I have a very early Sporter Right before Ban Colt did some voluntary stuff back then so that they might not get banned {well hoped}Colt wound up selling a few different versions of the AR prior to the ban that I was able to take advantage of. Different barrels and such. I remember when the first flat tops hit the market. Dang those things looked odd at the time. Eventually other manufacturers joined in and you could buy AR 15 parts and rifles with different logos. The Eagle arms lowers I have are the last of the prebans I bought. Olympic Arms made some nice stuff too. But if you didn't mind a little spray paint and some battle scuffs, the stripped down parts kit mil surp rifles were the way to go. I must have wound up with a couple dozen canvas wrapped cleaning kits. That's what fits in the old fixed stock rifle butts in case you guys didn't know, lol. And the brown wrapped 20 and 30 round mags at Sinclares army surplus in Central could be had for $2.50 and $6 respectively.
Dang if the AR ain't the most fun gun on the planet.
Sorry JR1572 I didn't get a chance to pull her back out of the safe last night... I will try and get those marks tonight.
There's a really good resource for determining the year (I haven't called yet), online at https://bpullignwolnet.dotster.com/retroblackrifle/ModGde/SP1SN.html
I'm thinking my lower was made in '64... SP00101 was the beginning of '64, and then SP02591 started in '65. I know its a early one not only from the serial number, but early SP1s were marked "Colt's Patent Firearms", later SP1s were marked "Colt's Firearms Division".
I did look it up on Colt's website serial number search... http://www.colt.com/Customer-Services/Serial-Number-Lookup
It says it's a 1964 AR-15 SPORTER.
http://biggerhammer.net/ar15/ar15serial.html
It's an old page but it still has relevant info.
JR1572
http://biggerhammer.net/ar15/ar15serial.html
It's an old page but it still has relevant info.
JR1572
The only mark on the barrel is a 12.
These are the only marks on the receiver.
The only mark on the barrel is a 12.
These are the only marks on the receiver.