My buddy just picked up a new AR-15 with what he believes is an FN M16A2 upper half on a Rock River lower. He sent me a picture, and the barrel is definitely FN, but how can we confirm that the rest is from FN?
EDIT - Editing the image of the barrel, it contained a phone number that I had overlooked.
EDIT2 - Fixed and image replaced. Thank you all in advance for any help!
Show a better picture of what is in the green circle.
The bolt will have markings too if it is FN
Barrel is absolutly FN
+1
FN upper receivers should be marked LK if I’m not mistaken…
Thanks guys. That’s just what I was looking for. I knew there should be markings somewhere, but I wasn’t quite sure what they would be or where they would be. I’ll get some better pictures from him.
Are there any other markings or locations I should look for? Particular markings on the handguards, stock, anything?
I believe FN bolts are marked MPF.
When you write “new AR15”,he do you mean new to your friend, or he bought a factory new RR AR15 that he discovered had a FN upper?
Dom
New to my friend. Sorry for any confusion. That would be a bit of an unexplainable fiasco if we found an FN M16A2 upper on a factorybuilt RRA gun. 
Here’s a new picture with a closeup of the green circle area.
I’ve heard that FN usually has a purpleish tint to the anodizing, so that may be a plus for it being genuine FN.
Looks like at least you have an FN upper and barrel.
Someone was selling FN barreled uppers at the Knob Creek MG shoot this spring for 240.00 less BCG and foward assist with uppers marked the same as yours. I believe it means it was forged by Anchor-Harvey for FN. I wasn’t at the show but had a friend pick one up for me on a whim and am happy with how my A2 turned out.
Thanks for confirming, Ohiorifleman. Are there any other markings to look for and confirm the manufacturer of any other parts?
Well like was said before look for an MPF marking on the bolt itself- but my guess is someone dropped a BCG in it- post pics so we can look at the staking and configuration -semi or full. You’ll probably also find an FN marking on the front sight base. That would probably be it for markings on the upper. Being from where you are at in Ohio and the time frame it wouldn’t surpise me if your upper came from Knob Creek as well.
What pictures would you guys need? A picture of the inside of the upper, with the BCG and CH out?
Barrel and receiver are FN.
The bolt might have “MPF” in this area if it is FN
If the ass end of the bolt carrier does not look like this, then it is a dead giveaway that it is not FN (M16 bolt carrier pictured)
ETA: No real way (that I know of) to tell if the charging handle and handguards are FN, and I have had my hands on quite a few Colt/FN M16s.
On a side note, how would someone get their hands on FN M16 parts legally?
The only time I have ever seen them for sale is on private internet “for sale” threads and shady looking gun show tables. That is the main reason I have never bought them.
Disclaimer: I am in no way accusing your friend of stealing Govt. property
Legally, I’d say it would only happen from small orders getting canceled, or maybe even something not meeting a certain spec. Perhaps FN canceled an order from someone and whoever they outsourced their work to sold off the stock, or the Gov did the same to FN and FN sold off the stock.
in the same way you can get M16A1 uppers I guess
Legally, I’d think that FN would have at least the same right to market their M16A2 upper assemblies and components that they have to market their FS2000 rifles.
Anyway, I’d like to be able to buy a brand new FN upper assembly, even sans BCG.
IIRC, CDNN was selling FN uppers a few years ago. Not sure if they included BCG.
Found this on a google:
http://fnforum.net/fn-a2-upper-with-20-government-heavy-barrel-profile-t4570.html
CDNN was selling FN take-off barreled uppers from M16s. I believe that the lowers were converted to M4s. I purchased one for $399, IIRC.
A lot of FN A2 upper receivers are also out there, for about $125@.
The upper and barrel are marked F and FN respectively.
If your interested, I posted this on arfcom. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=500980 It started good, then it turns into a big argument. I’m also curious about the BCG. I have seen FN upper’s minus the BCG/CH, new one’s too, but never with the BCG. You can usually find the A2 uppers for around $100-110shipped. The flat tops are the hard ones to find.
part of the agreement for FN getting a .mil contract for m16’s was that they would not produce any for civilian sale- so no FN can’t just market one like the fs 2000. Most of the A1 surplus uppers around are returns from overseas or from other surplus sources. Can’t say for sure how FN parts get on the market but there are enough of them to think they can’t all be “stolen gov property” like some claim.
That’s an interesting condition. Where did you get the information about that agreement?