More sporterII questions

[IraIII]

I was reading the thread SporterII questions, and learned something about one of my rifles, a SporterII sn SP328xxx, which I thought was a R6500, and now learn that with a forward assist, and no case deflector is a R6401. My question involves my SporterII carbine sn SP323xxx, forward assist, no case deflector, I thought it was a R6420, is it, or can anyone tell me it's model number? Here is a poor picture of both.

[Retired W4]

I believe the bottom rifle is a R6420, like you thought. It should be marked AR-15A2 Sporter Carbine, BUT has an A1/M16 barrel/upper, 16" Chromed barrel with a 1/7 twist. Forward assist and no case deflector, and compensator type muzzle device and bayonet lug. Also, it will be equipted with .155 Hammer/Trigger pins. Very similar to the 6401 except for the 16" A1 barrel, and of course the carbine stock and hand guard. Your R6420 has all of the four changes incorporated into the model. If it had the fully adjustable A2 rear sights it would be a R6421. Nice rifles, both!

Never say never when it comes to AR-15's as all kinds of weird variation do occure right out of the factory, not to mention the franken-gun problem. Yours both look like the real thing to me.

[IraIII]

Thanks for the comments, and information. I bought them both as original examples, and I do not think that either has been modified from factory configuration. The rifle has had a Williams trigger specialties set trigger job done, I do not think either has fired more than a couple hundred rounds. I thought that the carbine should be marked as a carbine, bit the stamping on both is identical. I know that the carbine has a factory collapsible stock, because the nut on the buffer tube still has the dab of black sealant that they put on them at the factory. Here is the markings on the lower.

prancing pony COLT Colt's Firearms Division
AR-15 A2
cal. .223
Sporter II
ser SP323xxx

Colt Industries
Hartford Conn.
U.S.A.

[Retired W4]

After the Sporter II models, and excluding the Delta HBAR, etc, Colt came out with the Government Rifle (6550) and Government Carbine (6520). The Sporter II, rifle and carbine had the SP prefix and carbine lowers were not marked carbine. The Government Carbines (GC prefix) were marked GOVT Carbine on the lower. The Government Model rifle (GS prefix) were just marked GOVT Model, along with the rest of the usual markings. Sounds like your guns are just as they should be. A nice pair at that. I'll reinterate (sp?) what I said about Colt and their practice of using up old parts they have sitting around to produce current models. Never say never with Colt.

I'm just throwing in some pictures of the lower markings of my Government Model (6550) for fun. Note the slab side mag well (no fence around release).