On the contrary, I would argue that it does indeed qualify because Colt is creating a rifle that pays homage to 50-plus years of history enveloped in the M16/AR-15 design. Some may argue that this rifle doesn’t qualify as retro since the A4 variation is considerably less than 50 years old. The AR15A4 is based on the M16A4 rifle used by the military, which Colt claims to be “the ultimate full-length combat rifle…for the 21st century.” The AR15A4 is billed as “a throwback to the full-sized AR-15 which gave birth to the Modern Sporting Rifle.” Colt AR15A4įittingly, Colt introduced its civilian-legal retro clone in 2014-50 years after the civilian SP1 hit the market. Multiple companies have gotten into the game, offering a wide variety of options at various price points. This has opened the market for “retro clones”-rifles that closely match the original design and appearance, but for a fraction of the price. Unfortunately for many of us less well-heeled collectors and AR enthusiasts, those original rifles remain beyond our budgetary grasp.
Combine the popularity of the AR platform with the resurgence of all things retro, and it comes as no surprise that those original Stoner-designed rifles have become highly desirable collector’s items. Based on serial numbers, it is believed that there are more than 10,000 C&R-eligible AR-15 rifles in existence right now.Įverything old is new again. This means that Colt’s SP1, which began production in 1964, obtained C&R status back in 2014. Brownells Adds to Retro Line With Debut of BRN-605 Carbine