Below is a thread on TOS regarding allegedly fake Colt uppers being sold. I’m not informed enough to render an opinion either way, but I thought it might be of interest to many. Mods, please delete if inappropriate.
…people still care about Colt factory uppers?
Not trying to be that guy just aksing.
Like…the barrel is the first to go if not totally disregarded in favor of a Vltor MUR and a barrel without the lame grenade launcher hump
There was a slew of those barreled uppers on GB a week or so ago for $149-179. Guys in a private FB group were going nuts buying them, I tried to warn them it was too good to be true but a bunch of them bought them anyway. Oh well.
There isn’t anything suspicious about those pictures on AR15.com. They are from 2003 to 2005 and the forge codes were not crisp.
The aluminum did not flow evenly into the die during forging.
There are 2 or 3 different font styles of raised C keyhole uppers that have been used over the years.
Those uppers are from the demand rush after the expiration of the AWB in 2004. This is the same era of the 6520s that had unanodized feedramps and no dry lube in the upper.
Some of these black T marked uppers where built into LE6920s.
I am seeing a ton of activity lately. Private sellers, GB. Not sure, but we have a number of new old stock Colt products. The pics don’t look like anything we have ever seen. If it is real – we are buyers in bulk. We need older raised C uppers. Have not seen in a while. We got some last year from Colt that were part of a house cleaning. Unfortunately, when we went back for more, others had caught on to what was being sold, and it all dried up. So, if these are real, and they are early 2000’s, why are so many appearing now? Charlie said it does not pass the smell test.
I am seeing a ton of activity lately. Private sellers, GB. Not sure, but we have a number of new old stock Colt products. The pics don’t look like anything we have ever seen. If it is real – we are buyers in bulk. We need older raised C uppers. Have not seen in a while. We got some last year from Colt that were part of a house cleaning. Unfortunately, when we went back for more, others had caught on to what was being sold, and it all dried up. So, if these are real, and they are early 2000’s, why are so many appearing now? Charlie said it does not pass the smell test.
Scott, if we go back to 2004, was it the expiration of the Clinton AWB, or a build-up in Afghanistan that caused Colt to swell in volume, or both? I don’t know Colt from that era. If the Aluminum did not flow into the die, why wouldn’t Cerro Forge or Colt reject? You mentioned no dry lube in the uppers. Was that 6520 or 6920? I have never seen an M4 upper without dry coating lubricant.
Full disclosure, we are Colt dealers, and got a few calls on this last week. Our opinion was that we cannot confirm these are authentic, and are probability not, but it is hard to prove a negative. Just never seen anything like this that was real. Scott, what is your background experience in this area (no offense, just asking).
I don’t know if they are coming from the same place, but over the weekend I learned of a company called Tank Eater Tactical who were selling “NOS Colt” and parts they were claiming they machined in house. They got called out on Instagram for selling rails and parts from Alibaba, and all their parts they were claiming were NOS Colt or parts they machined in house were actually Bear Creek Arsenal. They were buying Bear Creek Glock barrels and sanding the BC logo off the side. They supplied a scratched up M4 barrel with the FSB installed, but no barrel nut or Delta ring. They deleted their Instagram and website.
Probably both.
I don’t know Colt from that era. If the Aluminum did not flow into the die, why wouldn’t Cerro Forge or Colt reject?
Because it isn’t a rejectable quality control condition. It is simply a minor cosmetic issue. There are also normal C keyhole uppers from this era which have normal white T marks and dry lube that have mis-shaped forge codes.
This whole issue is a bunch of BS about nothing.
You mentioned no dry lube in the uppers. Was that 6520 or 6920? I have never seen an M4 upper without dry coating lubricant.
Mostly 6520s. I have seen dozens of 6520s built like that. No dry lube and un-anodized feedramps that were cut into the upper after anodizing. I have seen two 6920s built with these uppers in question about 15 years ago. I haven’t seen one since.
Interesting. I’ve got a Pennsylvania State Police surplus 6520 that the feed ramps are totally shiny.
Is this a long-term wear concern, or just cosmetic?
They were done after the fact and it’s not unusual. I had several uppers like this from an LE agency that procured them in the late 90’s (99 or early 2000’s).
Yet another reason to only buy from reputable distributors like Brownell’s, and G&R Tactical.