Who makes a Classic AR-15?

I guess it depends on what you consider classic, but there are dozens of different vendors. Mostly look at the national match models and those will be the most classic looking.

You do, if you want. Check out Palmetto state armory or model 1 sales. You can order everything but the lower, then get a lower from a LGS, either stripped or assembled. Push 2 pins together, done.

Colt has one on the website---but I have yet to see one in the wild.

Colt, FN, Rock River, Windham, probably others.

AR

Colt....

You can build your own without a lot of trouble.

By classic I am guessing an M16/M16A1 semi auto only clone with 20 inch "skinny" barrel, A1 style upper receiver with windage adjustment only rear sight either slickside with no forward bolt assist or forward bolt assist with teardrop button, A1 style furniture with triangular handguards, and three prong or birdcage style flash hider?

Brownells now sells the correct lower, upper, barrel, and flash hider for that build, and the furniture can be found by online search and sometimes on gunbroker.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

NoDak Spud has a line of retro lowers and uppers. Just depends on how far back you want to go to get the desired look.

http://www.nodakspud.com/AR Lowers.htm

Assembly is fairly simple and searching for the correct parts is not that hard. You got a picture of what you want? If so the group can probably help you find the parts.


Your description covers 20+ years of production, lots of different types produced in that span.

Triangle v. Round handguards

Heavy v. Thin barrel

Basic sights v. newer adjustable rear sights (A1 v. A2)

Brass deflector v. no deflector

Forward assist v. slick side upper

Buttstock storage compartment v. none.

Birdcage flash hider v. 3 prong

A1 pistol grip v. A2

Barrel twist rate, 1:7, 1:12, 1:14(real old), or newer

etc.






.

Fulton Armory offers what you're looking for.

LeonCarr said:

By classic I am guessing an M16/M16A1 semi auto only clone with 20 inch "skinny" barrel, A1 style upper receiver with windage adjustment only rear sight either slickside with no forward bolt assist or forward bolt assist with teardrop button, A1 style furniture with triangular handguards, and three prong or birdcage style flash hider?

Brownells now sells the correct lower, upper, barrel, and flash hider for that build, and the furniture can be found by online search and sometimes on gunbroker.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

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That would follow my thinking. Depends on what you are really looking for. Do you for example want a Retro AR-15? I like the colt rifles like the Colt SP-1 which while long discontinued can be found online used. A Google of Retro AR-15 should get you some hits. Goes back to "Classic" and what you want.

Ron

Actually, Pete D, I have heard two versions of the Hemingway Quote. The other is "There are only three true sports, Bullfighting, Automobile Racing, and Hunting; all of the others are merely activities"

Note; Hemingway hunted dangerous game. All three of these have an element of danger to the participant. Typical Hemingway.

Sorry, off topic.

Adding to my earlier post, I made these two from M16 kits I picked up. The receivers are from Nodak. I think I have about $800 in each of them. A "true" retro rifle will have the A1 receiver and the finish will be grey.

There is just something wrong about having one with a A2 receiver and black anodizing. It looks like someone did a half assed job instead of taking the time to do it right.

M16E1


M16A1

Windham has A2 uppers:
https://www.windhamweaponry.com/images/UR20GVTA4B-7.jpg
https://www.windhamweaponry.com/shopexd.asp?id=319
and A2 stocks:
https://www.windhamweaponry.com/images/STK-STDKIT.jpg
https://www.windhamweaponry.com/shopexd.asp?id=223
If you already have the lower.
As others have said, it depends on your definition of classic.
You're most likely to see A2 and similar setups in the service/high power shoots because of the adjustable sights.
Before Bushmaster was bought by Remington, they had an "official" CMP competition model of A2.

Highpower, those are really nice rifles. I've never built an AR but if I do it'll be something like that M16A1 of yours.

MotorCraft

If money is no object you could always go the auction route for an original Colt AR15. There are a couple of early Colt SP1 AR 15s on Gunbroker. One was manufactured around 1968 and has a Buy it Now price of $2999. The other was built in 1973 and the bids are currently running at half the price of the 1968 rifle.

This my early SP1 with the round handguards as I never cared for the triangular versions (still have them though).

The other was built in 1973 and the bids are currently running at half the price of the 1968 rifle.

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+1. I have a 1976 SP1 that I picked up a year ago for $1200. All I did to it was install an early buttstock and a three prong flash hider. Now it looks just like an early sixties AR15 (they weren't called M16's until the E1 model).



I got it to complete the set:

highpower

Very nice AR family!

+1. I have a 1976 SP1 that I picked up a year ago for $1200. All I did to it was install an early buttstock and a three prong flash hider. Now it looks just like an early sixties AR15 (they weren't called M16's until the E1 model).

Click to expand...

Nice to know the SP-1 prices are going up. Mine are both 70s vintage. One of wich I bought years ago simply for the nostalgic in me and the other was a my brother needed money. Maybe I would pop for a nice 60s vintage, I really never know till a gun comes along.



While I enjoy shooting the AR rifles I have other rifles I enjoy shooting also.

Ron

highpower

Very nice AR family!

Thank You.

Don't know of any company offering one on the current market..but Troy is offering their version of the xm177 style(collapsable stock) model:GAU-5/A/A rifle.
As others stated you could build your own, or if you can afford an original colt...go for it.

highpower said:

highpower

Very nice AR family!

Thank You.

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Highpower, thanks. Started with the one just because I was sentimental (not that Vietnam was fun). Then I just took a liking to the things. Something for the grandchildren someday.

Also, ifit that is a nice group. Real nice.

Ron

Thnx Reloadron, currently working on a 605 clone

Here's as close as I got...

highpower said:

+1. I have a 1976 SP1 that I picked up a year ago for $1200. All I did to it was install an early buttstock and a three prong flash hider. Now it looks just like an early sixties AR15 (they weren't called M16's until the E1 model).

View attachment 751458

I got it to complete the set:
View attachment 751459

Click to expand...

So which AR-15 came first? The one with the smooth forearm grips or the one with the semi circle knob shape? Any difference or is it just cosmetic?