Brownells has retro A1 furniture kits

Greenhorse six

Greenhorse six

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
109   0   0
Location
Alberta,using the first rule of how not to be seen
Anybody looking for this for a retro style build .
Just going to cut and paste this because I'm lazy .


"Recreate an American Classic with the Brownells M16A1 Furniture Kits, built to accurately replicate the original Stock issued to thousands of American servicemen & women.

The included M16A1 style buttstock, handguard and pistol grip are modeled off of original components, designed to bring affordable, original type gear back to market. There is surplus available, but these parts are continuing to dry up and the quality is often quite poor. Excellent condition items are getting quite expensive. With these furniture kits, you can outfit your favorite Retro rifle in the proper stylings of the period.

Available in several different colors including:
• Black - Proper for Model 602, XM16E1, M16A1 & later generation rifles introduced after 1963
• Green - Proper for early Model 601 rifles, the first AR-15 adopted by the US Air Force in 1959
• Brown - Similar to the earliest AR-15 Prototype rifle furniture used in the late 1950s

Retro furniture from Brownells is not an exact copy of original components or their construction. Some areas have been changed due to manufacturing methods or to avoid counterfeit concerns."
 
The A1 receivers were made by Nodak Spud, I think they were a limited run, because they have been out of stock for more than 6 months now. Wonder if Brownells will get more from Nordak Spud or will find another shop to produce them.
 
kutler said:
I would be interested to know if they will ship Ar15 parts
Click to expand...
Usually anything that can be found under the "available outside USA" filter can be shipped, no end user certificate for purchase total under $100, end user certificate required for purchase total between $100 to $500, $500 and above will require an export permit cost around $250.
 
hbean said:
Usually anything that can be found under the "available outside USA" filter can be shipped, no end user certificate for purchase total under $100, end user certificate required for purchase total between $100 to $500, $500 and above will require an export permit cost around $250.
Click to expand...

There is a work-around to the $250 Export Permit, which is also required for specific items under $500 USD (eg. muzzle devices). Simply engage the services of a 3rd Party Importer and have Brownells ship the item(s) to their U.S. address. The Importer then does the paperwork and importation on your behalf, shipping the item to your door in Canada. You typically pay a fixed fee for each part, and a reduced fee for each line item thereafter, but it is far, far less than $250 USD. More like $35 for the first part and $15 for each additional, plus shipping to Canada and Shipping within Canada.

Using the above system I was able to import a Brownells Retro XM177E2 Muzzle Moderator and Grenade Ring for the cost of the item plus $35 import, $15 cross-border shipping and $18 Canada Post home delivery. A cost of $68 USD versus $250 USD to import an otherwise impossible to find part essential for my retro build....

I ordered up a set of the brown AR Furniture and am quite pleased with the quality for the price. The Triangular handguards have correct aluminum heat shields installed and everything lines up fine in terms of fit and finish. Brand new replacement furniture now available for SP1s in need of a face-lift. The A1 pistol grip was a particularly difficult piece to source prior to the Brownells repros arriving on the scene. Now you can have as many as you need for $15 apiece!
 
Last edited:
Probably not, most people took the original chinese furniture off their CQ311s as soon as they got them and moved on long ago.

Which is too bad. It is a unique AR variant and one rarely seen in most countries, and here in Canada we treated them like chopped liver.
 
hbean said:
The A1 receivers were made by Nodak Spud, I think they were a limited run, because they have been out of stock for more than 6 months now. Wonder if Brownells will get more from Nordak Spud or will find another shop to produce them.
Click to expand...

Only the forgings were provided by Nodak Spud. All of the machining and finish work was done by Brownell’s or under contract to Brownell’s. For example, the slot in the carry handle was not done to spec so optics or mounts designed for the carry handle wouldn’t fit. Not sure if it’s been sorted on newer ones.
 
