AR 15 upper identification.

[adam.lamb72]

I am wondering if anyone out there knows if there is a way to identify the manufacturer of ar upper recivers. not sure if certen companys mark them a differnt way. any help is great.

thanks
adam

 

[Quentin]

Some upper receivers are stamped with a logo or mark like ArmaLite's crosshairs +AR. Others stamp the barrel. And many are very hard to ID.

Does yours have any codes? Maybe a picture would help, too.

 

[ndh87]

Most upper recievers are labeled with a forging mark. The most common seems to be a keyhole. There are a few others, but i dont know where the different ones are made.

 

[Quentin]

A keyhole or a cardinal head (sometimes called horsehead) gives you the name of the forge shop where the upper was made but doesn't give the rifle manufacturer. There are many other forges, Cerro, splintered A, etc.

Give us some clear pictures and maybe someone will be able to ID it.

 

[adam.lamb72]

its a split A and there is a C after it. any ideas

 

[adam.lamb72]

look what daddy found. hope is helps anyone else needing this info


Upper receiver forge markings:

Offset Square is: Brass Aluminum Forging
LMT is: No Forge Marks, but marked LMT or L is: LMT
AF is: Alcoa Forge
C AF is: Colt Alco Forge
A (splintered) = Anchor Harvey Aluminum
C MB is: Colt / Mueller Brass
Cardinal’s head (stylized bird head) is: Cardinal Forge
CH is: Colt Harvey Aluminum
Crosshairs w/"AR" is: ArmaLite
CK is: Colt / Kaiser Aluminum
CM is: Colt / Martin Marietta
D (stylized) is: Diemaco
DK is: Diemaco / Kaiser Aluminum
E is: Emco
EK is: EMCO/Kaiser
E MB is: EMCO/Mueller Brass
FA is: FNMI / Anchor Harvey
FK is: FNMI / Kaiser Aluminum
FM is: FN/Martin Marietta
FMB is: FNMI / Mueller Brass
LK is: LAR / Kaiser Aluminum
LM is: LAR / Martin Marietta
M "diamond" is: Mueller Industries
PA is: Capco / Anchor Harvey
PM is: Capco / Martin Marietta
Square (symbol) is: Brass Aluminum

M-16 markings:

CAF Colt / Alcoa Forge
CH Colt / Harvey Aluminum (1st Colt Forgings)
CM Colt / Martin Marietta
DK Diemaco / Kaiser
FK, FS, BK, DK, EK, FK, AF, CW, AA, FS Bushmaster
LK FN / Kaiser
LM LAR / Martin Marietta (Army Spares Contract)
“Splintered A” F: FNMI Anchor Harvey“Splintered A” F: FNMI Anchor Harvey
“Splintered A” C: Colt Anchor Harvey
Splintered A Olympic Arms? (Anchor Harvey)


My list of verified upper receiver forge markings used by AR-15 upper manufactuers/sellers


DSA - Cardinal forge
Rock River - Cardinal forge
Delton - Cerro forge, square
DPMS - Cerro
Spikes Tactical - Cerro
Stag - Cardinal, Cerro
LWRC- splintered A
Para USA - ZM
Knight’s Armament - Cerro (keyhole)
Wilson Combat - splintered A
Double Star - Cerro
Smith &Wesson - Cerro
Daniel Defense - Cerro
Sabre Defense - Cerro?
Remington - Cerro
BCM - Cerro, square
Bushmaster - Cerro
Stag - splintered A, Cardinal
J&T Distributing (Doublestar) - Cerro, C
CMMG - Cerro
Colt M4 - Cerro (C keyhole), square, Cardinal (“C“ bird‘s head), C AF

 

[Quentin]

Nice list!

Well if this is any help, I have three carry handles, one with a Splintered A preceding another A (taken from a Bushmaster) and a Splintered A preceding a 2 and the third just has a Cardinal head (both pulled off Colts). Similar forge marks should be on an A1/A2 but maybe not all flattops.

 

[Sixtigers]

Thanks, Adam, for that post. I'd just received a new (to me) 6920 upper, and it came with the Cardinal forge mark...I had been thinking I'd been ripped off, as I'd automatically assumed that Colt used their own M4 forgings--glad to see I was wrong!

 

[Ike R]

Awesome list, I copied it down for carrying to the gunshow in Houston tommorrow!