PREBAN AR15 INFORMATION RESOURCES | PRE BAN AR 15

PRE BAN AR 15

PRE BAN AR 15 information is very valuable to shooters in states that maintain an ASSAULT WEAPON BAN. While I dont normally advocate borrowing content from other websites I feel this information is invaluable and needs to be protected, duplicated and shared for the greater good of the shooting community.

If anyone has more information and links please post them at the bottom and I will update the list. If you have a lower of  from one of the lesser known brands and have managed to verify the date to the serial number please add your info to the comments and I will add it to the master list.

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OLYMPIC ARMS

Q:  What does my serial number mean?

A: Nothing is more frustrating than to know little or nothing about the firearm you own or are about to buy.  Use the information in this page to help determine when your Olympic Arms AR 15 was produced.  Please read all of the details on this page because there are many questions answered in the following paragraphs.

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As many of you already know, on the 7th of June, 2000, Olympic Arms experienced a devastating fire that destroyed our sales offices. In those offices were housed our current as well as archival records with regards to manufacture, acquisition and distribution of firearms. The books that we, as well as all federally licensed firearms dealers are required to keep are commonly known as “Bound Books”, or “A&D” (acquisition & distribution) books.

These books, over 25 years of Olympic Arms history and data, were completely destroyed in that fire. All A& D book records prior to the 7th of June, 2000 are GONE. Period. This is an unfortunate situation that severely limits our ability to provide product information for any and all AR-15 lower receivers and/or complete guns manufactured prior to that date. As a result all that we can provide is what you see below, a date “range” in which your serial number was manufactured.

We CANNOT provide you with the date the serial number was shipped, we CANNOT provide you with information determining whether a particular serial number was a factory assembled firearm, and most importantly, we CANNOT determine whether or not your particular serial number is a legal grandfathered pre-ban firearm.

Many people and organizations have been critical of Olympic Arms for not securing a copy of these records elsewhere, or keeping an electronic file of this data as an emergency back up. If you’d like to read why this decision was made, please read the article in the About Us section titled “Pre-fire Bound Books”.  Remember that Olympic Arms fully complied, and still does, with ATF regulations regarding A&D books.

Below you will see a list of serial numbers. At Olympic, we group our serial numbered lowers into “ranges”. If you’ll notice, all the serial number ranges have a letter prefix but one. The initial receivers made by Olympic Arms simply contain a 4 digit serial number, no letter prefix. Each subsequent serial number range (either beginning with 0001, or 1001) will show a 1 or 2 letter prefix.

Additionally, you will see several lines for serial numbers that begin with the same letter(s) prefix. These prefix series are divided by a date range to their right. These date ranges are the beginning and ending dates of the physical paper ledgers in which those numbers were recorded. In other words, the ledger books were not large enough to contain all of the numbers (0001-9999), in one book. For that reason, there is a beginning date and end date for each ledger. That is what you see below.

Match your receiver up with the letter prefixes on the chart below. Each line is separated into 5 columns.

Column 1: The serial number itself (including prefix).

Column 2: The beginning serial number in that book.

Column 3: The beginning date for that book. If there is only one date listed after the serial numbers in column 2 and/or 2, all of those numbers were manufactured on that same day.

Column 4: End date for that book.

Column 5: Comments regarding that range of serial numbers. The comments as listed would apply to all of the serial numbers with the prefix listed to the left.

 

