Album by willyp. Photos by willyp. 1 - 30 of 30 Total. 12852 Visits.
Type A 601 stock The "A" stock was brown fiberglass, the 1st 100 or so production 601's were reportedly delivered like this the rest were overpainted green as shown. The "A" stock, according to Colt's op manual & early AF manuals had 2 different "A" type stocks, the common type shown here, Colt's part#62192 w/swivel & part#61925 w/no swivel, assumed to be for use w/the original design swivel on the pistol grip.
Type B 601 stock The "B" stock was the same as the "A" w/the exception of a different profile on the bottom near the receiver extension (compare w/previous pic of "A").
601 buttplate (Types A&B) Simple flat rubber, ribbed buttplate (same thru the A1 trapddoor style shown later), some of the earlier pre-production AR15's may have had this buttplate w/"Armalite" on it but as far as is known all early contract rifles had the buttplate shown.
Type C & D stock comparison The next style stock was the "C", essentially the same as the "B" but molded originally in black & of a "plastic" compound rather than fiberglass, these had the same profile as the "B" in the receiver extension area & usually show a "mottled" appearance although it's not known if this was the actual finish or a result of use, these were on the 602 & probably early 603 & 604's, 1964-65? The "D" was essentially the same as the "C" but was a bit thicker in profile near the receiver extension area w/a heavier profile on the bottom front area. Pics from M1sniper
Type C&D stock comparison Here is a front view of 2 "C" stocks (on left & right) compared to a "D" (center), note the thinner wall on the receiver tube area & slightly thinner profile of the lower front body than the "C", also note the small hole in the raised area on the flat in the "D" & none in the C's (or the A &B). It appears the "C"'s were molded from a different compund than the "D"'s & later types also. Pics from m1sniper
Type C & D stock comparison "C" on left, "D" on right w/buffer tube inserted, on the "C" you can see the tube ring is a bit larger in diameter & stands "proud" of the stock profile, on the "D" the stock profile is larger & even w/the buffer tube ring. pics by m1sniper
Early 603 & 604 Buttplate (Types C&D) XM16E1's utilized the type D buttstock which was black (some of the first may have used the Type C stock which had a narrower profile at the receiver join w/a steel non-coated swivel), had a moveable swivel which was steel plastic coated, a flat solid buttplate (w/no door), the small screw at top held the buttstock to the rifle by screwing into the rear of the receiver extension/buffer tube. Early on these screws had no hole (what should & will be on this rifle soon), the later screws, shown here had a small hole in the center for drainage,
M16A1 buttplate (Type E) Used on the type "E" stocks standardized on the M16A1, this plastic buttplate used a "checkered" hinged door to gain access to a compartment in the stock for storage of a cleaning kit. There was also an earlier version of the trapddor buttplate which was made of rubber. Note the buttplate itself is smooth only the door is "checkered".
M16A2 stock (Type F) The A2 style stock was adopted w/the A2 in 83 by the Marines & later (86) by the Army, it is slightly longer than the "E" M16A1 type, uses a slightly larger buttplate which is checkered completely, the swivel is closer to the buttplate than the "E", this stock uses a spacer inside & a longer buttstock screw then the "E", the "F" stock can be fitted to earlier models as long as you have the spacer & longer screw & the "E" can be fitted to the later rifles w/deletion of the spacer & the shorter screw. The "F" stock is current on the rifles, A2, A3, & A4.
M16A2 buttplate (Type F) The A2 buttstock (longer than the A1 type "E") uses this buttplate which is slightly wider & more rounded at the ends, this buttplate is "checkered" on both the door & buttplate itself.
Buttstock screws Left: early screw (note there is no hole) Center: "mid" screw, addition of hole in center to assist in drainage of moisture as a result of experience in VietNam. Right: M16A2 stock screw, this screw is longer (the A2 stock is longer than the A1) & is used w/a spacer between the stock & rear receiver extension, the models prior to the A2 did NOT use a spacer.
Stock screws top Left: early w/no hole. Center: mid w/hole. Right: late A2 (longer).
607 carbine stock (1st type retractable) The first "carbine" variant of the M16 was the 605 which was a standard rifle w/the barrel cut to 15", it used the standard rifle stock, either a "C" or (more common) "D" type. The first retractable type carbine stock was the one shown here for the 607 (officially the 607 was listed in Colt's 1965 as a submachine gun). This stock (607) was a modified rifle stock, it was shortened at the rear, used a different buttplate w/a lock/unlock lever & slid on the buffer tube & a lower locking rod, it was a 2 position stock & required mods to the lower receiver. The stock shown is an exc repro by my65pan & is mounted as the original, there is also another beautiful repro 607 stock by TSI that does not require receiver modification.
607 stock buttplate Here is the buttplate of the 607 stock, the buttplate is aluminum, the lock lever is used to unlock & either retract or extend the stock, then "flipped" to the locked position to secure the stock. The lower screw secures the bottom of the buttplate to the stock, the screw thru the lock lever secures the lever but also secures the stock to the lower lock rod.
607 stock left side extended Here the 607 stock is shown extended (open), beneath the buffer tube can be seen the additional "lock rod" (my term), this rod has 2 "indents", there is another section which has 2 pins attached to the lever, when the lever is turned it either locks or releases the pins from the indents, the stock then slides over the lock rod & the buffer. Installation of the lower rod required the modifications to the lower receivers.
