AR: A1 Rifle Question

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Paul7

Paul7

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Does anyone have an idea of the value of the A1 rifle on the right of the photo below? This was bought from Century Arms a few years ago, they were stored in the Phillippines after Vietnam and had the receiver and barrel replaced, but mainly Colt parts. They're getting crazy prices for similar kits on Gunbroker. One of my favorite shooters.

Thanks Testing 004.JPG
 
Don't know about the value, but very cool pairing in your pic. What happened to your bayonet on the SKS?
 
I would head over to AR15.COM and ask in the retro section. The value in this rifle will most likely be found in the components it was assembled from.

Good luck and let us know what you find out.
 
Love my Retro ... it's the 1965-ish variant. Forgot the specific model number. (Maybe pre-A1?). 20" pencil barrel, 3-prong FH, and no trapdoor on the buttstock.

The only two non-Retro 'cheats': a C/L-ed 1/8 twist barrel and a Geissele SSA trigger unit. Shoots great with a range of bullet-weights.

Maybe the best feature is that, unloaded and slung, it weighs in at 6.2lbs.

Guys at the range, shooting their 11lb 'tacticool' 16" AR carbines loaded full with all manner of rails, optics, magnifiers, lights, lasers, etc., are always impressed with how light and maneuverable this rifle is.

IMG_1212.JPG
 
mokin said:
Don't know what it's worth but seeing pictures like these causes me to think about the SP1 I let go about twenty years ago.
Click to expand...
Yup, genuine SP1s are going for bonkers $$ these days. I even had folks offering me close to $2G for my almost-completely-Colt A2 at the last show.......

I was sorely tempted, but held strong. It is fast becoming my go-to AR.
 
Hesa Hard1 said:
Love my Retro ... it's the 1965-ish variant. Forgot the specific model number. (Maybe pre-A1?). 20" pencil barrel, 3-prong FH, and no trapdoor on the buttstock.

The only two non-Retro 'cheats': a C/L-ed 1/8 twist barrel and a Geissele SSA trigger unit. Shoots great with a range of bullet-weights.

Maybe the best feature is that, unloaded and slung, it weighs in at 6.2lbs.

Guys at the range, shooting their 11lb 'tacticool' 16" AR carbines loaded full with all manner of rails, optics, magnifiers, lights, lasers, etc., are always impressed with how light and maneuverable this rifle is.

View attachment 1035175
Click to expand...

Agreed, I had an A2 but prefer the A1 with the shorter buttstock and lighter weight, the triangular forestock is also more stable IMHO.

wiscoaster said:
Don't know about the value, but very cool pairing in your pic. What happened to your bayonet on the SKS?
Click to expand...

I took it off long ago and can't find it, I'm sure lots of replacements are out there if I ever feel like it.
 
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twarr1 said:
Had the receiver replaced with what? That’s a critical missing detail.
Click to expand...

The receiver is Century Arms, but my understanding is other than that and the barrel it is all Colt parts. Wouldn't they have to replace the receiver if the original was full auto?

Here is one example of the crazy prices for similar guns, this parts kit with no lower receiver went for $2,249:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/908634482
 
Century doesn't make things. Should have more markings, try to figure out who actually made it, because esp back then there were fewer receiver makers, and as far as value, that will (almost certainly) have a big impact on it.

For (a different gun) example, I have one of the Century FALs built off the Austrian STG58 parts kits way way back, like before DS Arms built their company off those same kits. When I look at the value (I /almost/ sold it last year) I don't discuss so much it's "a Century parts kit gun" as "built on an Imbel Gear Logo" receiver. Not some random US knockoff or whoever else they bought from, but a proudly Imbel (current makers, licensed production) and much like different markings on Colts change price despite the same product otherwise, it isn't secretly that with tiny pin stamps, but has the Imbel logo on it real big: more money. Really.
 
Paul7 said:
The receiver is Century Arms, but my understanding is other than that and the barrel it is all Colt parts. Wouldn't they have to replace the receiver if the original was full auto?

Here is one example of the crazy prices for similar guns, this parts kit with no lower receiver went for $2,249:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/908634482
Click to expand...
It didnt sell the first time and was relisted.......and when it did sell, there was only 1 bid.

I always suspect shenanigans when this happens. Like the "buyer" is actually the seller using a different login.
 
shoobe01 said:
Century doesn't make things. Should have more markings, try to figure out who actually made it, because esp back then there were fewer receiver makers, and as far as value, that will (almost certainly) have a big impact on it.
Click to expand...

I meant it was marked Century:

Century Arms, Inc.
Georgia, Vermont

C15 Sporter
CAL. 5.56mm (.223)
Model C15A1
CAT 020XX
 
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All original M16a1's by Colt are a good bit. I have one I bought in 1983 for about $1200.

These were made from boxes of parts that Century bought and reassembled from a GSA auction.
The original lower receivers and barrels were de-milled and trashed by the military before sending for disposal. Usually cut into 3-4 pieces with a torch.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Yup, genuine SP1s are going for bonkers $$ these days. I even had folks offering me close to $2G for my almost-completely-Colt A2 at the last show.......

I was sorely tempted, but held strong. It is fast becoming my go-to AR.
Click to expand...

DANG!

I thought I did well to get twice what I paid for it! Different time though. I sold it not long before the AWB sunset. The SP1 I had was a very sweet shooting rifle. I hope whoever it has ended up with enjoys and appreciates it.
 
Paul7 said:
I meant it was marked Century:

Century Arms, Inc.
Georgia, Vermont

C15 Sporter
CAL. 5.56mm (.223)
Model C15A1
CAT 02090
Click to expand...
To be more clear, Century does often legally, but not acutually "make" things. They have no manufacturing, just import, assembly, warehouse, shipping, marketing.

Yup, from that we have no hints as to the actual maker so have to surmise from other historical data. One arf.com post says:

...those were manufactured for Century by CMT (Continental Machine and Tool in New Britain, CT). I bought a few around 2000 or 2001, from a member here on ARFCOM.​

Both Rock River Arms (early) and CMT themselves (their pre-Stag Arms lowers, the old CMT "Globe"-lower) used the same serial-number prefix "CM" too, along with the tighter than normal rear take-down pin area.
​
That's for one a tiny bit differently marked:

2-EE8-D85-B-7468-4131-B27-C-80-CE04-F650-FB.jpg

So: What's your serial prefix?


Other threads say all their C15s are CMT. Also that 1:9barrels were made by Green Mountain Rifle Barrel Co. but most/all other stuff (including furniture!) is authentically 1960s stuff for Colt guns (most say "Colt manufactured" handguards and stocks but I am 99% sure Colt didn't and doesn't do plastic so even if exclusively for them, it is /made/ by someone else).
 
If you have ever handled and shot one you might appreciate how light and accurate they are. At least they were back when I shot them. Modern versions are way heavier. Lucky for me it is to far away for me to drive over and get tempted.
 
d2wing said:
If you have ever handled and shot one you might appreciate how light and accurate they are. At least they were back when I shot them. Modern versions are way heavier. Lucky for me it is to far away for me to drive over and get tempted.
Click to expand...

Like many things in the military, the AR has gotten much heavier.
 
That's a hard one to me at least. No familiarity and google makes it hard as there are (aside from Caterpillar) plenty of Black Cats and other Cat branded things making it hard to search. Anyone else know?
 
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