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Colt 20 round mag for 70s sp1


huggytree

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11 minutes ago, AGG said:

20-round (COLT AR-15/CAL. 5.56 MM/COLT’S FIREARMS DIVISION/COLT INDUSTRIES/HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. on the baseplate) would be correct for a 1977 manufacturing.

Tony

Would those be the ones manufactured by Universal Industries with the UI stamp on the front of the body? If so, I have a pile of those. They're what I would call high gloss, not the really dull anodizing.

Im trying to also recall what year Adventure Line started making magazines for the M16. Those I believe are era correct also.

To the OP, welcome to the addiction of collecting Colt AR related stuff. It won't stop with just one magazine.

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Ty for advice. Gb has a few at $40. I’ll grab one 

 

I had bought a ar15a1 1984 for $800 mint a year ago.  Decided to resell it and make a bit.  Guy who bought it said it had lots of sp1 parts on it.  Transitional gun. Using up old parts I guess.  It was more special than I thought.  Sadly I regretted selling it as I had paid so little. 
 

so I’ve been looking for a earlier one for a while. Got a good deal on the 77.  I only saw exterior pics. So I’m hoping it’s got the correct bolt.  Looks minty.  Exterior looked correct to me. 
 


 

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20 hours ago, MPFiveO said:

Would those be the ones manufactured by Universal Industries with the UI stamp on the front of the body? If so, I have a pile of those. They're what I would call high gloss, not the really dull anodizing.

Im trying to also recall what year Adventure Line started making magazines for the M16. Those I believe are era correct also.

To the OP, welcome to the addiction of collecting Colt AR related stuff. It won't stop with just one magazine.

Not certain on the "UI" on the magazine body--- probably aftermarket subcontractor.

Tony

Edited by AGG
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17 hours ago, huggytree said:

 

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1136853890

 

is this the correct mag?

Negative--- COLT AR-15/CAL. 5.56 MM/COLT’S FIREARMS DIVISION/COLT INDUSTRIES/HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. on the baseplate for a 1977.

That would be more correct for late 1965/1966/1967 with no white circular sticker and no “1” in a circle) with metal follower (COLT AR-15/CAL. .223/COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO.  INC./HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. on baseplate).

Tony

Edited by AGG
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1 hour ago, MPFiveO said:

Found this thread documenting evolution, but nothing that would say exactly which mag came with a 1977...

https://ar15.com/forums/ar-15/Development-of-the-AR-15-Magazine-and-Photo-Resource-Thread/123-784346/

I base my observations on chronicling firearms data for 35+ years, and on NIB samples that I have actually seen.

The data post can be seen on HK PROSHOP (HK MARKETPLACE/HK COLLECTIBLES AND SWAG FOR SALE/FOREARMS REFERENCE DATA).

Tony

Edited by AGG
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1 hour ago, huggytree said:

Forum member sold me a .223 marked mag for reasonable price.  I grabbed it. Looks like it’s a 1960s mag. Not perfect for my gun. But I’m ok with it 

gun arrives Saturday. Hopefully everything’s correct on it.  

Awesome--- post clear pictures of the bolt carrier and bolt (with markings).

Also, the A11-72 SPORTER RIFLE manual would be correct for a 1977.

Tony

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3 hours ago, AGG said:

I base my observations on chronicling firearms data for 35+ years, and on NIB samples that I have actually seen.

I've been doing the same thing for the same amount of time. I'm just getting forgetful these days and have to refer back to reference material, of which I have a lot.

I still have a 66, 75 and a few 80's era SP1's. I try to keep the correct magazines with the guns but things get moved around. I have hundreds of AR mags and not all of them are special or specific to a particular model.

I do know this, I have a box of Circle 1 mags that go with my XM16E1 and 1966 SP1. These typically have silver floor plates and will be marked .223. There are variations in the .223 marked floor plates where the .223 stamp will be larger or smaller. Also the 1 in the circle might be right side up, upside down, or not even there, just a circle. I have examples of each.

I also have some mags like you describe that came out of boxes containing unfired Colt M16A1 rifles. The boxes are dated 1975. I'll have to dig them out to see if they were marked with the Universal Industries logo on the front. I believe that they are. Universal Industries was not just an aftermarket magazine supplier, they had a military contract going back to 69? I can't recall. They supplied magazines with Universal marked floor plates as well as Colt marked floor plates. So, they are factory Colt magazines.

There were Colt 5.56 magazines that did not have the UI logo on the front of the magazine. Most of those had a deep orange color after the dry film lube wore off. I don't know if these were made by Colt or another contractor but they have Colt 5.56 marked floor plates. I don't recall the date of manufacture on those as I'm getting forgetful...

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Does anyone recall what year Colt started putting the block in the 20 round magazines to limit them to 5 rounds? And did all of them have a rivet in the floor plate? All of the examples I've collected had black plastic floor plates and appear to have come with rifles made in the 1980's. I've never come across one with a metal follower.

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  • huggytree changed the title to Colt 20 round mag for 70s sp1
12 hours ago, huggytree said:

Forum member sold me a .223 marked mag for reasonable price.  I grabbed it. Looks like it’s a 1960s mag. Not perfect for my gun. But I’m ok with it 

gun arrives Saturday. Hopefully everything’s correct on it.  

A Magpul mag would be incorrect.  Anything ‘77 and prior would be correct, technically.

Post a range report!

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Even colt can't tell you exactly what mags/parts came with each gun.  It depends on what subcontractor parts were laying around when they assembled the gun and what got put in that box.  You can make generalizations about certain periods and models, but even the same models came with different parts probably in the same week depending on what was "picked" for specific orders and what batches of parts were on the shelf, and which box was open, or if two boxes were open and parts were grabbed randomly and installed in a particular gun.  People fantasize about this massive production line with well organized people, supply chains, quality control supervisors, and intense record keeping.   Multiple bankruptcies and firsthand reports of the facilities would suggest "organization and record keeping" is not the company's strongest asset?

The only Colts I've kept over the years are the ones with the 3rd hole, the rest are $400 used guns just like any PSA gun.

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Bcg has no markings. Looks nearly new w almost no wear 

 

how do I post pics here?

I see them for sale on gb. Probably just buy one to make the gun correct 

 

my bargain is still below market but not by much after the mag and bcg.  
condition is near mint except for a chunk under the ejection port cover.  
 

 

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A 1977 BCG should be marked with a C on the non ejection port side. It should also be of the SP1 semi auto profile. The bolt should be marked MPC behind the locking lugs. Hope you can share pics soon.

I know of a couple of sellers on GB that sell complete SP1 lowers but they replace all the internals with cheap kits and sell the original parts separately for more money. It's just cringe to part out SP1's but it seems to be a thing there.

I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the Colt SP1. It's excellent reference material and just plain cool to see the evolution of the rifle. This place is out of stock but I'm sure the books are still available.

https://rdgunbooks.com/shop/ols/products/colt-collectors-guide-to-the-colt-ar-15-sp1-sporter-rifle-by-p-cox-and-bruce-kaufman-new

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Links work for me. That's definitely an aftermarket carrier and possibly bolt. Looks very similar to the one that came in my S&W M&P 15. It has a full ramp but the sear trip is cut back. Like you said, an original bolt group isn't hard to find.

Overall, a very nice looking SP1. I see the spot behind the magazine release button you mentioned. That can be touched up with some Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black.

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Bid on one on gb. 
 

what’s my wrong one worth? No markings?

$50?


is buffer correct?

 

gun looks barely fired. I’ll bet original owner swapped bcg to save the original.  Was an estate gun. He dies and no one can find the mag or knows he swapped the bcg 

 

Edited by huggytree
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