Does anyone have a timeline on the Colt AR-15 / M-16 series rifles and the various finishes used on these?
These seem to have started off a gray color and evolved in to the early 80’s in a darker gray anodized finish into a matte black color we have today.
Just wondering if there is a break down somewhere showing what years they used a certain finish to and from.
Thanks
From 1959 to about 1963 there were two gray finished used on the 601 and 602, a rough textured one and a smooth one.
From about 1964 to about 1971 there was the brownish gray anodizing.
From about 1971 to the early 1980s is what would be called light gray, sometimes has a bluish tint depending on how you eyes perceive color.
From the mid 1980 to the mid 1990s would be a medium gray finish.
1996 ~ 1997 there was a dark gray
1998 to about 2001 would be a charcoal black
2002 to present would be black
There are sub variations of these but this list is pretty comprehensive.
Seems as though we are lacking some detail here…
What do you mean?
Just a joke. See what happens when one forgets to use a smiley face?
wrong thread.