SN Range		1st Date	End Date	Special Notes
0001	0004	03/14/79		Prototypes
1000	8845	03/14/79	06/04/82	Cut from aluminum bar stock.  Most were made for other manufacturers such as Palmetto Armory.
X1001	X2987	07/02/1982	06/01/1983
X2988	X3484	06/02/1983	09/01/1983
X2988	X3484	06/02/1983	09/01/1983
P0001A	P0588A	12/17/1982	07/18/1988	PAWS
Z0001	Z2002	09/08/1983	08/24/1984
Z2003	Z3955	05/29/1984	02/08/1985
Z3956	Z6007	02/14/1985	12/12/1985
Z6008	Z8018	12/17/1985	09/10/1986
Z8019	Z9985	09/15/1986	03/09/1988
Z9986	Z9999	03/09/1988
W1001	W2957	03/09/1988	05/08/1989
V0001	V0716	12/02/1986	10/01/1987	These receivers were manufactured for Bushmaster. While all of these are for BM, there were more.
NAMV1	NAMV100	03/20/1985	08/28/1986	These were limited edition Vietnam War Commemoratives.
USMC1	USMC320	01/21/1986	04/05/1993	Limited Edition US Marine Corp Commemoratives
U1001	U1597	08/18/1987	11/28/1989
F1006	F3000	04/27/1989	08/25/1989
F3001	F5052	08/25/1989	12/14/1989
F5053	F9109	12/14/1989	08/10/1990
F9110	F9999	08/10/1990	10/03/1990
T1001	T2119	10/03/1990	01/08/1991
T2120	T3758	01/08/1991	04/05/1991
T3759	T7480	04/05/1991	01/31/1992
T7481	T9532	01/31/1992	08/12/1992
T9533	T9999	08/13/1992	09/24/1992
AA001		09/24/1992		PROTOTYPE
AA1001	AA2297	09/24/1992	12/23/1992
AA2298	AA2425	12/23/1992	01/04/1992
GG1000	GG1009	02/01/1993	07/05/1993
OA1001D	OA1039D	10/07/1991	10/31/1991
OAD1040	OAD1067	03/16/1992	10/09/1992
OAS1042	OAS1138	03/18/1992	10/13/1992
AC10000	AC10058	02/08/1993
LL0001	LL0267	01/05/1993	01/22/1993
BL1000	BL2784	02/01/1993	05/26/1993
BL2785	BL4814	05/26/1993	12/03/1993
BL4815	BL6861	12/03/1993	02/24/1994
BL6862	BL8799	02/25/1994	06/18/1994
BL8800	BL9533	06/20/1994	07/20/1994
BS0001	BS0699	08/27/1994	08/27/1994
BS0700	BS0825	08/27/1994	08/27/1994
NF0001	NF1999	01/03/1994	05/21/1994
NF2000	NF3999	05/21/1994	08/27/1994
NF4000	NF4055	08/27/1994
94NF1000	95NF2587	11/14/1994	01/24/1995
UK0001	UK0448	08/27/1994	08/27/1994
E1001	E2099	09/01/1991	04/24/1997 ?
E2100	E2290	04/24/1997	03/08/1990 ?
CA0001	CA0690	02/21/1994	08/09/1994
TBOR1791	TBOR1991	1991	1991	These receivers are made from Beryllium copper.
CIA0001	CIA3402	10/28/1996	07/14/1997	These receivers were made under contract with Century International Arms. These are NOT Olympic Arms firearms, are post ban and not supported by Olympic Arms.
H1300	H3299	08/27/1994
H3300	H3354	08/17/1994	09/13/1994
95H1112	95H3340	06/06/1995	07/07/1995
V1000	V1499	05/05/1994	05/11/1994
V1500	V2755	05/11/1994	08/05/1994
V2757	V3195	09/26/1997	11/25/1997
SA961000	SA961975	03/21/1996	09/18/1996
SA1975	SA3500	04/15/1997	01/02/1998
SA3501	SA5150	01/01/1998	06/18/1998
SA5151	SA6550	06/18/1998	09/28/1998
SA6551	SA8199	10/05/1998	05/10/1999
SA8200	SA9800	05/11/1999	10/07/1999
SA9801	SA9999	10/07/1999	10/18/1999
AUS1000	AUS1049	05/06/1998	02/01/1999
JJ0001	JJ1600	10/09/1999	02/18/2000
JJ1601	JJ2059	02/18/2000	03/22/2000
JJ2060	JJ4182	03/22/2000	10/03/2000
JJ4183	JJ5439	10/03/2000	02/07/2001
JJ5440	JJ6920	03/08/2001	12/04/2001
JJ6921	JJ8713	12/04/2001	08/06/2001
JJ8714	JJ9999	08/07/2001	01/29/2003
KX0001	KX1601	11/04/1998	05/10/1999
KX1700	KX2935	05/10/1999	08/20/1999
KX2936	KX4735	08/23/1999	01/20/2000
KX4736	KX5760	01/20/2000	03/31/2000
KX5761	KX7668	04/01/2000	07/20/2001
KX7669	KX9590	07/20/2001	04/03/2002
SGW0001	SGW1045	02/15/2000	04/10/2001	All SGW receivers are CAST receivers, and sold stripped, or as “Plinker” Rifles only.
SGW1046	SGW2043	04/10/2001	02/14/2002
SGW2044	SGW3878	03/25/2002	04/05/2003
SGW3879	?	CURRENT
MX1001		CURRENT		These receivers are match-grade quality Maxhard® treated Aluminum forged receivers.
BT0001	BT1853	05/24/2002	01/20/2003	Series named after long time employee Bill Thrall. Thanks for your service Bill!
BT1854	BT3654	01/21/2003	07/11/2003
BT3655	BT5453	07/11/2003	12/01/2003
BT5454	BT7300	12/02/2003	05/02/2004
BT7301
M0001	M0198	02/20/200203	04/01/2002	Series Stopped because of CNC change.
LP0001	LP0577	05/02/2001	02/19/2004	OA-98 Pistols only
SM0001	SM9999	01/30/2003	10/2005	Series names after Oly CNC programmer Steve Melby. Thanks for your service Steve!
TB0001	TB9999	10/2005	4/2007	Series named after long time employee Tim Butterfield. Thanks for your service Tim!
KJ0001	KJ9999	4/2007	6/2008
JF0001	JF9999	6/2008	9/2009	Series named after long time employee John Fischer. Thanks for your service John!
WZ0001	WZ5686	2/2009	Current	Series named after long time employee Walt Dziadyk. Thanks for your service Walt!
CH0001	CH6575	9/2009	Current	Series named after long time employee Chris Holeman. Thanks for your service Chris!

 

 

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AR15.com

The folks over at AR15. com have compiled the list below

Disclaimer: This list is correct to the best of my knowledge, however, I accept absolutely no responsibility for the accuracy of this information or for the consequences and/or damages occurring from any inaccuracies. I have compiled this list for the purposes of sharing information only. This is not intended to be used in any way except for personal entertainment. It is a compilation of both personal information and information submitted from others from the Internet. ALL SERIAL NUMBERS SHOULD BE VERIFIED FROM THE MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO ANY PURCHASE OR ASSEMBLY. It should be noted that it is a felony to possess a Post-Ban (newly assembled after Sept 13, 1994) assault weapon.

If any information presented here is found to be incorrect or you have additional information to contribute, please contact me via E-Mail (hkusp40@midmaine.com) and I will update and re-issue the list.

Note: All items marked with a single asterisk (*) are taken from http://home1.gte.net/bblakley/ban/index.htm. The year/serial numbers under Colt SP series was forwarded to me by an individual whose return address I no longer have. Double asterisk (**) under Bushmaster, a person on the internet e-mailed me that he had a lower that was shipped stripped (thus not a complete rifle) in 1991 from Bushmaster with serial #0327XX – ALWAYS CALL TO VERIFY.

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Advanced Armaments

No information – Apparently machined from bar stock aluminum, lowers are marked as M-15.

American Spirit Arms (Formerly “Sun Valley Traders”)

ALL lowers are Post Ban AR 15. Began introduction of lowers and rifles in mid/late 1998. Noted as having good fit & finish. Also, reported to be manufactured by Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT).

Armalite | Eagle Arms

Slightly over S/N 30,000 was the Pre Ban AR 15 cut-off, call to verify.* (Some Eagle lowers below the 30,000 range were determined to be POST BAN AR 15 by BATFE – call to verify) Armalite sells Eagle lowers, but sells factory complete rifles with Armalite lowers.

Bohica

Made stainless steel lowers, rumored to have also made AR-15 pistols. Lower marked M16-SA. This is NOT verifiable info as it came from the Internet. Out of Business.

