Who actually produces M16's & M4's for the US military?

[vanfunk]

When I talked to Springfield Armory, they were the first to have a AR15 rifle on the market.

Can you clarify your source for this? AFAIK, Springfield Armory never made an AR-15 pattern rifle.

I think it was Bushmaster who broke the Colt monopoly on civilian sales.

Bushmaster, like any other company, was free to manufacture rifles of the AR-15 pattern after the original design patents ran out. What Colt trademarked (wisely) was the AR-15 moniker, which of course no other manufacturer can use. That's why the Bushmaster offering is an XM15E2S, etc.

It is so unfortunate but Colt is not a market leader on anything. All Colt has is a history going back to the 1850's, patents and trademarks, and a huge bunch of lawyers. I suspect Colt has sued every firearm company that has ever produced a SAA, a lever action, a shotgun, or a semi automatic rifle.

Colt has led the way in product innovation for the AR-15 family of weapons, and currently makes 8000 M4's a month. The fact that they have attempted to protect their product (with varying degrees of success) is simply sound business practice. Cometition is a good thing, consumer confusion about product integrity is another. For example, an "M4" is a very specific type of weapon, endowed with certain physical and operational characteristics. When Bushmaster says they make an "M4", but it doesn't have M4 feedramps, or an "F" marked front sight base, or a 1/7" twist barrel, or a mil-spec receiver extension, or an MPI'd bolt, etc., is it really an M4? Well, no.

Anyway, in answer to the original query, right now only Colt and FN (and LMT in some way, to the Navy) supply weapons to the US military. Colt recently received a contract for more M16A4 rifles; FN produces only M16A4 rifles at present. Colt has the exclusive contract to provide the military with the M4 until 2009. At that point, Colt will likely retain the current contract, although FN is expected to supplement M4 production.

 

[Outlaws]

It is so unfortunate but Colt is not a market leader on anything.

Who cares. If Colt quit making firearms tomorrow, would anyone even notice? There are better products out there for equal or less money, just ask Kimber...they are Colts "excuse" for not making normal production 1911's any longer.

 

[Grunt]

Out of the thousands of weapons I've inspected and handled over the years, I've seen M-16 series dating from the 601 series AR-15s made by Armalite, Colt made M-16s, Colt and FN made M-16A2s and Colt made M-4s. If there are any Bushmaster, DPMS, Armalite (current company) Stag or other makers weapons or parts out there, I have yet to see any.

 

[gezzer]

Keep up guy sin the last month or so Bushmaster won against Colt. The M4 designation and it's spec are belonging to the .Gov and Colt looses anyone may make to that designation as it is public domain. Do a google.

 

[Frog48]

Thanks guys, lots of good info here.

 

[HorseSoldier]

All of the Navy guns I've seen came through Crane, who makes the configuration you order from the pieces they have. All of our MK18s and M-4s have FN lowers, Colt's uppers, and LMT small parts (sights, rails, etc)

Crane is an assembler, not a manufacturer. They do great work, but they don't fabricate much in house.

The MP-5s say Crane on them, and the M500s do, too.

Hmmm. My unit's MP5s don't, but maybe they're purchased from a different contract.

 

[ar154life]

Didn't bushmaster win a contract for some m16a3s a couple months back?

 

[KC&97TA]

I've only seen Colt M4's and I see about 30 to 35 different students each three weeks, all carrying M4's.

My issued Rifle in my last unit was a M16A4, made by FN. I must say... it was the most accurate M16 I've had the pleasure to do buissiness with.

Besides Colt and FN, the only other "varriant" of the M16 that I've seen is the SR-25, by Knights Armament, it's not really an M16

I'd say it is safe to say that there maybe many different "XM" varriants of the AR/M16 platform floating around, but they aren't in anyway part of a large contract.

Several years ago I was part of a platoon that was testing different versions of M16's, even one that was belt fed, I believe they were all Colt lowers, but we were in such a pinch for time to; burn out the barrels and record the round count allong with the different types of malfunctions, that I didn't pay too much attention to the lowers.

 

[Number 6]

Didn't bushmaster win a contract for some m16a3s a couple months back?

Yes, but the recipient was not the US military. Rumor was that they were going to the Iraqi military or for contractors working for the military.

 

[vanfunk]

Keep up guy sin the last month or so Bushmaster won against Colt. The M4 designation and it's spec are belonging to the .Gov and Colt looses anyone may make to that designation as it is public domain. Do a google.

Can you elaborate on your understanding of the Colt vs. Bushmaster lawsuit? I'm well aware of the outcome, but I admit I am having trouble keeping up with your point.

Thank you,

vanfunk

 

[Warbow]

Keep up guy sin the last month or so Bushmaster won against Colt. The M4 designation and it's spec are belonging to the .Gov and Colt looses anyone may make to that designation as it is public domain. Do a google.

That was only for the use of "M4" as a generic term to label and advertise. Colt still holds the proprietary rights to the design specifications of the M4 until 2011 according to the judgement. So Colt is still the sole-source provider of M4s to the military until then.

 

[Bluehawk]

Speaking of the M4...did you know Colt has contracted with a company in Turkey to manufacture and export the M4??
When I was in Basic Training at Ft Dix in 1969 I didn't see an M16 until the
6th week (we trained with the M14). My "M16" was stamped...Armalite...AR15!
Just curious...why wouldn't that guy that posted vote for Fred Thompson???

 

[kcmarine]

There's a little factory with little elves that make them.

 

[mp510]

When I was in Basic Training at Ft Dix in 1969 I didn't see an M16 until the
6th week (we trained with the M14). My "M16" was stamped...Armalite...AR15!

Colt made rifles from that era, made in c.1970, also had AR-15 stamps on them.