The Colt M4A1 was born out of a Special Operations Command (SOCOM) requirement and had a storied history in the hands of SOCOM personnel.

I got interested in the U.S. military small arms ‘cloning’ community in 2015 or so. My interest pretty much started with the initial SOPMOD program and ended with SOPMOD Block 1. I have been fortunate to find components over the years that were either new or like new and complete with all accessories. I have a few items to track down still.

Studying the evolution of the Colt M4 to M4A1 specification for SOCOM in conjunction with a purchase of a Decommissioned USMC M45A1 CQBP shot me over into the realm of Colt AR collecting.

I will begin to share some images and history in the future that pertain to the Colt M4A1 SOPMOD program.

I did some reading about the brave men of Operation Ivory Coast…the rescue of American POW’s from the Son Tay prison camp during the Vietnam War. If I understand correctly this was the first combat use of a ‘reflex’ type optic by U.S. forces. Some of the Son Tay Raiders used Single Point reflex sights on their GAU-5a’s.

I ended up having an opportunity to buy an authentic Single Point sight that was still in original condition complete with mount. The reading inspired me to install the Single Point sight and a ‘field expedient’ sling to my Colt CRXM177E2. The CRXM177E2 is part of Colt’s AR-15 Military Classics series.

One of the most popular MAC-V SOG photos of the war shows Maj. Joh Plaster with his XM177E2. The photo is shown below.

Here is a photo of John Plaster receiving a Colt CRXM177E2 from Colt employees. You can read about the event here: https://www.guns.com/news/2019/05/07/maj-john-plaster-gets-his-xm177e2-back-kinda

You can read more about John Plaster and the wartime use of the XM177E2 here: https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2019/1/24/behind-enemy-lines-with-the-car-15-rifle/

Today we celebrate the life of Samuel Colt. His life and the ongoing history of Colts Manufacturing Company LLC has inspired so many of us. Not only did the legacy of Colt firearms influence firearms design and manufacturing, it has given us the inspiration to appreciate, collect, fire and study the history of Colt firearms.

AR15.com user ‘SanchoPanza’ posted this video in a discussion on AR15.com in the Colt ‘Industry’ section. The video published by the NRA was posted on YouTube in May of 2017 and discusses four different variations (Matte Black Anodized, Flat Dark Earth, OD Green and Sniper Grey). Videos like this are priceless for determining production timelines and validating variations.

This video has also been added to the ‘ Colt AR Related Videos’ https://thecoltar15resource.com/videos/ page here.

In a world dominated by negative, sensational headlines proclaiming the end of the world I decided to do this post to celebrate the expanded distribution of Colts AR-15 flagship, the LE6920. Although this is a simple, no frills design, I think it something to celebrate. You can always trust the configuration to serve you reliably.

These photos feature my LE6920 that I bought around 2016. I put the Magpul back-up sight on it so that it would represent the current market configuration. I need to see about buying a new production LE6920 so that I have a ‘factory’ rifle in the same configuration for the collection.

Prices are high right now as everyone is trying to cash in on the market panic. Some sellers on Gun Broker are asking $1700.00 to as high as $2000.00 for current production LE6920’s. I will have to wait and see if prices come back down to at least MSRP. I compliment Colt for keeping their MSRP at the same price it was pre-coltpocalypse at $1099.00.

You can see the specification sheet shown below and more at www.colt.com

One of three decals handed out by Colt’s military division in 2012. Dimensions are 11.5″ x 3″.

I’m getting a little sentimental with this post and photo…the bible is Army issued and traveled with me through the years. The folded flag was presented to me at Ft. Leonard Wood in May of this year when I retired from the Army. The book is one of many that I have about the United States struggle for freedom. The struggle continues.

Lastly, the Colt LE6920 SOCOM shown shares the receiver markings “M4A1 Carbine” which was my last issued weapon.

“This We’ll Defend”

Three Colt cut-aways that belong to a member of ‘The Colt AR-15 Resource’ Facebook group.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/6/26/the-keefe-report-colt-now-shipping-ar-15s/?fbclid=IwAR32wxZowH9Z9ppIIGktJtWFpweqxV3bx2MMnRDQ-XnCsRbmd1jWE_95LCw

I have never seen this variant of the Colt LE6920 before. This carbine was seen today (14 JUN 2020) on Gun Broker and ends today. What makes this rifle variant unique is the use of a B5 KeyMod rail handguard system. This is the only Colt factory rifle that I have seen with a KeyMod rail handguard. You can see twenty images from the auction here: https://thecoltar15resource.com/le6920pd/