Colt HBAR Front Sight Gas Block Bayonet Lug Anomoly

Stigmata

Stigmata

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I have a question that I hope someone here can answer. I have a Colt HBAR circa 1991 with an unmilled bayonet lug on the front sight gas block. My question is whether or not this is an original Colt gas block or aftermarket. The bayonet lug is full dimension without any slots or recess milled in it. Lugs were usually deleted by Colt around this time to help circumvent the black rifle ban that was coming down the pipe. I had called Colt to identify the year of production and the representative hadn't heard of such an anomoly as mine.

The gas block had been removed by the previous owner to clean the gas tube so marks are present around the taper pins. To his knowledge, this is the original gas block. There is some lettering on the right side of the block as well as "UP" and a rotational arrow stamped behind the front sight post. Any insight to the originality or otherwise manufacturer of this gas block would be appreciated.



 
I have no info to offer but it is interesting. Easier/cheaper than cutting off the lug.
 
Colt DID have some QC issues in the 70's and 80's, I suppose it's possible that specific lug was never machined and slipped through QC.

I had a rifle very similar to yours and the bayo lug was intact and usable.
 
Bumping up to see if anyone recognizes the front sight/gas block assembly manufacturer. Is it Colt or is it aftermarket? What's with the unmilled bayo lug?
 
To me it looks just like the ones we used to have on the C7's from Diemaco. Obviously this one never saw CF service because of that lug but it's possible that it was rejected for CF use and sent off down a different assembly line..
 
The bayo lug measures full dimension before the machining process to slot it. That's what is striking me as being odd. Even an aftermarket front sight should have it milled.
 
BernDawg said:
To me it looks just like the ones we used to have on the C7's from Diemaco. Obviously this one never saw CF service because of that lug but it's possible that it was rejected for CF use and sent off down a different assembly line..
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It could be a replacement sight from Diemaco (or factory second) but I'd like to see another with the same embossed lettering for comparison.
 
It is extremely difficult to "swap" standard gas block with tapper pins.

The gas block and the barrels are drilled together in a jig, and then pinned. To swap a gas block with an undrilled new one is impossible ( standard gas blocks are only sold undrilled ) If it is another drilled gas block from another rifle, it is till a crap shot to have 100% line up of the holes.
 
greentips said:
It is extremely difficult to "swap" standard gas block with tapper pins.

The gas block and the barrels are drilled together in a jig, and then pinned. To swap a gas block with an undrilled new one is impossible ( standard gas blocks are only sold undrilled ) If it is another drilled gas block from another rifle, it is till a crap shot to have 100% line up of the holes.
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Exactly and I see no signs of misalignment. Ive had to Loctite and setscrew replacement gas blocks in the past but there are no signs that this one is not exactly in it's original position. The guy I had spoken to at Colt hadn't heard of an unmilled bayo lug on a a Sporter but I may call again and mention the embossed lettering to see if that rings any bells.
 
enefgee said:
That could easily have been their first response to the 'no bayonet lug' rule - simply making them unusable by not finishing them.
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That was a thought. The lug was usually ground off though. Searches of the web aren't turning up anything useful in this instance. I may have to resort to going to the Colt forum.
 
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