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Please click here to visit the "Military Rifle Components Guide" for
additional info and photos of the various components used on this model.

RETRO BLACK RIFLE - RIFLE GUIDE - OTHER U.S. MANUFACTURERS OF M16A1

HISTORY / BACKGROUND:-
The M16A1 was built by three companies for the U.S. Military.

Colt made the majority.

The Hydra-Matic Division of General Motors made approximately 469,000 from 1968 to 1971.

Harrington and Richardson also made at least 246,000 M16A1 rifles during Vietnam.
H&R's one known contract started November 1968 and ended April 1970.
*More info is currently being researched (Dec 2009)

Balimoy supplied replacement lowers for M16A2s.
Any that were A1 marked were re-stamped at the time that they were used.
They were never built to M16A1 specs and Balimoy never made complete rifles.
Pictures below are included for clarification.
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LOWER RECEIVER:
Hydra-Matic:

MARKINGS:

HYDRA-MATIC DIV
G.M. CORP.
U.S.A.

PROPERTY
OF U.S. GOVT.
M16A1
CAL. 5.56 MM
3XXXXXX

Harrington and Richardson:

MARKINGS:

(H&R Logo)
PROPERTY
OF U.S. GOVT.
M16A1
CAL. 5.56 MM
2XXXXXX

Balimoy:

MARKINGS:

MFR 2U894
PROPERTY
OF U.S. GOVT.
M16A1(overstamped with a 2)
CAL. 5.56 MM
XXXXXXX

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UPPER RECEIVER:

Uppers can be identified by no Colt triangle proof codes.
Also H&R uppers have a pronounced forge flash
ridge at the front and/or rear of the receiver.