Bushmaster

Below L051000 – Assembled Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles and some pre-94 lowers.**
L051001-L063000 – Mixed Pre Ban Assembled Rifles and Pre-Sept 94 Lowers (Call to verify)
L063001 and Up – Post Ban

Century International Arms

Lower marked CIA. All are Post-Ban. Made with Olympic Arms Receivers under contract.

Colt Firearms

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

Dalphon

All are POST ban. Cast 356-T6 Aluminum, hardcoat anodized per mil-spec A-8625

DPMS

Below 10300 – Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles.
Some or all lowers are cast. Black in color. Some lowers are Stainless Steel.

Eagle Arms

Now called ArmaLite. They will not give out a list, but will look up on an individual basis. Lower receiver serial numbers DO NOT begin with EA.

Essential Arms

All are Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles as they went out of business in 1993. (DPMS bought them prior to the Ban) Call DPMS Lower receiver serial numbers begin with EA. Some or all lowers are cast. Light gray coloring. It is rumored that Ruger investment casted the lowers for Essential Arms.

Frankford Arsenal

All are Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles. As rumor has it, Olympic Arms produced the lowers for Frankford Arsenal Call Olympic Arms and then Frankford assembled the weapon. A2 configuration lower. Frankford Arsenal went out of business in 1987. (Info from RudolphoS@aol.com)

Hesse Arms

All AR-15’s are post ban. Manufacturing began late 1997/early 1998.

J.L.M & Sons*

SC001 thru SC250 are Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles. All others are post ban.

Knights Armament Co. aka KAC

All AR-15’s are post ban, very few AR-10’s are pre-ban. No further info at this time.

Military Manufacturing (M2)

All were military/law enforcement only. Full auto lowers were standard, semi were optional. Lowers were machined form raw bar stock with improvements incorporated – 18deg magazine angle and square magazine release.

Nesard

See “Sendra” below.

Olympic Arms (Continued)

4-numbers only – very very old. Probably machined from bar stock.
1-letter and 4# – older receiver, but forgings. (Some are newer, POST ban castings – call to verify.)
2-letters & 4# – most receivers follow this pattern.
2#, 2 letters, 4# – the first two #’s are year of manufacture of the lower.
2 letters, 6# (separated 2 & 4 – e.g. SA 96 0000) – first 2 #’s are year of manufacture.
“ICR” marked lowers are an European customer’s overrun, has an unused additional hole – all ICR lowers are post ban.

Olympic Arms Manufacturer’s Notes:

1. There were some odd variations and some custom serial numbers mixed in thru the years also. And, some receivers manufactured after the ban have the year stamp after the model name, not in the serial #. and if you don’t see a year stamp on the receiver, it is not necessarily pre-ban.
2. Serial numbers that end in “D” were duplicates and one was changed using this letter.
3. Recently some serial numbers have left with one or two letters followed by FIVE numbers. The last numbers are either 5’s or 0’s. 99.9% of these are post-ban.
4. “Older” does not always mean pre-ban as per Corey Sattler.
5. “BL” serial number series lowers are transitional with some pre and some post ban. If you have a “BL” you’ll have to call to verify for certain.

Professional Ordinance

All are post ban (including all of the pistols).

PWA

35222 and Below – Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles (Note:Some lowers are cast not forged. Out of business) Post-ban have a year prefix in the serial number. Rumored to have only sold lowers.

Rocky Mountain Arms

Producer of AR-15 type pistols.

Sendra

Post-ban receivers have a circle milled into the side of the magwell. They were originally bead-blasted to a non-glare finish. All others are pre-ban. (This is unverified info…) Also, they used to be NESARD. Rumored to have been owned by Dick Drasen (currently M&A Parts) and produced lowers only out of Barrington, Illinois. No complete guns were sold (again, unverified info).

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Colt Carbine R6521

Colt Carbine R6521 – Is a rare Colt of which only a few hundred were made for export purposes. They are not marked Sporter, AR-15 or SP1. These are the only Colt AR15 type weapons allowed to be transferred among Connecticut citizens