Question Re: 1968 colt ar-15

[patriot9879]

Good Morning,

I have an oportunity to purchase a 1968 colt ar-15 w/ 3 30 rd mags and a colt branded scope mounted on the carry handle. The seller is an older fella who does not shoot any more. His wife is an anti and told him that she would turn all of his guns in when he passed. Anyway, the gun seems to be in really good shape. I am still trying to find time to go see it, but I have seen several detailed pictures. The guy is asking $1500.00 for the whole setup. Does this sound like a deal that is even in the ballpark? Fair to both? I will post more details as I can get them.

Thanks

 

[General Geoff]

For a Colt of that vintage, if it's in good shape, I'd say it's a steal.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I would go get that gun right now for that price. As stated above ^, it is indeed a steal. Colt makes a darn good AR15, not only that, this one is vintage.

 

[Jeremy2171]

Not quite a "steal" but certainly a good buy....

 

[Blackhawk30]

I'd buy it for that price.They don't come up for sale that often.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Sounds like too much money to spend for a shooter.

If you are a Colt collector it might be worth it to you.


If you want an AR just to shoot I think you could get a LOT more rifle and optic with $1500.

 

[Float Pilot]

Then go find a couple Colt branded 20 round magazines since they would be period correct for that rifle.

 

[-dW]

it's not that often you'll have an in-person shot at a '68 colt like that.. Without a comparable, it's worth what somebody will pay for it.. and I don't doubt somebody will pay him $1500 for it, even if it's not you..

what else is he trying to push out the door?


IMO, if the vintage doesn't mean anything to you you should probably pass on it because there are cheaper and fancier AR's to be had.. but if you can appreciate it for what it is, it might be the only chance you get at one that early.

 

[bannockburn]

I would buy it, pretty much because it is a vintage Colt AR-15.

 

[MIL-DOT]

At our last gunshow, some guy had a couple old Colt tri-guard AR's. He said one was a '78 and the other a '76, IIRC. He was asking $1200 for the '78 and $1400 for the '76, which I thought was pretty reasonable. So, if it's really a '68, and in good shape, it sounds like an opportunity,to me.

 

[223lover]

I had a '68 sold it in Pa. at a gun show in no more than 15 minutes. It had the original Colt scope, 2 Colt 20 round mags. The original case, cleaning kit and instruction booklet for $1200 cash. If that helps.

 

[Joe Demko]

I agree that you should buy it only if the vintage Colt aspect of it is worth it to you. As has been said, you could get a much better shooting package for that kind of money. My first AR was a Colt with a skinny barrel, triangular handguards, and no forward assist. It was nice and light and carried beautifully. I liked it a lot, but today's versions are more refined in a many ways.

 

[hso]

Not worth it as a shooter, but certainly worth it as a collectable.

 

[Quiet]

Not worth it as a shooter, but certainly worth it as a collectable.

I agree.

 

[amd6547]

I regularly outshoot fancier current AR's at my rifle club using my retro AR. Load it with 55gn M193, and you might be surprised how accurate the original AR is.

 

[patriot9879]

a little more info

The model is an SP1, with a Colt branded 3X20 scope. Any idea who made the colt scopes? Colt? The serial number is SP34465, which seems high to be a late 60's vintage...more like mid 70's maybe. The condition is impressive...it has not been shot much, and the owner has kept it very clean.

 

[rcmodel]

I have an SP-1 carbine, and a Colt scope I have owned for about 40 years.

The scopes are marked on top "Colt" and on the bottom "Japan", so Colt didn't make them.

All SP-1's have a 1/12 rifling twist, so are limited to lighter bullets in the 55 grain range.

They will not handle the heavy bullet loads in favor now.

With that said, my SP-1 pencil barrel carbine will shoot sub-MOA with 55 grain V-Max or Ballistic Tip handloads.

rc

 

[patriot9879]

can someone point me in the direction of a resource for checking the serial for mfg date? Also, is there any reason that I could not use my other uppers on this colt lower? I have a dpms upper a stag upper and a stag lower that I use with both the stag and the dpms.

 

[gearjammer-2000]

patriot, i found it here
www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/ar15serial.html

btw does anyone know what a 1972 sporter would be worth??

 

[Shear_stress]

The scopes are marked on top "Colt" and on the bottom "Japan", so Colt didn't make them.

You are correct. They were made by Hakko in Japan.

SP34465

You're looking at 1974.

I've got an SP-1 made in 1968 and it is a very cool piece of hardware. Excuse the crappy pics:

 

[RonE]

I just sold one (Colt SP1) that had never been fired for $1,200. Look on GunBroker and see what they are selling for. Forget the "buy now" price and the opening or minimum bid but look at the actual bids. The one I sold was built in 1980 and had the scope, the box and cleaning kit. In 1968 there were no such things as "Colt" 30 round magazines, only 20 rounds. (that was a big bitch in Viet Nam because the AK-47 had a 30 round magazine) The original scopes marked "Colt" and the mounting system with one fastener and a wedge in the carry handle was not noted for accuracy, design or quality.