AR15 historical question

[12 Volt Man]

I have watched the movie Platoon several times, and each time I notice that the guy with the scars on his face has an M4 style collapsable stock on his AR. I wondered when these came out, and if indeed they were in use as far back as Vietnam?

 

[whm1974]

As far As I know the CAR-15 and Colt Commando come out during that time.

-Bill

 

[johnsonrlp]

Yep, the CAR-15 was in Vietnam. One of my uncles has a picture of himself over there with a CAR-15

 

[Jeff White]

Yes they were known as the XM177 Submachine gun. There was the original XM177 which had no forward assist and was bought by the Air Force and the XM177E1 whic had a forward assist and was bought by the Army. Both rifles had a 10" barrel. Deliveries began on 7 November 1966. Later the Army ordered some improvements and the XM177E2 which had an 11.5" barrel was born.. (the ones in the movie were not XM177 but the later type without the noise and flash suppressor)

The long flash hider was actually a moderator that reduced the muzzle blast and report to approximately the same as a standard 20 barrelled M16. In 1977 the Carter administration issued an executive order prohibiting the export of sound suppressors. BATF ruled that what the Army and Colt called a moderator was actually a suppressor and that stopped all export of the XM177 series of weapons. Colt dropped that model from the catalog and focused on 14.5" and 16" barreled carbines.

Jeff

 

[12 Volt Man]

Interesting. Thanks!