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Post by woodsy on Apr 27, 2009 10:14:13 GMT 1
I have this GM Hydramatic M16A1 in my collection and it has an unususal logo on the magazine well. It appears to have been put on with a rubber stamp and white ink, and consists of a winged skull and crossbones with some writing above that could be Cambodian or something similar. Does anyone have any idea what this is? I assume it is a unit marking for some paratroop outfit. i194.photobucket.com/albums/z209/gundoc_photos/M16A1logo.jpg |
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Post by missingsomething on Apr 27, 2009 12:00:27 GMT 1
I believe thats a standard American Ordnance Eagle acceptance stamp. Its an Eagle with shield holding 3 arrows. It was placed there in white paint showing that it passed final acceptance requirements. I have to look around to find out what it exactly stands for. just my 2 cents  |
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Post by missingsomething on Apr 27, 2009 22:29:04 GMT 1
I remembered after I posted that there were 3 stars above the eagle.... Here is the same stamp on my M14 stock:   |
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Post by woodsy on Apr 29, 2009 8:40:06 GMT 1
Ahh! I see the similarity. I noticed on another site that this marking was considered spurious because of the lack of stars at the top. My rifle came from NZ Army stores and was one of a large batch of M16A1's we received during our involvement in Vietnam. It is in excellent, almost unissued condition, which makes me wonder how it could be a fake marking. All of the many other M16's I have handled over the years have all been fairly well used and I had never seen the marking before. I must confess that my first impression was that of a winged skull and crossbones and I guess that influenced my view of it thereafter!  |
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Post by missingsomething on Apr 29, 2009 8:52:46 GMT 1
I don't think its a fake, most of the stamps that I have seen were smeared a bit as it was a rubber stamp that applied it.... Still its nice to see and according to others it was only used up to the 70's...
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Post by ar10er on Jul 26, 2009 16:55:33 GMT 1
In your photo I can clearly see three dots over the eagles head which would appear to be stars which were not stamped very clearly. What appeared to you to be a skull is actually the shield which the eagle wears on his chest.
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