Colt M16 A1
- Thread starter CLASSIC12
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Legend has it that the hand guard of the first M16's was made by Mattel. Some Vietnam-era soldiers vehemently swear that their hand guard was stamped Mattel. Others swear equally vehemently that Mattel had no part in it. It's mostly the stuff of argument on the various gun forums. Snopes has a discussion about it, stating that the first versions of the handgrip were stamped Mattel, and the later versions, while still made by Mattel, were not stamped. I've never seen one stamped, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen . . .
Rick_A
Member
Mattel once made a replica toy rifle. People who liked military arms made primarily of steel and walnut called the issue guns Mattel rifles.
M16's are pretty dull guns to shoot in automatic mode, and full auto rifles and carbines in general have extremely limited utility in that mode. That said, in the U.S. people should be able to own guns made prior to 1986. It's flatly unconstitutional.
To own a "post" example one would have to become a machine gun manufacturer paying a special occupational tax. That's a bit ridiculous. These days you need a storefront to do such things.
M16's are pretty dull guns to shoot in automatic mode, and full auto rifles and carbines in general have extremely limited utility in that mode. That said, in the U.S. people should be able to own guns made prior to 1986. It's flatly unconstitutional.
To own a "post" example one would have to become a machine gun manufacturer paying a special occupational tax. That's a bit ridiculous. These days you need a storefront to do such things.
Rick_A
Member
The only M16 anything actually made Mattel.
The only M16 anything actually made Mattel.
One of the toys I had as a youngster! I wish I still had it, these things are very collectable today.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
That is quite an early M16A1. Certainly made on US military contract; probably went astray somewhere along the line and ended up in private hands.
At least until 1971 or so production of M16 rifles remained insufficient to meet all military demands. Initial priorities caused nearly all production to be delivered to US forces in Vietnam. It was only later that inventories were sufficient to transition US forces in Europe and elsewhere to the new rifles (and some units in Europe were still armed with M1 rifles, not having received the "new" M14 rifles before those were phased out in favor of the M16). There were certainly plenty of US M16A1 rifles in Europe from the early 1970's onward until the A2 variant became standard issue, and more than a few disappeared through pilfering and black market trading. Probably more were provided to other NATO forces for evaluation and/or familiarization training, and final disposition of those rifles would have been beyond US control.
The 6-pointed star may be nothing more than an inspector's stamp. While most recognized as the Star of David, this was always a popular symbol in other uses.
I trained with the M14 in 1968. Only experience I received with the M16 was a brief familiarization during Infantry AIT before going to Vietnam. US forces in Vietnam had M16 rifles in general issue at that time, and I recall being somewhat uncomfortable with the M16 due to minimal training and experience with the rifle, at least until I acquired sufficient experience and trust in the weapon.
Full auto fire was generally discouraged. We were trained to use semi-auto almost exclusively, both to conserve ammunition and to encourage controlled and accurate fire. The common exceptions were targets at extended range and moving targets, for which full auto can increase the probability of hits.
By my second Vietnam tour the original M16's were being phased out and replaced by the M16A1's. The first A1 I was issued was not a Colt; it was manufactured by General Motors Hydramatic Division. After the learning curve (proper cleaning & lubrication) I became quite comfortable with it, but I was never as confident as I had been with the M14.
The 20-round magazines were the only type available at that time. Interestingly, we found that when fully loaded with 20 rounds the incidence of feeding jams was fairly common. We loaded our magazines with 18 rounds to avoid that problem. Many of us preferred to load our magazines with one tracer followed by 4 ball, then one tracer and 4 ball, another tracer and 4 ball, finally 3 tracer rounds. This served as a signal to the rifleman that he had emptied the magazine and it was time to reload the rifle (something that is not always easy to keep track of during a firefight).
On the OP's rifle I notice that the rear sight aperture is different than any I saw on the rifles I was issued. I am not sure why that would be, as the M16A1 featured a folding two-leaf rear sight aperture designed to provide accurate fire to 250 meters on the primary setting, and "long range" with the other aperture (maximum effective range of the rifle was considered to be 360 meters, approx. 400 yards). I don't recall ever using the "long range" aperture; even at range qualifications with targets out to 360 meters I just used the standard aperture and adjusted my aim for the longer range targets.
Thanks for posting! A little stroll down memory lane.
At least until 1971 or so production of M16 rifles remained insufficient to meet all military demands. Initial priorities caused nearly all production to be delivered to US forces in Vietnam. It was only later that inventories were sufficient to transition US forces in Europe and elsewhere to the new rifles (and some units in Europe were still armed with M1 rifles, not having received the "new" M14 rifles before those were phased out in favor of the M16). There were certainly plenty of US M16A1 rifles in Europe from the early 1970's onward until the A2 variant became standard issue, and more than a few disappeared through pilfering and black market trading. Probably more were provided to other NATO forces for evaluation and/or familiarization training, and final disposition of those rifles would have been beyond US control.
