m16 early flash suppressor

[hvymech]

I am building a 1967 colt SP1. Two questions... How was the prongs situated one prong up or two? What does the letters SP stand for?

Thanks ...hvymech

[Johnny in Texas]

Mine is random. SP1= Sporter1 in my mind.

[joem]

The M16 I was issued had the three prong flash hider had one prong at the bottom. I was told that this was to keep dust and dirt from flying up from muzzel blast if you were in the prone position. And you could break the wire ties on a case of C Rats if need be.

[Bob K]

I have an original 1968 SP1 and the flash hider has the single prong at the top.

[Nick Riviezzo]

I was there [RVN] as "grunt" in 63-64 and as a Platoon & Company Commander in '66-67 an again in '70-'71.Best of my recollections is the position of the prongs was pretty much random.If you were an "astute professional" you tried to position one prong down for, as joem said, " to reduce the dust signature" [loose translation]. In my experience, it mattered little. As a unit commander signing jillions of supply requests, it was hard to justify ordering large numbers of flash hiders[ not an expendable item] until we finally determined the flash hiders were being broken off due to their use a "wire cutters" to break open "C" Rats cases. I believe that is what caused the "re-design" to the "bird cage" model. You should have heard the troops 'bi*ch". "Whyn't they make the da*n things harder, sharper, better,stronger[pick one]! Nick

[S.B.]

Didn't they also, use the peel washer to attach these?
Steve

[gwp]

Didn't they also, use the peel washer to attach these?
Steve

I think a standard lock washer was used.

[epa223]

I've seen many pictures of 3 prongs and they seem to be randomly set. Once the torque was reached, I would imagine the armorer stopped tightening regardless of position. I however, like to get the slot at 12 O'clock, if I can. Regarding the "SP", i would guess it means "SPorter"