Is this a Colt AR-15 Handle or Cheap Copy?

G37

G37

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Hi all,

I need some help here... I bought a "Colt AR-15 Detachable Carry Handle" from a member here and it arrived today.

I was pretty dissapointed with the handle and very surprised that this could pass for Colt "Quality".

Could anyone please confirm? Is this normal?

*EDIT*
Pics removed as it is sorted out now.
 
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That actually looks like the latest batch of Bushmaster carry handles, I wouldn't worry about the play in the A2 sight but that finish work is brutal, it is an Anchor Harvey forging but whoever did the final finish work sucked...
 
That is Colt quality. All I've owned is Colt guns and still have a bunch, and is on par with the finish. The allen screw usually isn't stripped, but the rest is exact Colt fit 'n finish. The sight is off-set as a result of using only one spring on one side.

It's Colt all right.
 
G37, if Koldt is correct and I suspect he is, you will need to make sure you use a different front sight post to offset the different upper deck height issues, Colt carry handles go with Colt front sight bases which are of different dimensions, I think Bushy has a different front post you can use. It should be a cheap fix.
 
G37, what you are picturing isn't the best that Colt produces. Most of the time the finish is better, but what you are showing in the pics isn't rare, I've seen it often from Colt, unfortunately.
 
Koldt, my 6920 carry handles were really nicely finished, I suspect he got wartime/restructure finish instead of the usual quality, I did have an SP1 that was very poorly finished inside the carry handle. I guess it is hit and miss with everyone...
 
It might even be a Bushmaster handle, but the slintered A with B, I've seen described as being Bushmaster, Oly Arms, and have seen pics of a splintered A with 9 as being Colt:confused: . Some of the aluminium foundries made stuff for almost everybody, ie. Harvey & Alcoa. Hard to keep it all straight without a program. So I'll try to get some pics of the ones I have tomorrow. These are the ones I saved as "better" quality, as opposed to the ones I use to have:eek: .

What I was referring to in my initial post as to it being Colt, I meant it's definitely Colt quality.
 
Looks Colt'ish but I'm confident sparrow knows better than I, I had a real ugly Colt handle I ended up practically giving away. Also had two DPMS handles, which was OK and tight, but not the prettiest I've seen either and the finish wasn't stellar. I like RRA for everything nowadays, all the same forgings usually it seems but RRA finishes their stuff up well.
 
There is such a variance in finish quality, I got a Cardinal forge carry handle from Suchee and it is great, nicely finished and quick to zero...I do think it is important to remember that for the military these are rear iron sights, NOT necessarily carry handles as most grown men cannot get a good purchase on the actual handle, I carry my rifle at the Delta ring anyway. Sometimes a BIS is just a BIS.:;)
 
Got some pics this mornin'. Hope these help to show that even with these major manufacturers, "old world craftsmanship" isn't exactly up to par:rolleyes: .
As mentioned by sparrow, I've had SP1 handles that were good and some really bad. My M16 upper is mediocre (camera battery ran our or I would have shown it).

The top 3 show Colt carry handles. They are marked on the right side MMA. Most definately Colt, but those marks don't show up on Biggerhammer.net.

These were the "best of the bunch" and as you can see, the finish/cleaning up on the cast marks inside the handle are poor at best. You can also see that all 3 sights don't line up at the rear. Colt only uses a spring on one side and therefore pushes it "lopsided". Still functions perfectly though.

coltcarryhandles.jpg



The bottom 2 pics, are of another major manufacturer:D and you can see the cast marks around their logo isn't that good. It too has imperfections/bubbles/slag still left on the logo side and on the underbelly.
diemacocarryhandle.jpg
 
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Just to add, that Colt "quality" has been a running joke on other forums, ie. AR15.com for years. The finishing hasn't had the same TLC as some other manufatcturers, but they do work. Colt gives the attention where needed, ie. material quality, dimensions, heat treating, etc., to ensure they have a rifle that works, and in the end that's what counts.

And that's just words of my "wisdom":rolleyes: :p :D .
 
Well as the new owner of G37s carry handle I can say without doubt it is the same as the Bushmaster 16" carbines which have been imported by North Sylva over the past 3 years, it is not from the 2005 batch though as the thumb screws on those are captured and this one has the free thumb screws, same markings as the Bushies as well so I can say with "some" certainty that this is a Bushmaster not Colt's, it looks fine to me and now sits atop my 14.5" M4 Bushy, Sparrow happy, G37 happy and I hope the person who sold it to G37 was mislead and did not intentionally pass this off as a Hartford Horsey part.
 
I love a happy ending.

Now if I could just figure out what to do with the D carry handle:confused: :)

I do need another 20" 1-7 barrel. I want to make a dedicated NV upper for my big PVS502 scope.
 
Well mister, if you have any knowledge of same for sale, there is a reward;) .

I've got the 20" version, but the 14.5 would be ideal on the C8:D
 
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