Howdy, Retro AR Fans!
Well, after signing up for a Re-Stock Notification at Rampart International and waiting for several months, I finally received an e-mail that a Troy Industries Commemorative USSF MACV SOG XM177E2 Carbine was available for me to purchase for $1,599 CAD. I jumped on the offer as soon as the e-mail notification landed, and after a short delay for the Registration Transfer my new carbine arrived late last month. Overall, I am quite pleased with Troy's efforts to recreate the XM-177E2 some 50 years after its introduction to the Vietnam War and its initial service with the legendary Military Assistance Command Vietnam's (MACV) "Studies and Observation Group" (SOG). MACV SOG was comprised of US Army Special Forces and Navy Seals primarily conducting cross-border reconnaissance operations and targeting of high-value enemy personnel. As part of its commemorative efforts, Troy donates $50 USD from the sale of each carbine to the US Special Forces Association and the Special Operations Foundatiion.
The XM177E2 has become a legendary symbol of Special Operations during the Vietnam War, and as such is a highly sought-after collector's item with most "tribute" carbines these days cobbled together from difficult to acquire original or reproduction parts. In order to create their Commemorative 50th Anniversary Carbine, Troy had to recreate and newly-manufacture the Vinyl Acetate-covered Aluminum Butt-Stock, the 2-Position Receiver Extension (Buffer Tube), the Spanner-Style Castle Nut, the Carry Handle Upper Receiver and specially-engraved Lower Receiver, the Six-Hole Carbine Handguards w/ single Heat Shield, the Sound Moderator/Flash Hider and the accompanying documentation (including the Soldier's Guide and Technical Manuals). They did an excellent job, with the only visual cues that this is not an original carbine being the 12.5" barrel (vice 11.5" original) and the forging seam on the Foresight Assembly (which was apparently ground flush on the genuine XM177E2s). The extra barrel length was required to bring the overall length with the pinned and welded Moderator to 16" for US legal reasons, thus avoiding the Short-Barrelled Rifle (SBR) designation and the associated $200 Tax Stamp and months-long wait for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) approval. Note that the Gray finish on the Receiver Extension, Castle Nut, Receivers, Trigger Guard, Charging Handle and Delta Ring is durable factory-applied Cerakote over black hard-coat anodizing. This finish is meant to replicate the Dry-Film Lubricant coating given to genuine XM177E2s at the factory. The original coating was quite soft and quickly wore off the weapons in theatre.
Enough background, here are some photos.
First up is the Cardboard Box that the carbine arrives in. The markings on the end of the box are the only clue as to what lies within....
Next is the Right side of the carbine with the 2-Position Buttstock collapsed. Note the correct Buttstock, Castle Nut, Tear-Drop Forward Assist, Handguards, and replica Moderator/Flash Hider:
Here is a close-up of the Right side of the Receiver area:
Here is the Left Side, with the Butt-Stock extended. Note the correct, 2-Position Receiver Extension (Buffer Tube):
Next is a close-up of the Left side of the Receiver area. Note the reproduction "Government Markings", the "AUTO" position for the Selector Switch, and the "Automatic Sear Pin" above the Selector Switch. The selector does not move to the AUTO position, and the Auto Sear Pin is simply engraved into the Lower Receiver. Inside the Lower Receiver there is a web of metal across the area where the Auto Sear Pin would normally be inserted on a select-fire carbine. This prevents the installation of a Drop-In Auto Sear (DIAS) or a Lightning Link to produce automatic fire. The upper edges of the Lower Receiver are marked "Replica" and "Semi-Auto Only" where they cannot be seen when the Receiver halves are mated together. The "TroyIndustries" and City of Manufacture markings are found engraved on the underside of the Trigger Housing where they can only be seen when the carbine is turned upside down. All in all, the concessions to U.S. marking regulations and BATF limitations are tastefully rendered and concealed from view:
Here is a look at the Cerakoted Factory Inspector's "Cartouche", which indicated approval of each carbine for service. Normally these stamps were just paint which quickly wore off due to handling:
These are the Accessories that came with the Commemorative Carbine. In addition to the period-correct jerry-rigged Sling and M16A1 Cleaning Kit, Troy has reprinted all of the relevant XM177E2 User's Manuals and Technical Guides along with some MACV (SOG) "Death Cards". Some excellent reading there!
My only gripe with Rampart's service is that they removed the period-correct 20 and 30-round USGI Magazines that shipped with the factory package from Troy Industries, and replaced them with a single 5/30 Polymer Troy "Battlemag". The magazine provided by Rampart looks completely wrong with the 1967-correct XM177E2, and is therefore of absolutely zero use to the owners of these Commemorative carbines. If Rampart can source or convert the pinned Battlemag, why can't they pin and ship the correct, already-included USGI mags?!? And why did Rampart remove 2 magazines from the Troy factory packaging and replace them with a single magazine? I paid for both of those USGI mags, and that is what I need to correctly display my Commemorative Carbine!! The 5/20 round mags are near-unobtanium in Canada, so the Troy mag is essential. I happened to have one of my own 5/20s on-hand, but it has a black finish and not the period-correct Gray Dry-Film Lube. I have written to Rampart and we shall see what they have to say. The substitution should have not occurred in the first place, and Rampart staff are clearly responsible for making a poor decision during the importation process. C'mon Rampart - sort out this silliness....
Well, I hope you enjoyed the background and photos of this interesting new offering from Troy Industries!
