Colt Tactical Carbine Question
I just looked at a pair of Colt "AR-15 A3 Tactical Carbines" at a local store. They ARE NOT marked with the LEO engraving on the right hand side of the magwell. Serial numbers are both BD0018XX & both appear to be all original factory guns. Store owner tells me that they are consignment guns from an elderly fellow who bought them originally in early 1995 for himself and his son. Both have been shot, but barely so.
At first, I thought that since they were not marked with the LEO engraving and had all of the "evil black rifle" features, that they were pre-ban rifles. However, everywhere I have checked, (including with Colt Customer Service) indicates that Pre-Ban serial numbers for this model end at BD00134. Nobody, and I mean nobody has referenced a word about there even being a BDO serial number above that BDO0134, or that Colt ever produced a Post-Ban "AR-15 A3 Tactical Carbine" without marking it with the LEO engraving. When I asked the girl at Colt Customer Service about that, she said that I'd have to write to the folks at "Colt Archives" for any further information & there would be a $200 service charge for that. Can anybody help me out with any info.? Also, does anyone know when Colt changed the serial prefix of this model from BDO to LBD or how many BDO marked guns were ever made?
At first, I thought that since they were not marked with the LEO engraving and had all of the "evil black rifle" features, that they were pre-ban rifles. However, everywhere I have checked, (including with Colt Customer Service) indicates that Pre-Ban serial numbers for this model end at BD00134. Nobody, and I mean nobody has referenced a word about there even being a BDO serial number above that BDO0134, or that Colt ever produced a Post-Ban "AR-15 A3 Tactical Carbine" without marking it with the LEO engraving. When I asked the girl at Colt Customer Service about that, she said that I'd have to write to the folks at "Colt Archives" for any further information & there would be a $200 service charge for that. Can anybody help me out with any info.? Also, does anyone know when Colt changed the serial prefix of this model from BDO to LBD or how many BDO marked guns were ever made?
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After the 1994 Crime Bill went into effect there was a period of about five months before the BATFE developed what it considered to be a suitable marking for restricted LEO firearms. Until then restricted firearms were not marked as such, but they were indeed restricted and this would certainly fit the time line of the two rifles being purchased in early 1995. Serial number verification from the factory is the only sure way to know whether or not the rifles in question are post ban. Locations like NY State still have these restrictions in force and production dates are a matter of great concern as to whether or not specific firearms can be sold in NY. This is one of my own AR015A3s in the BDO3100 range purchased back in mid 1995 and of course it is marked as restricted:
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