The 6-pointed star may be nothing more than an inspector's stamp. While most recognized as the Star of David, this was always a popular symbol in other uses.
I trained with the M14 in 1968. Only experience I received with the M16 was a brief familiarization during Infantry AIT before going to Vietnam. US forces in Vietnam had M16 rifles in general issue at that time, and I recall being somewhat uncomfortable with the M16 due to minimal training and experience with the rifle, at least until I acquired sufficient experience and trust in the weapon.
Full auto fire was generally discouraged. We were trained to use semi-auto almost exclusively, both to conserve ammunition and to encourage controlled and accurate fire. The common exceptions were targets at extended range and moving targets, for which full auto can increase the probability of hits.
By my second Vietnam tour the original M16's were being phased out and replaced by the M16A1's. The first A1 I was issued was not a Colt; it was manufactured by General Motors Hydramatic Division. After the learning curve (proper cleaning & lubrication) I became quite comfortable with it, but I was never as confident as I had been with the M14.
The 20-round magazines were the only type available at that time. Interestingly, we found that when fully loaded with 20 rounds the incidence of feeding jams was fairly common. We loaded our magazines with 18 rounds to avoid that problem. Many of us preferred to load our magazines with one tracer followed by 4 ball, then one tracer and 4 ball, another tracer and 4 ball, finally 3 tracer rounds. This served as a signal to the rifleman that he had emptied the magazine and it was time to reload the rifle (something that is not always easy to keep track of during a firefight).
On the OP's rifle I notice that the rear sight aperture is different than any I saw on the rifles I was issued. I am not sure why that would be, as the M16A1 featured a folding two-leaf rear sight aperture designed to provide accurate fire to 250 meters on the primary setting, and "long range" with the other aperture (maximum effective range of the rifle was considered to be 360 meters, approx. 400 yards). I don't recall ever using the "long range" aperture; even at range qualifications with targets out to 360 meters I just used the standard aperture and adjusted my aim for the longer range targets.
Thanks for posting! A little stroll down memory lane.
Nice gun. Reminds me of my H&R M203 when I was in the Army.
As an aside - You can see the John Wayne with the Mattell M16 in some sceens of the Green Berets movie. I guess there weren't enough real guns to go around.
As an aside - You can see the John Wayne with the Mattell M16 in some sceens of the Green Berets movie. I guess there weren't enough real guns to go around.
JohnZMI
Member
My father-in-law (Phil Cartwright) was the Works Manager at the Hydra-matic plant in 1961, and was directly responsible for rounding up all the machining tooling and equipment to produce those 480,000 M16A1's, and his team originated the unique bore chroming process that extended barrel life on the A1. We didn't see much of Phil for many months as the production layout for the M16A1 was developed and de-bugged. 
I’ve never believed that Mattel ever actually mfg’d any M16 parts and most truly knowledgeable authorities hold that they didn’t. I don’t recall any mention of Mattel in the Ezell and Stevens work “The Black Rifle: M16 Retrospective,” by CGP.
It’s a cool story, but I believe it is just that, a story.
Kinda like how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop, the world may never know . . .
chiefdave
US Veteran
Note the lack of a shell deflector. Don't try to shoot one left handed and don't trust the flimsy clip on. Didn't even get a T-shirt, just a few scars. That was over 50 years ago and would not buy or shoot an AR until 5 years ago when I bought one with left hand ejection.
The only M16 anything actually made Mattel.
The magazine on that thing looks like it would hold .458 Winchester Mag rounds! Those must have been the big bore version of the AR
Gene L
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I think the rear sight isn't right...not from my memory. The correct one was a flip-up peep for close and far ranges...different size peeps. But that's the only thing I see that isn't quite right. I think the Mattel thing is a rumor. It wasn't a rumor (I don't think) in 68-69, that I heard.) Mine was made by GM, same handguards but they weren't shiny like the earlier ones. Wonderful gun, and very lightweight. They had about a 12-twist, IIRC, for the 55-gr. bullets.
The Army used to publish comic book style maintenance booklets in bright colors and featuring sometimes a busty blonde, scantily clad. Wish I had one now.
The ones we had did not have a chrome-lined bore. Or the chrome bolts. The bolt retaining pin on early ones weren't keys, they were solid pins with a cone-shaped top, but these were quickly withdrawn and replaced with the key. And didn't have a trap in the butt, at least the earlier ones. Maybe later than 1969, mine had a Rubber butt pad. We got a nylon-bag cleaning kit we carried in our rucks.
