20 round AR-15 magazine

[Brother in Arms]

Hey everyone I recently came into a few original 20 round AR-15/M16 magazines and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about them. I have already read Rawles articles on AR-15 magazines but I was wondering if there are any super AR-15 nerds here who can tell me more about these magazines.

CAL 5.56mm
Colt's Firearms Division
Colt Industries
Hartford. Conn.U.S.A
(This mag has the rampant horse logo and a black plastic follower)

COLT AR-15
cal 5.56mm
colt's PT.FA.MFG.CO.INC
Hartford. Conn.U.S.A
( with rampant horse logo and alloy followers)

ADVENTURE LINE MFG.CO.INC
PARSONS,KS.U.S.A

M16/M16A1 CAL 5.56mm
Universal Inds. Div.
Simmonds Prec. Prod. INC.
West Haven. Conn. U.S.A


one more thing of note...4 of the magazines ( marked Simmonds and 2 marked colt) have an unusual marking on the front of the magazine body. That looks like a capital letter I nestled into a capital letter U. I suspect this must stand for Universal Industries as none of the other colt magazines have this mark and the Colt magazine floor plates are probably on Simmonds/universal Made magazine bodies, but I can't substantiate that.

Also I was told that these types of magazines could be desirable to collectors? I was telling my neighbor (an older gentleman) about how I am building an AR-15 and he said "hold on I got something for you then" he went into the hall closet and after a few minutes pulled out a brown paper bag with 9-20 round magazines in it and gave them to me.


Thanks
Brother in Arms

 

[aloharover]

The alloy followers made some of the most reliable mags I have ever seen.

 

[Chipperman]

I was telling my neighbor (an older gentleman) about how I am building an AR-15 and he said "hold on I got something for you then

How cool is that?

Buy that man a nice bottle of wine, and invite him shooting. (Just don't drink and shoot at the same time. )

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

http://magfaq.tripod.com/

 

[Onmilo]

I am betting the "older gentleman" is ex-military?

Colt marked magazines with alloy followers do have collector interest and are sought after by builders of retro rifles.

I am pretty sure I have seen all those markings on 20 round magazines while in service but cannot give you highlights on the finer details of the simmons/universal connection.

I was far more interested in fast cars and pretty girls that what markings were on what magazines back then.

 

[Brother in Arms]

Onmilo

Your right the fellow was in the Army from the Mid 60's to the early 80's.

Don't blame you for not remembering minutia like that from your military service.

I myself have always Liked pretty girls and guns....and even better pretty girls who shoot guns.

Brother in Arms

 

[rbernie]

Also note that, in states that have a magazine ban, pre-'94 magazines are worth quite a bit more than in free states.