M14 Forum

Spikenfritz · May 30th, 2005, 10:05 PM

Hi folks.

Any of y'all knowledgeable on the IDs marked on the right side of the upper receiver housings for AR15-type rifles? What I'm talking about is the marks found immediately forward of the rear sight assembly for fixed carry handle uppers, or marks found directly above and to the left of the brass deflector on flattops.

Here's what I'm talking about, and sorry for the poor quality of some of the pics (dunno why, but the Forum software blows 'em up to the 400-pixel size--Hawk, can you help?):

White Oak Armament-assembled upper. This has an "A" split in half horizontally halfway through the letter. Anyone know who made this one?

Colt 20" Upper A "C" "M" "B" can be seen:

Colt 16" Flattop: A "C" and merged "A" and "F" can be found.

Anyone have any other additions? Might help folks out when going to the gun shows that are popping up (and might also answer some questions in the "Parts" thread. ;) ).

Spike

Sherlock308 · May 31st, 2005, 10:18 AM

OK, here goes -

Example #1 The "split A" is really an AH. Stands for Anchor Harvey, the company that actually produced the raw forging.

Example #2 The C stands for Colt. They did the machining on this part which is from a raw forging produced by Mueller Brass, hence the MB.

Example #3 Again the C stands for Colt who were the people that machined the raw forging produced by Accurate Forge, whose logo is the merged AF.

Uppers will generally (but not always) be identified with the maker of the raw forging. When these raw forgings are made as part of a specific contract the forge will also mark them with the identifier of the contract company, such as Colt, Bushmaster, ArmaLite, etc. who does the finish machining of the component.

If the upper has only one code it will be the id of the forge and generally means that the part was produced for sale to any number of outside suppliers of finish-machined bare uppers.

I suggest a copy of "Black Rifle II" by Christopher Bartocci, available from the publisher, Collector Grade Publications. It's chock full of lots of good info on id'ing components. VERY well worth your while.

Also, there are some stickies dealing with this kind of thing on arfcom. Some great info from knowledgable people, if you can avoid all of the other arfcom BS ;)

HTH,

Al :)

Spikenfritz · May 31st, 2005, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherlock308

...I suggest a copy of "Black Rifle II" by Christopher Bartocci, available from the publisher, Collector Grade Publications. It's chock full of lots of good info on id'ing components. VERY well worth your while...

Awesome, Al! =D>

Thanks very much for your response! I had no idea on how that worked.

It also looks like you made my wife's Father's Day shopping a heckuvalot easier! ;)

Spike

Lex_Ordo · June 2nd, 2005, 06:15 AM

Intersting topic. I also Have a Colt; An M4 Carbine, but my upper and Handle Marks are Different.

I'll try a photo.

Lex_Ordo · June 2nd, 2005, 07:03 AM

Here is the Upper Id Marks of my Colt MT6400c. The Commercial M4 Carbine, from Colt Defense, LLC

Sherlock308 · June 2nd, 2005, 09:47 AM

Lex_Ordo,

Your carry handle carries the 'keyhole' identifier of Cerro Forge. The number 3 simply designates the number of the die that produced the forging.

On your upper receiver, the 'stylized D' is the identifier of the finish manufacturer Devtek/Diemaco. This Canadian outfit supplies components for the Canadian Military and often Colt. You will often find their products on Colt civilian AR's. Colt bought this company within the last year. The 'split A' identifies the forging as coming from Anchor Harvey.

Contrary to popular myth there are at least fourteen companies that produce these forgings to gov't contractors.

HTH,

Al :)

Lex_Ordo · June 3rd, 2005, 05:19 AM

Thanks Sherlock.
I never really paid any mind to the marks on the upper merely due to lack of knowledge. I'm glad this board was developed. Now I can get info on my M1A/ M14 and my Black Rifle!

BRONZ · June 12th, 2005, 06:31 AM

Dang this is a good post.

I learned a whole lot today. Now if I could remember it. :D

Bullet175 · March 14th, 2006, 05:53 PM

I have one marked F K. Looks like an el cheapo. Im in the process of replacing it with a Bushy upper. Can anyone help me identify the F K upper?

leid · March 14th, 2006, 06:04 PM

FN Manufacturing Inc. machined Kaiser Aluminum forging so most probably USGI.
HTH,
Carey

Bullet175 · March 14th, 2006, 07:51 PM

Thanks Carey, Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think I should hang on to it? Build something else with it? Are USGI uppers pretty commonplace?

leid · March 16th, 2006, 07:46 AM

USGI uppers are the best you can get and yours was made by 2 very well respected companies. The forging and the machine work should be top shelf. Unless it is worn out or damaged, it is a keeper.
HTH,
Carey

Fred Smith · March 26th, 2007, 07:30 PM

I have flat top all that is on it is a key hole mark it has the white t- marks on the top

03psd · September 16th, 2007, 04:50 PM

How about fixing the links to the photos at the top of this thread!

Please

flintsghost · November 28th, 2007, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex_Ordo

Intersting topic. I also Have a Colt; An M4 Carbine, but my upper and Handle Marks are Different.

I'll try a photo.

My commercial Colt M4 carbine has the markings of C and an A below the picatinney rail reciever and is out of the limited prod run that Colt did of M4's during the ban period (now resides on a pre ban Colt Sporter lower). My SP1 original which has a very low 110 thousand serial has a C and an H under the carrying handle. I always knew the C was for Colt but never knew what the others were.