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Colt AR 15 SP1

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7.9K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  birch  
C
#1 ·
Been wanting one for as long as I can remember, something about all the movies involving the original M16, the unmistakable shape, triangular hand guard etc..

And I missed quite a few

Didn’t buy this 1977 one in 2013, too expensive at 2 grands and weirdly tricked out with accessories I had no use for

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In 2015 I didn’t buy this one, twice. First saw it at a gun shop that was closing down, for 1200. A bit later a private seller was advertising it. The SP1 marking was re-stamped as 001, and that bothered me.

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Earlier this year I saw this 1976 SP1 at the local gun range that has a gun shop too. The scope is a Chinese copy 4X magnification. Asking price was $ 1350. Condition ok but not great. Coincidentally I already saw this gun for sale at a bankruptcy forced auction back in 1999 (I bought a Beretta 93 r then).

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They allowed me to test fire it (5 shots only). Funny how light this old thing is. I felt it wiggling at every shot. Accuracy was not affected however. This is 5 shots offhand at 50 m.

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I thought I needed to think it over, sleep over it.

And there was another nice one coming up at an auction a few weeks later. Probably in better condition, I’ve bought several guns from this auction house and was never disappointed.

When I returned to the range / shop, the gun had just been sold and was being packed.

Well the auction gun then. A 1972 model with original Colt 3X scope and sling. Starting price $ 850.

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I was really keen to acquire this one, and set a limit to myself at $ 1700 (I always set a limit price before hand, otherwise things get out of hand for me).

I was bidding online, but someone wanted it more than me, it went for $ 2050.
 
P
#4 ·
Very nice rifle!
I just picked up a 1975 SP-1 in mint condition on GunBroker with a mint condition Colt 3x20 scope. It was expensive but I really like the SP1 rifles.
Will post pictures when I receive it later this week.
It will keep my 1977 SP-1 company.
Enjoy your new rifle.
 
#5 ·
Advanced congrats, it looks really nice.

My first Colt AR-15 was way back in 1971 a brand new later version of the SP1 rifle with A1 type birdcage flash hider and rubber buttpad without trap door.

In earlier 1968 I watched the movie The Green Berets (about the Vietnam war) which starred the famous actor John Wayne, ever since then I wanted to have a rifle like the Colt M16A1 rifle.

Back in '71 I paid $200 USD for it, I remembered it had two Colt marked 20 rounds mags (probably had an internal block of 5 rounds capacity), it also probably had the basic black silent nylon two point sling, cleaning brushes, owner's instructions manual, in a brown box with tan label.

My rifle had good accuracy, I could only find imported Norma 55 grains commercial .223 ammo back then and I could usually group 10 shot groups at 100 yards about 1.5 to 2 inch which in my opinion was excellent.

I regretted that I sold my SP1 in '84 because I needed the extra money to buy a new Colt AR-15A2 Sporter II rifle, Springfield M1A National Match (semi auto model of the US M-14 rifle) and Colt 1911 MKIV Government Model Series 80 .45 pistol.

Currently SP1 prices are very high here in the US because of states with bans that allows pre ban AR models, they usually go for around $2K or more now, eventually I'll breakdown and try to get one even at higher prices.
 
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