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My 'Vietnam' AR15

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I still have a 1975 bayonet I brought back from an undisclosed base where I was stationed at the time, in an undisclosed country, where I bought it from an undisclosed co-worker who was selling several he (or possibly she) had "liberated" from a previous base he (or she) had been stationed at.
Statute of limitations has probably run out by now, but details shall remain undisclosed.

We were not issued any, so I thought $8 was a good investment to get one.
Denis
 
DPris said:
I still have a 1975 bayonet I brought back from an undisclosed base where I was stationed at the time, in an undisclosed country, where I bought it from an undisclosed co-worker who was selling several he (or possibly she) had "liberated" from a previous base he (or she) had been stationed at.
Statute of limitations has probably run out by now, but details shall remain undisclosed.

We were not issued any, so I thought $8 was a good investment to get one.
Denis
Click to expand...
Looking back to when I left Vietnam I never gave any thought to taking anything with me. I was just happy to be leaving, turned in all my 782 gear. I think we called it 782 gear or seven eighty deuce gear. The past few days I have been trying to remember what the flash hider looked like on my rifle? I think it was bird cage in '72 but I actually can't remember anymore. Looking back it is hard to believe it was going on 44 years ago. Anyway, I need to find some bayonets for my SP1 rifles. At least while I can still remember what a bayonet is. :)

Ron
 
I was never issued a weapon in RVN (69/70) I furnished my own! Started out with a Browning HP that I brought with me then added a Swedish K SMG while flying door gunner.
When I started beating the bushes with the Mike Force I carried a CAR 15 that I got from a buddy who was going to SOG and would carry an AK.
I also had a Thompson, 16, AK, & RPD in my hootch to use as missions required. I liked the chicom RPD, but it was a bit ungainly for what I was doing so saw no use.
I currently have these in the pile. The 2 14s in the center are chicom M14S semis. The AR 15 is a mid 60s rifle and has all of the early features. I bought it right after I got back from RVN in late summer of 70. The FN/FAL on the left is about my favorite FA to shoot.
Sarge
 

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1965 all over again ...

Very nice Retro, OP. Old School is always cool.

And just ignore the young Millennials at the range who walk over and take a long look at your Retro, and then wise-off with:

"Dude! Where's your primary optic, flashlight, laser, secondary MRD, and tactically-angled foregrip? No collapsible 12-position stock?

Where's this from, 1932? Dude, seriously. If Chris and Travis aren't running this Dinosaur, why would you?"

:scrutiny:

Mine:

RetroAR-1.jpg

I especially like the question: "Dude! Can you hit anything with that past 75 yards?"

My answer is, well, yeah, since it's zeroed dead-nuts on at 300yds. :D
 
Our AF 16s from 72-76 were straight 16, no A1s. :)
Prongued flash hider.

Y'know, I really would not mind having one of those configurations in an AR today.
Since I already have the bayonet....

Have a couple old-school 20-round mag pouches here somewhere, too.
And my issued web belt.
Denis
 
I built a retro A1 a couple years ago based on a surplus A1 upper assembly I bought from Ohio Ordnance.
It shot really well, and I liked the lightweight barrel with full 20" ballistics.

At my rifle club, there are always 2 or 3 guys shooting the latest and greatest, laid out AR's...M4 clones, 20" A2 match rifles, the gamut.
That 20" A1 barrel with its 1-in-12 twist and M193 always shot the tightest groups.
 
At my rifle club, there are always 2 or 3 guys shooting the latest and greatest, laid out AR's...M4 clones, 20" A2 match rifles, the gamut.
That 20" A1 barrel with its 1-in-12 twist and M193 always shot the tightest groups.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what a lot of younger guys don't realize: without the later heavy barrels and all the newest gadgety-gear hanging off them, these 20" pencil-barrel rifles are very light and quick-handling, and very accurate as well using that drum aperture sight.
 
I was in the 101st in 69-70 at LZ Sally and Phu Bai. I carried a 16 for awhile when I wasn't flying. When flying I was issued a .38 Spl.

I wanted an M16 myself and did have one for awhile. After I saw my friend's M4 I sold mine and moved on to the carbine.
 
Sarge 13: Verrrrry Nice Semi-Auto Group!

Here are a few of my semi-autos (not including my AR15/M16s and FAL). Gotta love the old wood and steel classic semi-autos.
Top to bottom: Ljungman, Hakim, M1 Garand, FN-49, MAS 49/52, SKS M59.
Now I realize I need to update this old group photo with several more added since this photo.
2013-12-31_semi-auto_group002reduced_zpsmvzgbbgv.jpg
 
Only half of the rifles in that photo are semi auto. The others are select fire.
Nice selection of semi autos, but where is the M1 Carbine and G 43 - like these.
Sarge
WTFO??? Suddenly I can't add photos??????????
 
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I was still in elementary school when the Vietnam War was over but I remember thinking when I was old enough I wanted to get a Colt AR15. I bought everything I could find for one, including magazines, pouches, cleaning gear, even a bayonet. My brother and I pooled our finances together and bought an SP1. Only change I made to it was the addition of the round handguards as I never could get comfortable shooting with the original triangular ones. Some years later I built a XM177E2 lookalike mainly because I really liked how compact and handy it was.

030_zps807fb9ef.jpg

008_zps219a01c6.jpg
 
tell me about that last one. Did colt build that as is? where do I get one?
IMG_4070-XL.jpg

That is a rifle I built using a M16 kit, CAR stock and handguard and an 80% receiver that I reprofiled to A1 specs and then engraved. I am still looking for a more correct looking moderator. When I install it I will pull the the front sight base and install the Colt one I have with no bayonet lug.
 
Just a small note: the waffle magazines were already obsolete by 1971. Both an SP1 that I bought new in 1968, and another one I bought new in 1970, came with regular 20-round magazines (2 each, with removable blocks to 5 rounds).

The waffle magazines belong on even earlier guns, along with the triangular charging handles. (I have both an original waffle magazine, and a triangular charging handle, that I bought on the loose years later.)
 
I never saw a waffler.
Apparently outa AF supply channels by '72.
Denis
 
Alexander....sounds like you speak of the 601 version Built one including the triangle charging handle n waffle mag. Wanted an xm style looking KISS carbine..built using some parts lying around
image.jpg1_zpsmexbgi3s.jpg
 
I always liked the clean look of those. I want to build one in CAR length chambered for 300blk.
 
Reloadron

My Vietnam War era bayonet, purchased from Sherwood Distributors, which later became Northridge International Inc. I bought a lot of military surplus items from them back then, including magazines, magazine pouches, cleaning gear, and anything else that was M16 related.

knives2003_zpse68088b0.jpg

knives2002_zps8ab4a868.jpg
 
Bannock, nice.. I have the exact same one to complete my XM16E1 Nam Retro build
 
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