He is advertising it as pre-ban. I don't have pictures yet so beyond M4, I'm not sure about it. I'm new to the plastic gun era so this is a learning experience. I really appreciate all the help!
I'm an AR guy. As for when the army adopted the M4, I'm not sure. I got to Benning in spring of '01, and 9/11 happened DURING my infantry graduation inspection and we marched the field the next day or after. Then we got put on guard details.
If the M4 came out in '99, the ones that 3rd ID were issued were pretty beat up by fall of '01 when I saw 'em, and they hadn't been anywhere yet. They could have been ranger unit hand me downs though.
When I got to my unit, which was reactivated, we had no weapons, we had to order them, so we got all brand new semi/burst M4's in the box with a carry handle/rear sight, a sling, a yellow blank adapter, and one magazine. And an invoice that said they cost about $600.
In the Infantry Museum, they had a LOT of experimental weapons. The OICW's from the late 60's were the coolest --long brass rounds that fired three darts instead of a bullet, and had semi auto grenade launchers underneath. Some were mammoth.
Then there was the ACR program rifles. One was a really cool all rubber covered rifle that looked a lot like the toy rifle that came with GI Joes in the early 80's. Another was an early model M4. It looked just like the M4 of today, but the handguard looked a lot like a SAW handguard. That obviously changed, but everything else looked the same. I'll bet SF and maybe ranger units had M4's kind of early on, but they might not have been called "M4" at that point. Catch my drift? Those M4 barrels have been around longer than the designation has, since the 80's at least. Chances you have one of these on your hands is slim to none.
BUT. You have a rifle marketed as a pre-ban, and I do believe there are states that kept the AWB. To those places, that rifle might be worth it. But most likely what you have is an M4 upper and collapsible stock put on an older lower. Perhaps still worth it to these folks. If I had a preban, I'd sell it. If I ever get an FFL and a business started, I'll be hunting these junkers at gunshows --they go for less here when you find 'em. They have more wear and tear, but still worth a fortune to ban states.
Anyone know what states those are?
Finally, unless you live in one of those places, pass this up. If you have $2300 and want a military grade or better AR, I'd look real hard at those Noveske rifles or maybe an LMT. For the price, you can probably get either that nice Noveske with the Afghan barrel and maybe a reflex sight, or an LMT SOPMOD M4 with a reflex sight, 2 stage trigger and a KAC rail, 16" or 14.5" and blind pinned, and that would be BETTER than what the army gets. I have an LMT M4 upper, 14.5" with a blind pinned AAC Brakeout suppressor mount and it's the bees knees, better than the Colt stuff we got in the army to be honest. But LMT will let cosmetic flaws through, presumably to keep costs down, so if that is a concern make sure to buy it sight seen. Noveske will reject a lower with a light roll mark or slightly off center, and sell those as factory seconds, but I assume they junk ones with machining cosmetic flaws. That has to be expensive. Their Afghan barrel is the toughest out there --they use SAW blanks that are double chromed. Having been a SAW gunner for awhile, I say those barrels are TOUGH. The LMT chromed barrel is pretty tough too.
But AR's come in all flavors for all uses, if you want something more accurate or for NM or for 3gun, get something else entirely. My recommendations above, the LMT or Noveske, is based on my experience shooting and building these things for years, and the $2300 price point and assumption of a want for a military grade rifle of course. There are other quality mil grade AR's too, like the Knight's Armament (I use their handguards on just about every AR, the FF ones are very nice and the panels fit better and feel better to me) and LaRue if they are still around.
Give Rainier Arms a look. I got my LMT upper from them, and they only deal in AR's and don't sell junk, so you can't really go wrong. They'll help you out too if you want to build it, and they'll put it together for you so you won't have to buy all that gear and invest that time into building it right --which you want to avoid being a first timer.
If you got that Noveske, I'd be jealous, and I have some slick gear.
