Is the Colt AR-15 name worth anything?

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223lover

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I have a Colt pre ban AR-15 in A-2 configurtion 5.56 1/7 twist. It was probably made in 1985 but not shot much (about 400 rounds they tell me).
20" barrel, with flash suppressor and original cleaning kit and instruction booklet. Oh and the original Colt scope that sets on the H bar. So here's the story. To be legal, I cut the bayonet mount off, removed the flash suppressor and swapped the Colt lower for a MEGA. Now I'm thinking of selling it. Should I leave it the way it is or rebuild it to original condition but without the bayonet mount. (thats done) Is there a premium for the Colt name on the lower?
 
if it was preban, why did you butcher it?
In its chopped and modified condition, there is zero collector value. The colt name does still carry a premium to a certain extent, but its not like its double the price anymore. At one time that may have been true when colt was the only quality AR made, but most of the other manufacturers are making rifles that are just as good if not better.

If you want to sell it, fix all the modifications with colt parts and you should be able to get a decent price for it, but be realistic, its not a $3,000 rifle even if it was factory mint.
 
You just desroyed a pre-ban rifle that was perfecly legal even in your state. Anything pre 1994 is grandfathered in. Good news is that the lower is the part that makes it pre-ban, so you really did not lose anything. That pre-ban Colt lower is worth a few hundred, the rest of it is not worth much after you choped it up.
 
Pre ban bayonet lug is an evil feature in NJ. As is owning a Colt brand AR-15 or similar rifle. Post ban AR type DPMS;ROCK RIVER;CMMG; BUSHMASTER and like rifles have no flash suppressor, bayonet lug or collapable stock and cannot be called AR-15. If i sold it I would be looking for just a couple of hundred dollars no where near $3000 !
 
I second the "why the hell did you destroy that gun" question.

That gun is worth very little now that you have done all that to it. You can try to rebuild it using real colt parts but that is about your only option.
 
You have a pre-ban lower reciever it is ''grandfathered'' in, you can have all the evil stuff on that lower. You can put a six position stock and have a flash hider and lug. Look it up, its why pre-ban lowers fetch a premium in ban states. Check this link to find out if your lower is truly a pre-ban lower.

http://www.ar15.com/content/legal/serialNumberList.html
 
With the flash hider off the barrel, the Front Sight Base slides off the end of the barrel when the two tapered pins are removed (the gas tube comes with it). Buy a new one with bayonet lug and install. Either buy a new gas tube and pin, or swap the original onto the new Front Sight Base. Also, install the original front sight post, detent, and spring from the original sight onto the new one.

It's probably not something you can do alone. The tapered pins are only removed in one direction, and they are probably frozen. The gas tube pin is very small. There is a small tool made for the front sight post. Pay one hour of labor to a gunsmith to do it right. You'll get that money back easy.

With the bayonet lug in place and everything else original Colt, it is probably worth over a thousand dollars. Don't sell it for a few hundred.

You don't seem very knowledgable about guns. Be careful. Do the right thing for the rifle.

By the way: HBAR means "Heavy Barrel". Unless I'm mistaken, your scope mount goes in the U-shaped channel at the top of the carry handle, not on the barrel.
 
You are right ants. I dont know too much but am learning every day. All of you are correct as far as FEDERAL pre ban ownership. But here in New Jermany, you cannot own a rifle marked Colt AR-15. There is no grand fathering. I also had to sell my M-1 carbine because it is on the banned gun list. You can only have 2 of the five features that make up an assault rifle. That being a pistol grip and fixed stock. All the rest have got to go. However, I will probably take your advice and rebuild the front sight and try and sell to a FFL dealer. You are correct about the H bar. I WAS referring to the carry handle. I stand corrected. I bought the gun, then found out that I can not keep it because it is a Colt. So I did the next best thing. I had a AR expert put on a Maculek brake, took off the bayonet lug and swapped out the lower so I could shoot it. Since then I have built 2 other zombie killers. A Rock River and a DPMS so the Colt thing has to go before the wife divorces me. :uhoh:




Assault firearms. Any person who knowingly has in his possession an assault firearm is guilty of a crime of the second degree except if the assault firearm is licensed pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-5; registered pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-12); or rendered inoperable pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-13).
 
He seems to be right NJ has some laws about Colts. Not to be rude but your state but should join us here in ND, you can buy evil rifles till you run out of money.
 
You just desroyed a pre-ban rifle that was perfecly legal even in your state. Anything pre 1994 is grandfathered in.
Click to expand...

No, it's not, Mr. Lawyer. NJ Passed a ban several years before the federal one, and NJ's ban did NOT grandfather anything in, they had to be modified or turned in for destruction.

To the first post, you cannot assemble the rifle back to its original condition as long as you are inside the state of NJ. You will be manufacturing an assault weapon which is 10 years in the slammer.

Come to think of it, if your rifle is not stamped "Colt Match Target" you are already in possession of an assault weapon as far as the state is concerned.

NJ Gun Laws:
http://njsp.org/info/pdf/firearms/062408_title13ch54.pdf

Letter from the NJSP regarding Colt Match Target / Springfield M1A:
http://njsp.org/about/fire_ag1.html

Sorry, your rifle is chopped and neutered.
 
to answer the orignal question yes the colt lower would add value. Finding a replacement barrel isnt that hard. Like or agree with it or not a colt lower is worth a premium over any other.
 
I say keep your rifle as-is. Either keep and shoot it, or sell it locally in NJ. If you still have the Colt lower that you swapped out, sell that separately. It should bring a few dollars more than a new stripped lower, especially if you sell it to someone in one of the states (like NY) that still have a AWB ban in effect that grandfathers pre-1994 guns. You'll spend more than the whole thing is worth trying to reconstruct the gun with original Colt parts.
 
Thank you one and all for your thoughts on this matter. I may just grind it up into a fine powder and sprinke into the ocean. Problem solved. Has anyone ever heard of anything so riduclous as this? You may not possess a Colt, but you may possess a Bushmaster etc. You cannot possess an AK-47 but you may possess a Saiga. The best it you cannot posses a Ruger mini -14 but the ranch rifle is legal. And to top it off, years ago, I had to dump a beautiful M-1 carbine that my father in law willed me, that he carried in WW II. Sold to a guy for $175 bucks. New Jersey sucks!
 
You know I don't advocate breaking the law, but who the heck would know what's in your safe? If you could buy it and it was legal they can suck a lemon.

But realistically, I would move in short order from a state that pulled crap like that. Luckily I live in Texas, but the GF knows that if a law is put in place that turns me into a criminal over night, I'll be a criminal just long enough to find a new job in another state.
 
You are right Mr. Scott, even PA let's you live you life in peace. If I had my way, I would move, but the woman won't budge, and I'm tired of giving half my shi* away every ten years, so I'm stuck.
I don't think I "buchered" the gun. As Ants said, all I have to do is replace the front sight and reinstall the bird cage, and the gun is good to go.
It's not that the gun is rare. They are all over gunbroker, with no one even bidding on them.
I only got it because I shot an AK and saw how much fun rifle shooting is. Since then I built two more and because of the twist rate, I rarely shoot it. I didn't mean to get y'alls knickers in a knot about it.
Also, thanks to all the PM'er. But remember, the Colt's pins don't fit a standard upper. You have to get an adapter from Brownell's.
NEVER FORGET SEPTEMBER 11TH. NEVER FORGIVE EITHER!
 
OP,

Colt parts have some value over other manufacturers' parts. It may be worthwhile for you to part out the rifle and sell the parts, e.g., on AR15.com's Equipment Exchange, if you no longer want the rifle.
 
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