Vietnam M16 rifle producers

asa-vn

Which companies made M16 rifles for the US in the years 1967-1972 used by the US armed forces in Vietnam? Can you give a "time-line" on major production changes,such as barrel twist rates, forward assist, etc ?

Dak To 68

Mine had the "prancing horse" on it and had forward bolt assist.

Txs

Colt, Harrington & Richardson and General Motors (Hydro-Matic Div.)

givette

To asa: I can't answer the timeline question. Sorry. Perhaps someone down the line can refer you to a link that will have that info. Back in May '69 My M-16A1 was a NIB issue colt w/teardrop forward assist, birdcage supressor, chrome bore (C MP barrel) and came w/20rd. magazines. I saw a few GM's, and one M16-no bolt assist- that an old gunner said was issued to the Air Force. Keep coming back to this topic, as I'm sure someone has the timeline listings you are asking for. Best rgds, old comerade. Joe

Spider7115

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m16.htm

GreenLantern

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Commando

www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=3

Txs

quote:Originally posted by givette
I saw a few GM's, and one M16-no bolt assist- that an old gunner said was issued to the Air Force.

All M16's (no forward assist) were manufactured by Colt. The USAF was the first branch of our military to adopt select-fire AR-type rifle and issued these NIB up until the 80's.

The only real changes made during their run was to delete the hard-chrome bolt, switch to a bird-cage flash suppressor and equip them with M16A1 type buttstocks.

11b6r

Don't remember a General Motors- DO recall a General Dynamics- we used to keep an eye out for those for our lefties- the ejection pattern was different, and less likely to eject fired brass into the face/ shirt of a lefty. The original issue M-16's were Colts.

IAMACLONE_2

More than you think,
Follow this link, shows all the develpment stages,mfg.s & variants.
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as18-e.htm