Got my first AR (Pre-ban colt sporter lightweight) cant find info on year built???

[starlet119]

So i purchased my first AR, its a colt sporter lightweight, The serial number reads
SL0019XX I know its definitely preban, but i cannot find a specific year on when it was built, I even went as far as calling COLT they said it was preban but have no furthur info on that serial. It is one without the bolt assist. has birdcage flash hider and boyonet lug. Barrell is 20 inch with (c mp chrome line barrel) How can i determine what year it was built?? I just want to confirm the originality of the rifle, From my research it apears to have parts from the vietnam era AR but some specs of the early 80's AR's. Im confused.

[FYRARMS]

If it has no forward assist, it is OLD. Like 1970s old. Does it have triangle handguards or the ribbed ones? It sounds like an SP1, but I think they all had "SPXXXX" serial numbers, not "SLXXXX". Does it have an A1 or A2 rear sight? It might be one of the early Sporter models right after the SP1 era.

[starlet119]

So i found out that the rifle is not all colt.. It has the a1 rear sight. basically the lower and the barrel is original colt, this rifle was suppose to have the triangle handguard but instead has the round style. Turns out the bolt is dpms as well. Looks like someone was trying to make a vietnam era ar15. Im going to swap in some triangle gaurds if i can find some.

[FYRARMS]

Yeah, get rid of the DPMS bolt carrier, too. If you insist on keeping it, at least properly stake the gas key.

[starlet119]

Can you elaborate of stalking the gas key? Ive also heard not so good things about dpms, im going to try to find me a used colt bolt assembly. It looks like the rest of the rifle is colt, the upper is also colt judging on how the front pivot pin is bored to accept the .315 pivot bolt. Apposed to the other .210 or so of the other brands.

[FYRARMS]

Can you elaborate of stalking the gas key?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tYWjQPbwS0

[FYRARMS]

Not sure how this thread was accidentally closed, but it is very much open.

[starlet119]

Thanks for the heads-up with that link, turns out the gas tube hex screws were already staked. Shot the rifle today for the first time, im absolutely thrilled at the accuracy of it with a1 iron sights.

[starlet119]

Here's a pics of it....

[iasc300]

Looks good! Any plans for it?

[starlet119]

I ordered a cheap nc star scope, just to see if im going to like shooting it with a scope. If i like it ill get a better one, thats about all i plan for it. Im coming from the ak47 world and shooting that with a scope sucked! But after trying the ar i can see how it can be very accurate.

[starlet119]

Got a scope put on and im thrilled at the results im consistently shooting down clay targets at about 300 yards.... Ohh yea i ordered the vietnam era handguards for it too. will have pics soon.

[GTRDhybrid]

Any more info on what year this AR was? I just picked one up today serial SL00601x and it came with the original owners manual which is date marked 1979. Im curious to know what its actually worth, since I cant find much info on the guns current value.
-John

[starlet119]

i ended up selling this ar for about $800 and bought me another colt transition era, year 85.. Colt used alot of old parts when transitioning from a1 to a2 and triangle handguards to round guards.. Seems they wanted to clear inventory before producing newer ones. I would suggest u call colt themselves and give them the serial. As for value i really have no clue.

[GTRDhybrid]

I got ya. I found out mine is a colt slick-side (M604?) m16 upper with birdcage fh, a1 sights, bayo lug, and original bc/barrel, with a blue label transition era sporter-light weight lower (1986- 1992 I was told). I also got an original colt ar15 sporter manual with mine dated 1979 which is mostly why I was stumped on the year of the gun. I had no idea it was pieced together, however I shouldve got the hint the guy who owned it was in vietnam, and became a salesman for glock afterward, a pretty avid gun guy. Trying to figure out what this thing is actually worth though, is tough. The gun as a whole is pretty much NIB condition, with 5 retro clips showing little wear. Whats your take on it?
-John