Leg said:
Only the forgings were provided by Nodak Spud. All of the machining and finish work was done by Brownell’s or under contract to Brownell’s. For example, the slot in the carry handle was not done to spec so optics or mounts designed for the carry handle wouldn’t fit. Not sure if it’s been sorted on newer ones.
Click to expand...

Interesting. The carry handle dimensions are correct on my Troy XM177E2, yet I was under the impression that Troy had sourced (or based?) their A1 receivers from NoDakSpud. I could be wrong, but perhaps the correct dimensions on the Troy carbines are reflective of correct CH dimensions being used by NDS these days. Hard to say for sure.

I know that Troy machined the reinforcements off the Receiver Extension portion of the Lower Receivers they use on their XM in order to get the correct A1 profile. Unfortunately, the machining is not perfect and if you look you can tell that material was removed from the bottom sides of the Receiver Extension ring.
 
Here is a pic of the brown retro furniture installed on my SP1. The true colour is a bit less red than it looks in the photo. FWIW, the colour was apparently copied from genuine furniture dating back to the late 1950s. I quite like it for the different look, although I'm not sure that I will keep it that way. The brown furniture actually fits and mates up better than the black Colt originals, especially the handguards. They would be a great, cost-effective basis for a custom colour scheme, or some such.


1znueec.jpg
 
Bartok5 said:
There is a work-around to the $250 Export Permit, which is also required for specific items under $500 USD (eg. muzzle devices). Simply engage the services of a 3rd Party Importer and have Brownells ship the item(s) to their U.S. address. The Importer then does the paperwork and importation on your behalf, shipping the item to your door in Canada. You typically pay a fixed fee for each part, and a reduced fee for each line item thereafter, but it is far, far less than $250 USD. More like $35 for the first part and $15 for each additional, plus shipping to Canada and Shipping within Canada.

Using the above system I was able to import a Brownells Retro XM177E2 Muzzle Moderator and Grenade Ring for the cost of the item plus $35 import, $15 cross-border shipping and $18 Canada Post home delivery. A cost of $68 USD versus $250 USD to import an otherwise impossible to find part essential for my retro build....

I ordered up a set of the brown AR Furniture and am quite pleased with the quality for the price. The Triangular handguards have correct aluminum heat shields installed and everything lines up fine in terms of fit and finish. Brand new replacement furniture now available for SP1s in need of a face-lift. The A1 pistol grip was a particularly difficult piece to source prior to the Brownells repros arriving on the scene. Now you can have as many as you need for $15 apiece!
Click to expand...

Just find someone with a open export permit with Brownells and piggyback off their order and throw the guy a couple bucks for shipping and taxes.
 
Bartok, does it have the storage compartment in the buttstock? I much prefer the A1 length and was going to install an A2 buttplate on my trapdoor A1 but this could be a way to go as well.
 
I was looking at it on the website, it's similar, but a close reproduction. I still have a bunch of Colt marked A1 furniture. I'm debating if I should build another clone or sell it.
 
Well, I ordered a set in brown and a set in green for my potential Maccabee rifle... if I buy one I'm planning to set it up with a carry handle as something intermediate between an old M16A1/M16A2. I'll see which I like better, the brown or green, and probably sell the other one. Hopefully the quality of the ones I get are good - the reviews on Brownells website seem mixed.

Bartok5 said:
1znueec.jpg
Click to expand...


Wow, that looks REALLY nice!!
 
Last edited:
Leg said:
Bartok, does it have the storage compartment in the buttstock? I much prefer the A1 length and was going to install an A2 buttplate on my trapdoor A1 but this could be a way to go as well.
Click to expand...

No storage compartment. It is the earliest style made of black synthetic. Note that the Sling Swivel on the A1 buttstock is different as well, in that it actually swivels.
 
Mine arrived today. Slapped them onto my SA20, snd I have to say, fit is excellent, finish is pretty good. If you're on the fence about these, I'd say buy a set. Might have to toss the optic and put the carry handle on - I'm digging the look.







 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom