AR15 Upper Receiver “Blank”
References:
AR15.com thread “Some Forge
Mark Basics” started by FeuerStolz in March 2014
(LINK)
AR15.com
thread “Upper Receiver forging mrkings” started in March
2010 (LINK)
AR15
Upper Receiver Comparison and FAQ on BiggerHammer.net (LINK)
Because nobody has done this (to my knowledge), I decided to do it. It's possible I will never be able to cover every possible forging mark; but...why not make a good stab at it?
What's a Forge Mark?
AR15 component production is heavily commoditized; many companies actually don't make their own upper or lower receivers; they instead buy from another company that makes unfinished forgings, and machine the unfinished forgings to specifications. Forge Marks are how these companies identify their work.
A typical “workflow” for an upper receiver is:
1.) The Forge makes the unfinished blank – in our example, Performance Forge. Inc (Circle Marking).
AR15 Upper Receiver “Blank”
AR15 Lower Receiver “Blank”
2.) It's machined to a finished state – some companies do their own in-house machining; but a “widespread” machining house is AO Precision – they were founded in 1982 as Advanced Ordnance, Inc to make machined parts for Colt, SIG Sauer, FN, Smith & Wesson and OF Mossberg.
3.) (Optional) The end company inspects and repackages the finished receiver as their own.
Does it Matter?
The difference between forge brands is effectively minimal – what you're paying for with a “premium” brand is quality – your premium AR brand company/machinist company is willing to reject and “return to sender” incorrectly forged parts. An incorrectly forged part might be only a few thousandths of an inch off, but this causes each machining cut made to be off by a few thousandths of an inch in turn.
The part is still useable, but the most noticeable indicator will be that it won't be as “tight” when mated to a matching upper/lower receiver.
BONUS – CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) Codes
Recently, many companies have started to mark their upper/lowers with CAGE codes; as shown in this example, which shows that no less than three companies were involved in the production of this upper receiver:
FN
CAGE Code 3S679, Colt “C” and Brass Aluminum Forging
Enterprises “Square”.
Known CAGE codes are:
FN America: 3S679
Colt's Mfg Co: 13629
Manufacturing Support Industries, Inc.: 1KW91
|
Image |
Description |
Forger |
Known End Users |
|
|
Splintered “A” split into A H |
Anchor Harvey Aluminum |
Aero Precision |
|
|
AF (Stylized) |
Accurate Forging |
Olympic Arms |
|
|
Stylized “A” over Back to Back Stylized Pair of “P” |
Aluminum Precision |
|
|
|
C |
Colt |
Known Colt “Partner” Marks: AF = Alco Forge |
|
|
Cardinal (Stylized) |
Cardinal Forge |
DSA |
|
|
Keyhole (Stylized) |
Cerro Forge |
Delton |
|
|
P |
Capco |
Known Capco “Partner” Marks: Split A = Anchor
Harvey |
|
|
Circle/Crosshairs w/ "AR” |
ArmaLite |
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|
|
Crab (Stylized) |
Ulven Forge |
Colt |
|
|
D (Stylized) |
Diemaco (Colt Canada) |
Known Diemaco “Partner” Marks: K = Kaiser Aluminum |
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Diamond B |
Mueller Brass |
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Stylized “E” |
Emco |
Known Emco “Partner” Marks: K = Kaiser Aluminum |
|
|
F |
Fabrique Nationale / FN |
Known FN “Partner” Marks: Keyhole = Cerro Forge |
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L |
LAR Manufacturing, Inc “Founded in 1968, LAR began manufacturing of M16 upper receivers for the Rock Island U.S. Armament Command.” |
Known LAR “Partner” Marks: K = Kasier Aluminum |
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Triangle over M |
Mueller Industries |
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Stylized Tiger |
Sabre Defence Industries |
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Square (Open) |
Brass Aluminum Forging Enterprises |
BCM |
|
|
Circle (Open) |
Performance Forge |
Aero |