XM177E2 (3rd type) retractable carbine stock The 2nd type retractable stock was used on the 609/610 XM177/GUU series carbines (I don't have a pic available at this time), it is identical to the one shown here (3rd type) w/the difference being that the 2nd type did NOT have the black plastic type coating, it was bare aluminum. The 3rd type (pictured) used on the 629/639 (XM177E2) & 653 was the type 2 aluminum stock but it had a black plastic type dipped coating. It was a 2 position stock as the 607 but the locking method was very different & much simpler & required no modifications to the lower receiver to install.
Type 3 retractable stock buttplate Formed as part of the stock in aluminum the type 3 had a checkered buttplate & slid on the buffer tube alone, the large hole in the buttplate allowed the tube to slide to the end when retracted. The type 2 stock, again, was identical except the buttplate lacked the plastic coating & was bare aluminum.
Retractable stock 2 pos tube bottom The early carbine buffer tube was aluminum, anodized & had 2 positions (the 2 round "indents" in pic) these tubes were used on the 609-727 series carbines & with the type 2, 3, & 4 type stocks, they were superceded in production by the M4 4 position tube.
Type 3 (&2) stock extended Here the type 3 is shown extended. Note there is no lower lock rod, just the buffer tube, the square extension on bottom of the tube had a relief cut in it & 2 holes drilled into it, the lock lever on bottom of the stock had a spring loaded pin, when you pull the lever down the pin drops out of the hole & is released enabling the stock to be slid open or closed until the pin, forced by the spring enters the corresponding hole & locks the stock in place. Easier to make, install & operate than the type 1 (607).
Type 4 retractable stock right The 4th type retractable stocks were made from a plastic material, fiberlite, & were very similiar in contour to the Types 2 & 3 except they were all plastic & lighter.
Type 4 retractable stock left The Type 4 stocks were used starting w/the Model 723 carbine & were used on 727 & early M4 carbines when production then shifted to the Type 5 w/4 position buffer tube w/later style castle nut, the 609-727 carbines used the 2 position tube w/early nut which had a round hole in center of the nut for installation/removal which can be seen in the pic.
Type 5 retractable stock This stock is the type 5 retractable stock & first came into use on the M4 replacing the type 4 which was fitted to earlier M4's. This stock has a larger buttplate, "normal" lower swivel, is wider & rounded in the cheek area & removed the "bump" caused by the upper sling slot on the types 2, 3 & 4. The lock/unlock mechanism is the same as the types 2, 3, & 4 but uses a 4 position tube. The type 2, 3, 4 & 5 stocks are all interchangeable on either the 2 or 4 position tubes.
Retractable stock M4 4 position tube Developed for the M4 carbine series this tube has 4 positions to give the shooter more options in length due mainly to the added equipment todays soldiers are operating with. The tube is actually the same as the 2 position (see pic 18), it simply has 2 more "lock" positions drilled into the bottom of the tube. Also note the different castle nut which secured the tube to the lower vs the earlier 2 pos tube, this newer nut has rectangular cuts on the rear rather than the small holes in the center as the early tube, the wrench required to remove/install these newer nuts is different than the older type.
601 handguards Made of the same material as the 601 stocks, early (first 100 or so) were in original material color of brown, bulk of contract delivered were overpainted green, On the left handguard in the pic above there is a large patch of green paint which has chipped off so you can get a good look at he color, texture & material of these early production handguards.
601 handguard inner view In this pic you can see the heat shields which were aluminum, the 601 & early production of the later model handguards lacked drain holes in the heat shields. The material these handguards were made from appears to be a bit less durable than the material used in later variants, chips etc in these guards tended to start to "fray" & expose the fiberglass matting they were made with.
A2 handguards
607 carbine handguards
609 thru 727 carbine handguards
Pistol grip comparison left to right: 1) 601 grip, brown fiberglass on very early 601's (first 100 or so), then same but painted green as here in balance of contract. Note the small "holes" at bottom front of grip, very early these took the rear swivel, when the rear swivel was moved to the buttstock the grips continued to be made in the same style. 2) "A1" grip, very early 602 grips may have been the same material painted black, transitioning to a plastic material w/black coloring cast into the material, there's also reported to be a slight difference in the "bulk" of the grip, very early may have been a bit slimmer in the hand area. These were used from late 1963 until the introduction of the A2 grip in 1984. 3) Shortened A1 type grip, these are seen in some pics of 607 & 608 "carbines", not believed to be a production type but simply standard A1 type grips shortened in an attempt to minimize the "bulk" of the carbines. 4) A2 grip, intoduced in 1984 w/the M16A2 they are made of a nylon/...
Grip screws Left: early 601 screw w/hole. Right: All later models screw. The grip screw w/the hole is reported to be the one used on the 601's (& possibly very early 602's) which may have been due to the original AR15 being designed by Armalite which was a Division of Fairchild which was an aircraft manufacturer, screws in aircraft use a hole to "safety wire" them in place & may simply have been an expediant of ordering them thru their normal "aircraft" quality suppliers.
