Anybody ever seen a H&R M-16A1 Government marked lower?

[RED]

Most folks think these things may have existed, but, none were ever available for civilian use.

Question, have you ever seen one?

[Michael Tompkins]

I saw one when I was in the service. I was with the 503rd MP Co in Friedberg, FRG. One of our guys was issued one. 1980 time-frame. At the time, it stood out because the lower receiver was a purple-ish color for whatever reason. Perhaps it had been rebuilt. Mike

[gwp]

There are pictures on AR15.com.

http://www.ar15.com/mobile/topic.html?b=6&f=23&t=427400

[lyman]

Most folks think these things may have existed, but, none were ever available for civilian use.

Question, have you ever seen one?

wasn't the H&R a gov't contract?? thus none for civilian (or LEO?) purchase..

[PhillipM]

There is info at retroblackrifles.com

Harrington and Richardson also made at least 246,000 M16A1 rifles during Vietnam.
H&R's one known contract started November 1968 and ended April 1970.
*More info is currently being researched (Dec 2009)

[bd1]

Sweeet!

[Hal O'Peridol]

I was issued one while stationed at Ft. Devens, MA back in 1983.

[Truman]

Our local NG unit had many H&Rs A1s. Probably more H&R than Colt. Truman

[tbone69]

I saw one while stationed at KMCAS, BLT 2/3. 1980 time frame. most of what we had were GM Hydra-matic and Colt XM16E1's

[fjruple]

I was issued an H&R at Ft. Knox in the summer of 1972. I remember it being a bit rougher looking than the Colts we had in the company.

--fjruple

[Greg]

I was issued an H&R M16A1 at Ft. Knox, Kentucky while attending the ROTC Basic Summer Camp (2 year program). Actually, I believe it was marked XM16E1, but that was a long time and many M16s/AR15s ago. The one thing I remember with great clarity is that it was amazingly accurate. And that we cleaned the barrels (per the instructions of our Drill Sergeant) with the bore brush on the end of a bunch of sections of cleaning rod chucked into a power drill.

[smle-man]

I saw many H&Rs, Colts, and GM Hydramatic made A1 lowers in my service time

[smle-man]

When did you do the Ft. Knox 2 year basic summer camp? I was there in the summer of 1975. SFC Hendricks and SSG Blackmon were my two drill sergeants. We didn't the cleaning rod and drill method but we did immerse the complete upper group sans handguards in 55 gallon drums cut in half and mounted horizontally and filled with solvent. It just about peeled the skin off of my hands.

[fjruple]

When did you do the Ft. Knox 2 year basic summer camp? I was there in the summer of 1975. SFC Hendricks and SSG Blackmon were my two drill sergeants. We didn't the cleaning rod and drill method but we did immerse the complete upper group sans handguards in 55 gallon drums cut in half and mounted horizontally and filled with solvent. It just about peeled the skin off of my hands.

smle-man--

I was there in the Summer of 1972, SFC Hendricks was there as the Fourth Platoon Sgt. I was in the Third Platoon with SFC Booth. The unit was C Company, 13th Battation 4th Brigade. Fate would intervene and I would not complete ROTC due to family issues. I enlisted in the PA NG in 1975 and then went to OCS at Ft. Benning, GA. And as they says the rest is history. I MRDed with 30 years in 2005.

I remember the cleaning in the 55 gallon drum halfs. That Summer Camp I fell in love with the M16A1 rifle. I alway felt the M16A2s were unnecessarily too heavy.

--fjruple

[smle-man]

smle-man--

I was there in the Summer of 1972, SFC Hendricks was there as the Fourth Platoon Sgt. I was in the Third Platoon with SFC Booth. The unit was C Company, 13th Battation 4th Brigade. Fate would intervene and I would not complete ROTC due to family issues. I enlisted in the PA NG in 1975 and then went to OCS at Ft. Benning, GA. And as they says the rest is history. I MRDed with 30 years in 2005.

I remember the cleaning in the 55 gallon drum halfs. That Summer Camp I fell in love with the M16A1 rifle. I alway felt the M16A2s were unnecessarily too heavy.

--fjruple

Well how about that! Our rotation was the last for SFC Hendricks. His next stop was a tour in Korea and then out. What a character! I remember his saying something to the effect of 'we are no longer permitted to strike recruits; however by the time I am finished with you, you will wish that I did so and got it over with'. I got commissioned in 1977 at Pitt and spent 5 years on active duty and 15 in the Guard and Reserve. I then served another 11 in the State Defense Force (CA Military Reserve) here in California.

Good times, thanks for sharing.