As posted above, in 67 we trained with the M 14 and my first introduction to the M 16A1 was in Vietnam. In 68. My first one was what we called a Kar 15, which had a short barrel with a big flash guard and a collapsible stock. It jammed, got rid of it.
The Army used to publish comic book style maintenance booklets in bright colors and featuring sometimes a busty blonde, scantily clad. Wish I had one now.
The ones we had did not have a chrome-lined bore. Or the chrome bolts. The bolt retaining pin on early ones weren't keys, they were solid pins with a cone-shaped top, but these were quickly withdrawn and replaced with the key. And didn't have a trap in the butt, at least the earlier ones. Maybe later than 1969, mine had a Rubber butt pad. We got a nylon-bag cleaning kit we carried in our rucks.
As posted above, in 67 we trained with the M 14 and my first introduction to the M 16A1 was in Vietnam. In 68. My first one was what we called a Kar 15, which had a short barrel with a big flash guard and a collapsible stock. It jammed, got rid of it.
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LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Yes, the CAR-15 was the original "Jam-O-Matic". Apparently there was not enough R&D done to tune the gas operating system (gas port, gas tube, etc) for the shorter barrel length. The lengthy flash suppressor was necessary because of the extreme flash created by the powder charge, which was geared more toward properly launching bullets through the standard 20" barrel instead of the CAR-15's shorter tube (12" or 14", plus suppressor as I recall). The CAR-15's were very popular with rear echelon units that wanted to look all "combat" everywhere they went (in their starched and pressed camo fatigues and boonie hats, which most combat units never saw issued), but actual combat units wanted nothing to do with them.
Gene L
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We had boonie hats, later camo fatigues....I was a Recon Plt. Leader, (after a rifle platoon leader) and we had to obtain ours by outside the supply line sources for the cammies which weren't standard at the time. I don't know why, they were really helpful.
There were two types of boonie hats...the first was OD and had a narrower brim, not all that narrow, but less than the Cammie one we had later on (and which I still have an example of.) It's brim is a lot bigger and great for keeping the rain off. As I recall, we all had them. And wore them on operations, which rifle platoons wore helmets. Go figure.
I got rid of the Car 15 very early in my tour. It was cool looking, but not very accurate. The only time I fired it in duress, it didn't malfunction...one magazine.
There were two types of boonie hats...the first was OD and had a narrower brim, not all that narrow, but less than the Cammie one we had later on (and which I still have an example of.) It's brim is a lot bigger and great for keeping the rain off. As I recall, we all had them. And wore them on operations, which rifle platoons wore helmets. Go figure.
I got rid of the Car 15 very early in my tour. It was cool looking, but not very accurate. The only time I fired it in duress, it didn't malfunction...one magazine.
Connie PM!
There's pdf's of the old PM comic/magazines, on line.
My AIT rifle at Benning was a GM Hydramatic, too.
I seem to recall one or two guys in my platoon having
what looked like a chrome-plated bolt carrier (with chips
flaked off, here and there). Pushing forty years tho,
might be disrecollecting...
Concur on rear sight. Top edge was round, tho that one
looks like it might be flat to clear the receiver, where it lays
down...? Would be interesting to see the rear sight rotated
back, to see how it lays in, and to show the forward leaf.
Typically, one was marked "L" and the other "0-250" or
"250" (CRS in effect).
The gas ring (?) on bolt looks different, too. Norm was three
thin rings, but that one looks like a single fat ring. Maybe
someone jerry-rigged a replacement, when original rings
wore out, and correct parts weren't available?
Maybe the rear sight is a non-spec replacement, too...?
Definitely seen a lot of carrying, by the lack of parkerizing
(everywhere!) and the worn anodizing, on high spots.
Nice catch, Classic12!
F.Y.I., the UI logo on the front of the mag is Universal Industries. They were the subcontractor back in the day that manufactured the 20rd mags for Colt. I bought an AR15 (SP1) new in the box in 1972. It came with (2) 20rd mags, blocked to 5rds. These mags came from Colt with Universal Industries marked floorplates. I still have them. Apparently, at that time, all Colt marked floorplates were going to the military.
That is an awesome looking pair of Colts you have there. I especially like the US Property marking. What does the paperwork consist of there and how long does it usually take to go through the process?
By the way the coloration of the barrel is due to bare metal subjected to high heat. The metal tends to oxidize somewhat during the cooling of the barrel. Totally normal and adds to the overall character of the rifle. Well done!
That is an awesome looking pair of Colts you have there. I especially like the US Property marking. What does the paperwork consist of there and how long does it usually take to go through the process?
By the way the coloration of the barrel is due to bare metal subjected to high heat. The metal tends to oxidize somewhat during the cooling of the barrel. Totally normal and adds to the overall character of the rifle. Well done!
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