How to tell if an ar-15 is pre ban

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Join Date: February 2, 2000

Location: Texas

Posts: 465

How can you tell a preban from postban Ar15

I have an oppertunity to buy a Colt AR15, but don`t know much about ARs.
Need some help to know if it is pre or post.Also it is a shorty or what ever they are called. It is in good shape but don`t know what one is worth, so I need help on that also.

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There are several sites that have the serial number lists for Colt AR's, check at www.ar15.com. The only reliable way is by serial number and model, since someone could have taken a post-ban gun and made it into a pre-ban configuration.

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I collect old pistols, got any?

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To verify pre-ban status you must obtian the serial number and compare it to a known list of pre-ban serial number ranges or call Colt and verify thru them to be sure. A 100% Colt original pre-ban can sell for $1000 and up (mostly up) with an average around $1300 to $1600 and collectables going higher.

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Join Date: May 31, 1999

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most pre bans have the bayonet lug

there was really no reason to remove them pre 1994

a threaded barrel is another preban attribute that is easy to spot

heres the definition:
Any semiautomatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of the following features:
* a folding or telescoping stock.
* a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
* a bayonet mount.
* a flash suppressor or a threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor.
* a grenade launcher.

http://old.ar15.com/legal/preORpost.asp

http://old.ar15.com/legal/serialNumberList.asp

Colt 800-962-COLT
CC001616 and Below - Pre-Ban
CH019500 and Below - Pre-Ban
GC018500 and Below - Pre-Ban
LH011326 and Below - Pre-Ban
MH086020 and Below - Pre-Ban
NL004800 and Below - Pre-Ban
SL027246 and Below - Pre-Ban
SP360200 and Below - Pre-Ban
1963 SP00001-SP00023**
1964 SP00101
1965 SP02501
1966 SP05600
1967 SP08250
1968 SP10750
1969 SP14000-SP14653
1970 SP15001-SP15473
1971 SP16001
1972 SP19401
1973 SP24201
1974 SP32601
1975 SP43801
1976 SP55301
1977 SP67651
1978 SP83400
ST038100 and Below - Pre-Ban
TA10100 and Below - Pre-Ban
BD000134 and Below - Pre-Ban (AR-15A3 Tactical Carbine - very rare model)
MT00001 and Above - Post-Ban
BK000001and Above - Post Ban (CAR-A3)
CST000001 and Above - Post-Ban (Began Late 1997 Production)
CMH000001 and Above - Post Ban
CCH010000 and Above - Post Ban MT6700, MT6700C and MT6700CH series, 1998 production

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Thanks All

I sure do love TFL.

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Strange as it may seem, no amount of learning can cure stupidity, and formal education positively fortifies it.
" Stephen Vizinczey "

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Pre-bans will talk to you and try to convince you to do evil things. That's why they were banned...

(Sorry, I tried but I couldn't resist)

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Fred S

GO ARMY

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Join Date: July 6, 2002

Location: New Orleans, La

Posts: 154

What johnwill said is very important:
"someone could have taken a post-ban gun and made it into a pre-ban configuration."

The thing about ARs is that the uppers can be changed so easily. Pull a couple of pins and slap on an upper with a bayonet lug and flash hider and voila! a preban. Since prebans are worth more, some dirtballs are willing to try this. You may buy a gun in good faith and find out the hard way that it is not what it was said to be. The good news is that the so called "crime" is manufacturing or importing an "assualt weapon", not having one. But the gun itself would be contraband. You would probably not go to jail but you would almost certainly loose the rifle if caught with a bogus preban. As the others have pointed out, CHECK THE SERIAL NUMBER.

Drue

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Join Date: October 24, 2001

Posts: 1,043

I know a guy who bought a post-ban with a flash suppressor and pistol grip because the seller told him that it was a pre-ban. He didn't bother to verify the serial number until later, and the manufacturer informed him that no, it was post-ban.

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From what I understand, all Colt SP1's are pre-ban. That is a good way to identify a large majority of the Colts.

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I will say that "most" Colts you find started out as fully assembled rifles, they weren't into selling parts as much as the other companies. OTOH, I always want to have a serial number check anyway...

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I collect old pistols, got any?

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Join Date: February 2, 2000

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Fred S. I`m glad you warned me about those pre-bans.

Looks like the Ser# check is in order, also try to determine if it is all orgnial.

Midnight, what is a SP1`s ?