Colt Sporter Lightweight

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

I bought a Colt Sporter Lightweight back in early 1995. It has a flash hider and forward assist but lacks a bayonet lug & collapsible stock. It came with 9 round mag’s.

When I bought this rifle I really wanted one with all the “banned” feature’s but a rifle with a bayonet lug & collapsible stock simply could not be found , at least not for what I could afford or was willing to pay.

I’d really like to own an M-4.

My questions are as follows:

When was my Sporter made ? Serial # SL 021 _ _ _

Are these rifle less desireable now that the AWB is history and “preban” rifles are available ?

Is Colt quality the same today as when my rifle was made ?

Is a Colt Sporter a good starting rifle to build up ?

Should I sell the Sporter and buy an M-4 ? What are M-4’s going for and what could I get for my Sporter ?

Its been fired a couple hundred times but I haven’t fired it in years. It’s in great shape.

Thank you,

D.W.

2

I say build it up. If it does not have a flash suppresor, send it to ADCO to have the barrel threaded and add one. Adding a carbine stock is easy, and from their out take your pick. Your should have a nice lightweight carbine by the time you are done. No need to sell it and get an M4 style unless you are totally sold on the look.

3

Colt’s quality is still on par these days, and your Sporter LW will provide an excellent platform to build up. Truthfully, the ban items (particularly the bayo lug) are not used anymore…for anything. As you probably know, you have the lightweight profile barrel - not a bad thing unless you’re really gung-ho about having the .gov profile with the M203 cuts.

Personally, I wouldn’t sweat the small stuff. You’ve got a great rifle already. What do you plan on doing to it?

4

Well I must admit I really like the look of the Colt M-4 6920.

I really want a rifle as close to current government issue as possible.

I prefer the “stock” as issue look personally, not too many gizmos.

I’ve owned this Sporter for years but have really always wanted a full “preban” configured rifle.

Any idea what a M-4 sells for and what my Sporter is worth ?

How can I find out the date of manufacture for my Sporter ? I bought it in April of 1995.

Thanks

5

It does have a flash suppressor. When new, it only lacked the bayonet lug, collapsible stock & larger capacity magazine(s) from being a complete “preban”.

I wonder what I’d spend making it an M-4 “clone” ?

6

Based on the serial number you have a Colt Pre-Ban lower. People in ban states, including myself are on the look out for a good deal on a pre-ban rifles / lower.
You could sell the complete rifle or simply sell the upper and change the stock - fairly easy to od.

7

I’d sell it to someone in NY and use the money to just buy a LE6920. It doesn’t sound like you’ll be really happy otherwise.

8

So, there are some states which are still under the AWB ? If yes, these states resident can only purchase a Sporter or Match rifle ? Am I understanding this correctly ?

Another question; Is a Colt M-4 and an Colt 6920 the same rifle ?

While looking around on Colt’s website, I noticed two rifle’s which look identical but I believe one was an M-4 & another was a 6920. One of the two are marked Law Enforecement. Confused.

Thanks,

D.W.

9

NY and Connecticut are still under the AWB, and so preban lowers are still worth something up there.

The Colt LE6920 is as close to the military M4 that you can get without a tax stamp. It is semi auto only and has a 16" barrel vs. the select fire M4 that has a 14.5" barrel.

The Colt LE6921 IS the USGI M4 with the exception that it’s semi auto only, but you’d need to pay the federal gov’t a $200.00 tax stamp to own a SBR (short barrel rifle).

10

So a resident of those two states could buy and own my rifle but couldn’t purchase a currently manufactured “pre-ban” such as a Colt LE6920 ?

11

Exactly.

12

Why would they be allowed to buy & own my rifle if it is indeed a partial pre-ban, it has a flash hider & Pre B lower.

Aren’t they only allowed to own a rifle with out a flash hider & Post B lower,bbl with nothing attached ? I believe they became known as Match Rifles.

Were AR’s made for a time with those thumbhole stock’s which became common on military rifles for a number of years. Man they were fugly.

13

Colt got an infusion of money in 1989/1990 from the Connecticut state legislature, to keep them solvent and avoid bankruptcy. One of the strings that was attached was that Colt could no longer sell “assault rifles” to civilians, so they changed the model designation from AR-15A2 to “Sporter”, and took the bayonet lug off, which was done voluntarily between 1989-1994. This is when the Green Box AR-15 became the Blue Box “Sporter”. They’re still preban rifles because they were manufactured before the AWB of 1994.

NY and Conn. residents are still under state AWB’s that mimic the Federal law. They can buy preban rifles and lowers made before 1994 and do anything to them that they want.

As far as why? Don’t try to inject logic into firearms legislation.

Olympic made some rifles with thumbhole stocks, but there wasn’t a legal reason to do so.

14

Thanks

My Sporter ( and all Colt Sporters) which I bought in April 1995, must have been made between '89 & '94 due to the lack of a bayonet lug, correct ?

Is it possible to find out the exact date of manufacture ?

Would my Sporter have any special value or uniqueness to a collector due to its configuration, time of manufacture, or overall numbers made ?

Or would it be most vauable to a NY or CT resident?
Thanks,

D.W.

15

Contact Colt.

If it’s marked “Sporter” and has a bayonet lug, it was made before the AWB of Sept. 1994.

It’s going to be more valuable to a guy caught behind the lines in NY than it would to any collector.

Colt rifles marked “Match Target” and without a flash suppressor or bayonet lug are post AWB manufacture.

16

What if it’s marked “Sporter” has no bayonet lug, but does have a flash suppressor ?

17

I mis spoke. I meant to type “marked Sporter and has a flash suppressor”. If it’s marked Sporter, it will not have a bayonet lug.

18

Is the lower from my rifle the same as a lower

from a currently manufactured , after the AWB sunset, rifle and

the same as an older A2 lower from the 70’s & 80’s ?

Are all three lowers the same ?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

D.W.

19

You’ll need to post pictures of your specific rifle, as Colt used a variety of different styles of lowers. Large front pivot screw pin, small front, fenced mag button, unfenced.

20

I wish I could, I don’t currently own a digital camera. I’m a bit behind the times as far as electronic technology.

I have definitely decided I want to sell my Sporter and purchase a Colt 6920.

I’d like to sell it to someone in CT or NY for two reasons; one I’d probably get better money for it to purchase a 6920 and scope, and two; someone from one of those two states would get a desirable rifle.

I don’t want to rip anyone off so, could you tell me what a fair selling price might be and how I would advertise it to someone from CT or NY ?

Also, what can I expect to pay for a new Colt 6920 ?

Thanks