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Colt SP1 SN Issue (And yes I read the other posts)

6DeadEye9
I have read the other posts "Stickies" included and am unable to track down the year for my SP1. None of the available websites have this number listed. Can anyone help me with locating a year model for my SP1...I am starting to beleive that this is possible just a lower that was sold from Colt and someone attempted to make a carbine out of it.

Barrel stamped "CMP CHROME BORE"
Side markings "COLT AR-15"
"COLT'S FIREARMS DIVISION"
"COLT INDUSTRIES"
"HARTFORD, CONN."
"U.S.A."
"CAL..223"
"MODEL SP1"
"SER. SP1551xx"

All of the websites that I have looked at for ref have this listed:
1970 SP15001-SP15473
1971 SP16001

Am I missing something here or does mine not fall into either of those catagories. Someone once told me that right before the 80's ban that Colt kicked out a bunch of unassembled lowers so they would be considered "PreBan". Could this be what I have and the listes that they have are only for "assembled" firearms that have left the factory? Mine has the round carbine hardware, no forward assist (although the bolt has notches to accept the forward assist), aluminum (with coating) one stage telescoping stock, and a very unusually large and somewhat ugly flash hider, there is a hole drilled in the carry handle of the upper to accept a scope mount (there was a small "Colt" brand scope on it when I purchased this rifle in 1993), and bayonet lug.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dead Eye
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • rsnyder55
    I would assume the 1971 date might be the ending SN for the year.

    If so, they made 473 in 1970 and 528 in 1971.
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  • Elmer1007
    I found the following for 1978

    1978 SP83400 X
    CC001616 and Below X
    CH019500 and Below X
    GC018500 and Below X
    LH011326 and Below X
    MH086020 and Below X
    NL004800 and Below X
    SL027246 and Below X
    SP360200 and Below X

    So your rifle would be below SP360220
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  • mark christian
    The markings on the receiver are spot on for an SP1 in that serial number range, as are the markings on the barrel. Markings in the 1960s and the 1980s were different so this clealry has early 70s SP1 markings. I'd request a letter from Colt, it will clear up any questions...At a nominal fee [;)]
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  • 6DeadEye9
    Well the "SP1" portion of the SN I am assuming is not where the number actually starts but this is simply the "Model Number" added to the front of the serial number. So the SN would be "SP1551xx", is that a correct assumption? If so then the 1970 model SP1 ended at "5473" and the 1971 model was "6001-infinity" ?

    I think I have just made this even more confusing.
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  • 6DeadEye9
    quote:Originally posted by mark christian
    The markings on the receiver are spot on for an SP1 in that serial number range, as are the markings on the barrel. Markings in the 1960s and the 1980s were different so this clealry has early 70s SP1 markings. I'd request a letter from Colt, it will clear up any questions...At a nominal fee [;)]


    Yeah that is where I was getting thrown off on this...the fact that my SN is 6 digits and all others are five.
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  • mark christian
    We can go around and around on the markings but the ONLY definitive way to find out when the rifle was shipped is to go to Colt and request a factory letter. I think that these are around 100 bucks (maybe less for a modern rifle).
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  • 6DeadEye9
    They are $100 to show how it was shipped, to whom it was first shipped, etc. or $25 for a letter showing the date of manufacture.

    I was just getting simply frustrated trying to research it, especially since I am not planning on selling it, having to spend $25.00 to just find the year of manufacture.

    Although while I have been digging I did find this one on here:

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=150688624

    Which inside of his post he claims to have the $100 letter from colt stating this...
    quote:Colt early original AR-15 Commando .223/.5.56 Model SP1 serial number SP 195379 (made approx 1970)

    So he would himself have a six digit serial number as does mine....if his papers are correct at least.

    Like I said before I am not selling it, hell I have shot over 20K rounds thru it since I purchased it, I have just started wondering about it.
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  • nmyers
    The number after SER NO. is the serial number. Your receiver was made around 1981-1982; transitional SP1's with the notched bolt carrier were assembled around 1982-1983. I am unable to tell how your rifle looked when it left the factory.

    Colt never tried to evade the "ban"; they rushed forward & embraced it.

    Neal
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  • dcs shooters
    Your serial number puts it at 1978, like Elmers post says.
    Go to www.biggerhammer.net and look it up.
    From 1963 to 1978 all Colt SP-1,s have a five digit number.
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  • mark christian
    Get the letter from Colt and then let us know how it turns out. Good luck on your quest for knowledge.
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  • mark christian
    Don't e-mail me asking why your post was locked when you CLEARLY stated in your first post that you had read all of the stickies! If you really read them all then you would have read this:
    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=306339

    I've got better things to do then field e-mails from guys who say they read the rules and then wonder why we follow those same rules.

    Hello mark christian

    You received the following message from: 6DeadEye9 (turnerk-9@hotmail.com)

    At: http://forums.gunbroker.com/

    Sorta quick to lock a thread down aren't you? I had a couple of more questions

    I did read them and I read the one about closing topics...just saying it is a silly rule, that makes the forum appear as if it has many more post topics then it actually does.


    Take the issue of locking posts at ten up with our Shogun; Capt. Kirk. We are his Ronin and have sworn a blood oath to our liege lord to follow his wishes without question.
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