Sandman1957 Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 This info may be out there somewhere but I have burned a few hours and have not found the specific info I am looking for. I am looking for the date of manufacture for a specific M16 (NFA) (9043575). I may have the opportunity to pick up this M16, and I am trying to determine when it will be Curio and Relic eligible, or how much longer that would be. The info I have is this as a 70's to 80's export or PD gun. If it is early 70's it could be C&R eligible in a couple years or so. If anyone has seen a specific year aligned within the 9,xxx,xxx range please shoot me a link etc. Thanks in advance Sandman1957 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 Steve,Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I will soon comment. All I have is a small paperback titled "United States Martial and Collector Arms".This book lists the M16 as being manufactured from Sept 1962 to Nov 1965.Starting Jan 1966, Colt switched to making the M16A1.Pretty flimsy huh?Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG08 Posted November 20, 2018 Report Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) Did you guys loo over on AR15.com ? there is a history section and a list of when stuff was made. The gun is not on the C&R list yet, but I did find some relative data . How sure are you on the SN ? a 9 Million SN seems pretty late - most of the early guns are much lower in the range. USGI SERIAL NUMBER DATA BASE (serial numbers listed in chronological rather then numerical order):101-14,4841959-1963US Air Force/Project AGILE/SEAL issue Colt's AR-15 Model 601, roll marked ARMALITE. Some sold commercially to police departments, small numbers to foreign militaries such as Malaya, India, Australia, Burma, and Singapore.20,000-39,9991963-1964US Property marked AR-15 Colt's Model 02 issued to US Advisors in Vietnam, and US Air Force. Few hundred commercial/export examples were made that lack US Property markings.40,000-49,9991964US Property marked US Air Force M16 Colt's Model 604.50,000-199,9991964-1965US Property marked US Air Force M16 Colt's Model 604 & US Army XM16E1 Colt's Model 603.14,500-14,9161965Commercial/export CAR-15 series and US Property marked GX series for S.A.W.S. contract (note, CAR-15 refers to a family of Colt's weapons, not just short ones).15,000-19,9991965Commercial/export CAR-15 series.200,000-202,4461965Commercial/export CAR-15 series.202,447-379,3531965US Property marked US Air Force M16 Colt's Model 604, and a few commercial export models. There are also examples of commerical/export marked models using the 20X,XXX serial number range produced in the late 1960's.400,000 series1966-1973 or soOnly a few rifles/carbines made in this serial number range and known examples are spread out over several years of production. Zero US Property marked rifles have been observed. Highest know example is 418,XXX and dates from the early 1970’s.500,001-749,9991966-1967US Property marked XM16E1 Colt's and M16A1, both Colt Model 603. There are also a small number of US Air Force M16 Colt's Model 604 found in this serial number range. Serial numbers in this range were not run in order. M16A1’s have been observed with serial numbers as low as 604,505, and XM16E1’s have serial numbers as high as 741,12X.750,000-752,4431966Experimental HBAR.752,444-899,9991967US Property marked M16A1.900,000 through 909,9991966-1970US Property marked Govt. Carbines.910,000-919,999Unconfirmed, only know of one Colt in this range, it is in US Air Force inventory, and I do not know the model number.920,000-999,999No known examples.1,000,000-1,999,9991968-1969US Property marked Colt's M16A12,000,000-2,24X,XXX1968-1971US Property marked H&R M16A1.3,000,000-3,469,217 (approximate)1968-1971US Property marked Hydramatic M16A1.9,000,0000 series1970’s & 1980’sIn general these are 1970’s and early 80’s “A1” type 600 series commercial/export marked weapons. There are some exceptions, for example US Property marked Govt. Carbines.AL prefix1970Lebanese contract rifles, some 14,000 made.Note on 4,000,000 series Colt’s, there are quite a few commercial/export marked rifles/carbines mixed in.4,000,001-4,060,0001970US Air Force M16 Colt Model 604.4,060,001-4,221,8001970US Property marked M16A1.4,221,801-4,285,4001970US Air Force M16 Colt Model 604.4,285,401-4,521,0001970US Property marked M16A1.4,521,001-4,521,8501970US Air Force M16 Colt Model 604.4,521,851-4,638, 4001970US Property marked M16A1.4,638,401-4,643,4001971Model 613 for Malaysia.4,643,401-4,701,4001971US Property marked M16A1.4,701,401-4,701,9001971Model 613 Commando4,701,901-4,844,4001971US Property marked M16A1.4,844,401-4,849,4001972Model 613 for Taiwan.4,849,401-4,926,0001972US Property marked M16A1.4,926,001-4,928,0001972Model 613 for Philippines.4,928,000-4,936,4001972US Property marked M16A1.5,000,000-5,4X,XXX (app)1973-1982US Property marked M16A1 Colt's Model 603 (not aware of any Air Force M16 Colt Model 604's with serial numbers this high). Also some export/commercial models.6,000,000-6,590,478 (approximate)1983-1986US Property marked M16A2 & US Property marked XM4 prototypes Colt's Model 720.8,000,000 series1980’sIn general these are 700 series commercial/export marked models of the M16A2.7,000,000-7,429,766 (approximate)1988-2003US Property marked FN M16A2. There are also Balimoy M16A1 lowers restamped A2 in this serial number range. These were used as replacement parts by Anniston.W prefix1994-currentUS Property marked Colt's M4/A1 Carbine, Colt's Model 920/921.A prefix1990’s on900 series Commercial/export versions of the M4 Carbine.10,000,000 serial number range1997-US Property marked Colt's/FN M16A4 Edited November 20, 2018 by MG08 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgvince Posted November 21, 2018 Report Share Posted November 21, 2018 Sandman. I have a 9 million series. Serial no. 9025256. Roll marked M16 also. It's very hard to find a confirmed build date. I'm going to send in a FOIA request on mine.But it looks from what I have found that mid to late '77 is pretty close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandman1957 Posted November 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2018 Thanks, wonder if COLT has any records, and if they can produce a letter on one? I know the Cody Museum does this for older guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted November 21, 2018 Report Share Posted November 21, 2018 I doubt very much that any info will be gotten from Colt re M16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgvince Posted November 21, 2018 Report Share Posted November 21, 2018 I called the Colt archives department. They will not give out any information on M16s. Couldnt get them to even give a build date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLC Posted November 22, 2018 Report Share Posted November 22, 2018 That's a shame. They used to send letters on M16s. Here's one from 1998. Cost $100 at the time. Interesting that it was shipped in 1995 to a Colt executive. No born date though. http://i64.tinypic.com/b8te8z.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted November 22, 2018 Report Share Posted November 22, 2018 That's a shame. They used to send letters on M16s. Here's one from 1998. Cost $100 at the time. Interesting that it was shipped in 1995 to a Colt executive. No born date though. http://i64.tinypic.com/b8te8z.jpg Just wondering who redacted this letter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougStump Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 Just a bit of trivia, the M16 (no bloody A1) that I carried in the first Gulf War was serial # 313135, chrome lined chamber but not the barrel which started to rust. The morons in charge sent us over there with six M16's and zero cleaning kits! Acquiring a cleaning kit in country presented no problem when you have custody of two 3,000 lb a day ice machines. He who controls the ice controls the universe. While there I was able to examine (fondle) serial # 00009! Yeah, the Air Force had some antiques. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgeport28A1 Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 (edited) That's a shame. They used to send letters on M16s. Here's one from 1998. Cost $100 at the time. Interesting that it was shipped in 1995 to a Colt executive. No born date though. http://i64.tinypic.com/b8te8z.jpg The Colt executive may had been able to get a Colt Archive letter when mere mortals were unable to get one? Edited December 8, 2018 by Bridgeport28A1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HK Full Auto Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 I realize that this is an old thread, but it still comes up in M16A1 serial number searches so I decided to throw my 2 cents in as I have not been able to find much relevant info as to the date of manufacture of a 9-million serial number M16. It just so happens that I inherited Ser. 9380166, an M16A1 Model 603 and I actually found the original Form 4 and sales receipt today. It sold for $409.95 on Dec. 3rd, 1979. BTW, The Form 4 was submitted on or about Nov. 30th, 1979 and stamped received by the BATF on Feb. 8th, 1980. It was approved by the BATF on Feb.15th,1980! I'm not sure how that would help anyone to prove their M16 is a relic as it hasn't been 50 years old yet, but at least I have some documented proof of the date of purchase for a 9 million serial number Colt 603 M16. As I read the specifics, the gun has to be submitted to the FATD to be classified and/or reclassified. Info here: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/curios-relics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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