Cheers,
Well, after signing up for a Re-Stock Notification at Rampart International and waiting for several months, I finally received an e-mail that a Troy Industries Commemorative USSF MACV SOG XM177E2 Carbine was available for me to purchase for $1,599 CAD. I jumped on the offer as soon as the e-mail notification landed, and after a short delay for the Registration Transfer my new carbine arrived late last month. Overall, I am quite pleased with Troy's efforts to recreate the XM-177E2 some 50 years after its introduction to the Vietnam War and its initial service with the legendary Military Assistance Command Vietnam's (MACV) "Studies and Observation Group" (SOG). MACV SOG was comprised of US Army Special Forces and Navy Seals primarily conducting cross-border reconnaissance operations and targeting of high-value enemy personnel. As part of its commemorative efforts, Troy donates $50 USD from the sale of each carbine to the US Special Forces Association and the Special Operations Foundatiion.
The XM177E2 has become a legendary symbol of Special Operations during the Vietnam War, and as such is a highly sought-after collector's item with most "tribute" carbines these days cobbled together from difficult to acquire original or reproduction parts. In order to create their Commemorative 50th Anniversary Carbine, Troy had to recreate and newly-manufacture the Vinyl Acetate-covered Aluminum Butt-Stock, the 2-Position Receiver Extension (Buffer Tube), the Spanner-Style Castle Nut, the Carry Handle Upper Receiver and specially-engraved Lower Receiver, the Six-Hole Carbine Handguards w/ single Heat Shield, the Sound Moderator/Flash Hider and the accompanying documentation (including the Soldier's Guide and Technical Manuals). They did an excellent job, with the only visual cues that this is not an original carbine being the 12.5" barrel (vice 11.5" original) and the forging seam on the Foresight Assembly (which was apparently ground flush on the genuine XM177E2s). The extra barrel length was required to bring the overall length with the pinned and welded Moderator to 16" for US legal reasons, thus avoiding the Short-Barrelled Rifle (SBR) designation and the associated $200 Tax Stamp and months-long wait for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) approval. Note that the Gray finish on the Receiver Extension, Castle Nut, Receivers, Trigger Guard, Charging Handle and Delta Ring is durable factory-applied Cerakote over black hard-coat anodizing. This finish is meant to replicate the Dry-Film Lubricant coating given to genuine XM177E2s at the factory. The original coating was quite soft and quickly wore off the weapons in theatre.
Enough background, here are some photos.
First up is the Cardboard Box that the carbine arrives in. The markings on the end of the box are the only clue as to what lies within....
Next is the Right side of the carbine with the 2-Position Buttstock collapsed. Note the correct Buttstock, Castle Nut, Tear-Drop Forward Assist, Handguards, and replica Moderator/Flash Hider:
Here is a close-up of the Right side of the Receiver area:
Here is the Left Side, with the Butt-Stock extended. Note the correct, 2-Position Receiver Extension (Buffer Tube):
Next is a close-up of the Left side of the Receiver area. Note the reproduction "Government Markings", the "AUTO" position for the Selector Switch, and the "Automatic Sear Pin" above the Selector Switch. The selector does not move to the AUTO position, and the Auto Sear Pin is simply engraved into the Lower Receiver. Inside the Lower Receiver there is a web of metal across the area where the Auto Sear Pin would normally be inserted on a select-fire carbine. This prevents the installation of a Drop-In Auto Sear (DIAS) or a Lightning Link to produce automatic fire. The upper edges of the Lower Receiver are marked "Replica" and "Semi-Auto Only" where they cannot be seen when the Receiver halves are mated together. The "TroyIndustries" and City of Manufacture markings are found engraved on the underside of the Trigger Housing where they can only be seen when the carbine is turned upside down. All in all, the concessions to U.S. marking regulations and BATF limitations are tastefully rendered and concealed from view:
Here is a look at the Cerakoted Factory Inspector's "Cartouche", which indicated approval of each carbine for service. Normally these stamps were just paint which quickly wore off due to handling:
These are the Accessories that came with the Commemorative Carbine. In addition to the period-correct jerry-rigged Sling and M16A1 Cleaning Kit, Troy has reprinted all of the relevant XM177E2 User's Manuals and Technical Guides along with some MACV (SOG) "Death Cards". Some excellent reading there!
My only gripe with Rampart's service is that they removed the period-correct 20 and 30-round USGI Magazines that shipped with the factory package from Troy Industries, and replaced them with a single 5/30 Polymer Troy "Battlemag". The magazine provided by Rampart looks completely wrong with the 1967-correct XM177E2, and is therefore of absolutely zero use to the owners of these Commemorative carbines. If Rampart can source or convert the pinned Battlemag, why can't they pin and ship the correct, already-included USGI mags?!? And why did Rampart remove 2 magazines from the Troy factory packaging and replace them with a single magazine? I paid for both of those USGI mags, and that is what I need to correctly display my Commemorative Carbine!! The 5/20 round mags are near-unobtanium in Canada, so the Troy mag is essential. I happened to have one of my own 5/20s on-hand, but it has a black finish and not the period-correct Gray Dry-Film Lube. I have written to Rampart and we shall see what they have to say. The substitution should have not occurred in the first place, and Rampart staff are clearly responsible for making a poor decision during the importation process. C'mon Rampart - sort out this silliness....
Well, I hope you enjoyed the background and photos of this interesting new offering from Troy Industries!
Cheers,
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