Part 1 – Overview of a 60 year old Armalite/Colt 601 AR15 Parts Kit.

If you want, I have a great photo of one of these in use, in 1981, I was in the University of Puerto Rico and I photographed the Riot Team of the Puerto Rico Police face off with rioters in front of the University.

Chrome lines chamber on that barrel?

You might as well have bought a Revel model kit.

What an awesome kit! That green anodizing on the buffer is my favorite 👌

The followers were originally pot metal.

Such a cool piece(s) of history. To people me, absolutely beautiful. You're a lucky man to be smart enough to fall in love with them when you did.

Very very educational thank you

That old charging handle 🤣

Well i quess it only looked like wood. I didn't handle it but from a couple feet away i was fooled.

A friend of mine had an AR 15 that had natural wood stock and gun blued metal. It was all factory and in like new condition. He lived in a rural area near a penal colony so he kept it handy.

Legend Brimob Menpor User 1959

Love these original rifles and even the retro rifles.

Could you please give a link or place to find these tools.

Thank you rex for the review. Trying to figure out what to do with my 601stripped lower

I have a Brownalls 601 strip lower What an amazing piece of history. If you're looking for that classic look

What was the original firing rpm?

We had the a press thing for USGI mags to force them back into shape. It was two pieces of metal, you’d strip the mag down, put the base plate in its place and slide the mag on the mag sleeve thing, put the top on. You would Hammer until it would close, then tap it open, & repeat as needed it would 100% fix all the mags. Edson range had it, idk what happened to it after we got PMAGs

My personal theory on the green color is that they were trying to get a into the Asian market at the time (this part is true), and without any connotation of racism here, they love some jade.

Nice kit!

Good looking cat!

Early front sight bases like yours were cast steel and later ones like on the M16A1 and later were forged steel which accounts for the flashes that weren't fully removed during manufacturing. Also the early bend gas tubes were made from carbon steel vs stainless in later guns. According go original technical manuals the proper method for removal involved removing the front sight base. You can remove an early tube without taking the front sight base off but you have less clearance to do it.

Bakelite isn't a fiberglass material, it's a chemical combination of phenol and formaldehyde

Wife buys him a classic AR15 parts kit as a gift, talk about a keeper!

You have an amazing wife. My wife asks what I want for my bday and I ask for ammo or 30rd AR15 mags.(Will no longer be legal to buy after July 1, 2022) She buys me cloths instead. PHAWK JAY INSLEE #FJB

What would the boomer RSO’s who look down their nose at ppl using ar-15’s and only like wood stocks do seeing this? It’s a real dilemma!

This kit is gorgeous, especially those handguards! Carrier looks pristine too, but I haven't gotten to your discussion of what parts had issues yet.

Edit: okay maybe not quite so pristine up close. Looks like that chrome held up well over the years though.

I've been watching your videos for quite a while now. I have always found them to be informative and extremely well put together. This is yet another high quality video, showcasing the AR's evolution. the big difference to me, is now I FINALLY own my own AR platform rifle. I have learned so much from your videos and AR books from the library, that I actually purchased my rifle in kit form, and assembled it from scratch. the only thing I have to do yet, is have the headspace checked before I go shooting. to be honest, if I thought I would ever use them again, I would just go ahead and purchase the gauges, and check them myself. but I am old enough (had to wait till the kids were grown) that this will likely be my only AR rife I ever buy / build. THANK YOU for all of your & your wife"s work. It IS greatly appreciated!

It would be helpful to have those in a playlist cause the videos are a bit apart. I'm looking forward to watching the other 3 parts.

Love it!!! I just got my M16A1 parts kit from Apex Arms.. So excited to build mine & see how you distress the lower!!

Mr. Larson would be proud, sir.

wow a 1/14 twist barrel how light are those bullet….. its a little faster compared to a 10/22 .22lr in 1/16

We had 50 M16's in our armory in the weapons storage area in West Germany in the late '80's. Approximately four or five were 601's, the remainder 602's and 604's. The 601's had black paint over the fibrite handguards, buttstock, and pistol grip. They also had the Edgewater buffer, and old OD sling. Never had any issues with them during daily issue, exercises, or when we had to qualify our munitions squadron at Kapaun Air Station.
I wish I would have written down some serial numbers on the Armalite/Colt marked rifles, and photo's were verboten since we were in a restricted area. Was pretty neat being able to handle and maintain those old rifles.

Wow that’s a score. Hey I have an old old old very used looking Bakelite/fiberglass pistol grip. Still quite functional. I’d like to get a pic of it to you. Or better yet have it sent to you. Mine has a marble look to it, like it actually looks like it’s marble (the type of stone,) if that makes it easier to identify. Cool video! Thanks for sharing

Happy birthday!