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Colt AR15 Finish Questions?

milsurplus
I was looking at a NIB Colt AR15 in gunshop that had different colored upper and lower, one black and one gray, I presume anodized and parkerized perhaps. What would be the significance of using black or gray finish color differences as opposed to one color finish?

Also on the same rifle there is a slight raised line on the opposite side of the forward assist side of the rifle as pictured and approximately where the red line is drawn in the diagram; what is this?

newkit_ar15.jpg

Thanks
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • dcs shooters
    I've seen a lot of AR'S, mostly Colt,s that are different colors.
    I think it is two different types of aluminum that takes anodizing and comes out that way.
    As for that line, I've never noticed one. I have a M-16 upper and it's not on mine.
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  • milsurplus
    I guess it doesn't matter too much and I have seen it some as well in pictures, but wasn't sure as to what it was exactly. The line I guess could be better described as a slight raised ridge and I am not sure what that is either.
    If I were to get this rifle could I sand it down and then refinish the spot to cover the bare aluminum and what should I use or would it look bad?
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  • DRP-AZ
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodizing

    Aluminum parts are typically anodized in batches, often, batches of one particular part.

    While the anodizing process, titration and temperature stabilization may achieve the desired "spec" and coverage, the color may be off from solution to solution a slight degree.

    The bulge you see on your upper is a re-inforcement area. All cosmetic, not really providing much extra strength, nor providing much extra weight.
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  • milsurplus
    Okay, so then this reinforcement area was done purposely as this is a Colt HBAR AR15 rifle; but why haven't I seen this prominently on other Colt AR15 rifles though?
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  • tsr1965
    Aluminum is always ANODIZED, to surface harden it. It is never parkerized or phosphated, in fact, I don't think aluminum blends well with the parkerizing process.

    Best
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  • milsurplus
    Saw this exact same 'reinforcement area' on several other Colt HBAR rifles as well, very interesting.
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  • 1917watercooled
    I am a part owner of a refinishing business. Over the years we have done many mismatched AR upper and lowers. As aluminum is non-ferris, it will not 'parkerize'. If you want the two pieces to color match I would recommend having them "Gun-Koated" or "Hard-Coated". There are other names. It's a more durable finish plus it resist chemicals much better. The alum. parts can be Gun-Koated and the steel parts parkerized. You will be pleased as my customers were (US Border Patrol, various state police, Accurancy International,etc.).
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  • nmyers
    The OP was asking about a Colt that he described as "NIB". I would assume that he looked at the box end label, which would indicate any finish that was non-standard.

    In addition to the standard "black", Colt also produced AR-15's in electroless nickel & Z-Cote Tiger Stripe Camo. Although I haven't seen them, I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't other finishes or mix-and-match AR's out there.

    As always, photos of the rifle in question would have been useful.

    Neal
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  • milsurplus
    Yeah it is New in the Box(NIB) Factory Colt, just as described, the box label was a standard Factory Colt HBAR label and was one of the reasons that I posted being that it was unusual but obviously not impossible.
    I don't have a camera at present unfortunately and felt that the description was more than adequate as we are talking shade differences here, so should be pretty easy to visualize.
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