Which AR do I want...oh my god, what am I saying..

BBq_Woa!

BBq_Woa!

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 95.3%
61   3   0
Location
Hamilton, ON, Canada
Hi there.

SO.
as is usual with us Gunnutz; I was recently walking down a path after a shoot with two buddies, and was caught in a downpour.
we got to talking about viet nam, and how this 'scene' of ours looked like it must have now and then..

This experience made me decide that if it's fairly cost-effective, I'd like an AR in the viet nam style, with the triangular handguard, etc.

Now then. I know I can't get the actual type with select fire, and no forward assist and the wierd rear sight (well maybe that..)
BUT..

I was hoping some of you folks know what I need, as Im not hugely up on ARs..

I'm under the impression the one I'll want is an SP1? i think i remember seeing viet nam style ARs and they're the SP1..or am I mistaken?

I suppose I'll also want to be able to throw on the modern M16 style round handguard for kicks, two guns in one, like.. BUT THATS IT. i swear. i'm not gonna start modding this thing into a zombie tac gun.. really.

Ok
so.

which am I looking for?

oh, and as a sidenote, does american furnature fit on the Nork AR? I'm assuming it does, but just wanted to make sure..
not sure if id want a nork ar though as I'd need to refinish it (since they're sort of...blue-ish)

thanks!
-Derek
 
Last edited:
I had a Colt SP1 and it had no forward assist (didn't ever need it), basic military sights and the old style triangular handguard. That's probably what you are after. No idea about swapping stuff on it.
 
If you want a 'nam era AR platform on the (relative) cheap, then you probably want to get the SP1 as long as it hasn't been upgraded/dicked with. Just swap the birdcage flash hider for a 3-prong and you have a fairly close representative of a model 604 "M16" rifle. Check out the retro forum on arfcom for more info.
 
Some Norc AR15s have the triangular hand guards. But not all. Be sure to ask before you buy. Yes, american hand guards and grip fit on the CQ311, but the stock is tricky.
 
here is my vietnam retro norc

DSCF0327.jpg
 
Last edited:
I did something similar with my Norc CQ. The buttstock had already been changed when I got it used, so I threw on the triangluar guards and swapped the grip. All that was remaining was to change the flash hider and re-do the paint but I ended up selling it to fund other projects. If you want old school, the Norc is a cheap way to start down the path. It didn't shoot all that badly either.
 
j-man said:
I did something similar with my Norc CQ. The buttstock had already been changed when I got it used, so I threw on the triangluar guards and swapped the grip. All that was remaining was to change the flash hider and re-do the paint but I ended up selling it to fund other projects. If you want old school, the Norc is a cheap way to start down the path. It didn't shoot all that badly either.
Click to expand...

thanks, that sounds perfect.
 
You have to remember that Vietnam was a long war, and the AR-15 was in flux through most it. Literally dozens of variants were used.

It is also worthwhile noting that the SP1 was not really similar to any of those versions, in any specific sense. It was Vietnam-ish in that it had the handguards, the barrel and the rear sight, but the similarity ends pretty quickly if you start getting into specifics.

The most common variant would be the late 603. This covers post-1966 XM16E1 and M16A1 rifles, which is what would have been carried by every US Army soldier and most Marines in the last half of the conflict. Such a rifle would have a forward assist and a birdcage flash hider.

No matter what variant you decide you want, all the parts are out there somewhere, but finding any of them will take some looking.
 
BattleRife said:
You have to remember that Vietnam was a long war, and the AR-15 was in flux through most it. Literally dozens of variants were used.

It is also worthwhile noting that the SP1 was not really similar to any of those versions, in any specific sense. It was Vietnam-ish in that it had the handguards, the barrel and the rear sight, but the similarity ends pretty quickly if you start getting into specifics.

The most common variant would be the late 603. This covers post-1966 XM16E1 and M16A1 rifles, which is what would have been carried by every US Army soldier and most Marines in the last half of the conflict. Such a rifle would have a forward assist and a birdcage flash hider.

No matter what variant you decide you want, all the parts are out there somewhere, but finding any of them will take some looking.
Click to expand...

I know.

for me the important things are the handguard, the flash hider and the rear sight.. no forward assist would be great, but whatever.

might get that norinco thats for sale if the seller ever looks at his PMs
 
Norc would be perfect for this. Cheap, and pretty close to what you're looking for. A1 furniture is cheap and plentiful south of the border, but you shouldn't have to many problems getting some up here.

Or keep your eyes peeled on the EE. A couple of years ago I picked up a PWA rifle for $900 that was only missing the triangular handguards and the proper pistol grip. The lower is A1 style, which is a bonus. The upper was from a G.I. spares contract and had a Colt M16 carrier in it. My rifle is an A1 style so it does have the forward assist and birdcage flash hider, but this is actually correct for Vietnam anyway. Believe that only the airforce ended up with the original M16 that didn't have forward assist and used the three prong flash hider.
 
Sorry for the crappy, small pic (click the thumbnail for bigger). This was my Norc CQ311 after the grip and guard change. With the pencil barrel and the furniture swap, it was cosmetically a close match to an old school M16. A new finish, the shorter buttstock and a 3-prong flash hider would have dressed it up as well. I did have a 20 round mag that added to the look.

 
Last edited:
j-man said:
Sorry for the crappy, small pic (click the thumbnail for bigger). This was my Norc CQ311 after the grip and guard change. With the pencil barrel and the furniture swap, it was cosmetically a close match to an old school M16. A new finish, the shorter buttstock and a 3-prong flash hider would have dressed it up as well. I did have a 20 round mag that added to the look.

Click to expand...

you need to replace the front handguard cap with an triangular A1
 
I suppose I'll also want to be able to throw on the modern M16 style round handguard for kicks, two guns in one, like.. BUT THATS IT. i swear. i'm not gonna start modding this thing into a zombie tac gun.. really.
Click to expand...


That better be the least you do to a classic like the SP1.

Those Colts are classics now.

I remember all of the atrocities that were perpetrated against SP1's back in the 80's; Carry handle's shaved off to make flat tops, all kinds of dumb ass stocks put on for the flavor of the day. Replacing the handguard is reversible, but do you really want to look like some retro Rambo from 1985, do ya, huh ?

Honor the timeless classics.

There's all kinds of AR's and parts available now to create whatever bizarre variant any black rifle nut could ever dream up. Use them. Save the Classic Colts.
 
Dr van Nostran said:
That better be the least you do to a classic like the SP1.

Those Colts are classics now.

I remember all of the atrocities that were perpetrated against SP1's back in the 80's; Carry handle's shaved off to make flat tops, all kinds of dumb ass stocks put on for the flavor of the day. Replacing the handguard is reversible, but do you really want to look like some retro Rambo from 1985, do ya, huh ?

Honor the timeless classics.

There's all kinds of AR's and parts available now to create whatever bizarre variant any black rifle nut could ever dream up. Use them. Save the Classic Colts.
Click to expand...

They'll be saying the same thing about all the tricked out Norc M14/305's is a few years! Mark my words.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom