.I also bought a new Sporter II rifle back in 1984 and it had a forward assist with teardrop style plunger (no shell deflector), but the very early Sporter II models does not have forward assist same as the SP1 model.I don"t have a SP1 rifle currently, I only have an all Colt parts rifle that I put together myself, from a like new condition Colt Match Target HBAR stripped lower receiver, Colt lower parts kit, new Colt M16A2 fixed buttstock group, new never issued USGI Colt M16A2 upper half (built in the 1980s) with Colt M16 full auto bolt carrier group.Ĭolt AR-15 Sporter SP1 rifle owner since 1971Colt 1911 Government Model Series 80.
Colt ar 15s serial number#
Hi, I have purchased a colt sp1 and can anybody tell me when it was made serial number is sp17873x thanks in advance.