Colt Diamondbacks were produced between 1966 & 1988. Serial numbers started with the letter D between the years 1966-1976. In 1976-1977 started with letter N.In 1978 started with letter R, so my.
Colt Serial Numbers Years Of Manufacture History
I've looked around for this information before and had no luck finding anything useful. Maybe I've overlooked it.
What I'd like to know is what the serial number ranges are for the various Colt companies. That, and what years Colt kept the names of various companies.
Originally, Colt SP1's were made by Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg Co. The two I have are in the 35XXX range and one my friend has is in the 66XXX range. I've seen them all the way back to the 2XXX range with this same company marking.
Sometime later Colt SP1's were made by Colt's Firearms Division. These seem by far to be the most common markings on SP1's. It is common to see serial numbers on these in the 80XXX to 180XXX range. I'd really like to know the year of this transition.
Most, if not all, of the AR15A2 Sporter II's were made by Colt's Firearm's Division and the serial number range seems to be in the low to mid 300XXX range. These were most popular in the mid to late 80's.
During manufacture of all of these Colt continued to use the SP prefix.
Then, that changed...
Witness the Sporter Blue Label series. These were made by Colt's Mfg Co Inc. and early on some still bore the SP prefix. It appears that those still using slab side SP1 style receivers had the SP prefix while the transitional lowers with the A2 features ie: magazine release fence, built up receiver extension ring, and radiused front takedown pivot lugs, started using different prefixes such as MT for Match Target. All, however, still went under the model name Sporter. This was due to legislation enacted by certain states that banned, by name, the AR15 in the late 80's.
It seems that the latest breed of Colt made civilian rifles is being manufactured under the company name of Colt's Defense.
From Biggerhammer.net I was able to glean some information about the dates of manufacture on the box labels. From earliest to latest:
1963-1966 Plain Box, no label
1966-1968/69 Tan Label (Three Prong Flash Hider)
1970-1984 Tan Label (Birdcage Flash Hider)
1984-1989 Green Label (Beginning of various A2 features)
1989-1990 White Label
1991-Present? Blue Label
None of this points out what company made them though. The serial number list is excellent if you want to know what year your Colt AR15 was made, but again, it doesn't tell you which company made it.
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
So, what years did Colt operate under Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg Co, Colt's Firearms Division, Colt's Mfg Co Inc, and Colt's Defense? Forgive me if I left one out. They seem to have changed the company name quite a bit and I've found it difficult to keep up with. Thus, the reason I'm hoping to obtain this information for the good of all.
What I'd like to know is what the serial number ranges are for the various Colt companies. That, and what years Colt kept the names of various companies.
Originally, Colt SP1's were made by Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg Co. The two I have are in the 35XXX range and one my friend has is in the 66XXX range. I've seen them all the way back to the 2XXX range with this same company marking.
Sometime later Colt SP1's were made by Colt's Firearms Division. These seem by far to be the most common markings on SP1's. It is common to see serial numbers on these in the 80XXX to 180XXX range. I'd really like to know the year of this transition.
Most, if not all, of the AR15A2 Sporter II's were made by Colt's Firearm's Division and the serial number range seems to be in the low to mid 300XXX range. These were most popular in the mid to late 80's.
During manufacture of all of these Colt continued to use the SP prefix.
Then, that changed...
Witness the Sporter Blue Label series. These were made by Colt's Mfg Co Inc. and early on some still bore the SP prefix. It appears that those still using slab side SP1 style receivers had the SP prefix while the transitional lowers with the A2 features ie: magazine release fence, built up receiver extension ring, and radiused front takedown pivot lugs, started using different prefixes such as MT for Match Target. All, however, still went under the model name Sporter. This was due to legislation enacted by certain states that banned, by name, the AR15 in the late 80's.
It seems that the latest breed of Colt made civilian rifles is being manufactured under the company name of Colt's Defense.
From Biggerhammer.net I was able to glean some information about the dates of manufacture on the box labels. From earliest to latest:
1963-1966 Plain Box, no label
1966-1968/69 Tan Label (Three Prong Flash Hider)
1970-1984 Tan Label (Birdcage Flash Hider)
1984-1989 Green Label (Beginning of various A2 features)
1989-1990 White Label
1991-Present? Blue Label
None of this points out what company made them though. The serial number list is excellent if you want to know what year your Colt AR15 was made, but again, it doesn't tell you which company made it.
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
So, what years did Colt operate under Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg Co, Colt's Firearms Division, Colt's Mfg Co Inc, and Colt's Defense? Forgive me if I left one out. They seem to have changed the company name quite a bit and I've found it difficult to keep up with. Thus, the reason I'm hoping to obtain this information for the good of all.
Colt Woodsman Serial Number Date Of Manufacture
- What I'd like to know is what the serial number ranges are for the various Colt companies. That, and what years Colt kept the names of various companies. Originally, Colt SP1's were made by Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg Co. The two I have are in the 35XXX range and one my friend has is in the 66XXX range.
- Colt's Manufacturing Company - firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers.
- The one I found that bothers me is a GCNM in SS that Colt told me on the phone was made in 1988 but on the lookup tool it comes up 1995. Now aside from Colt telling me on the phone it was made in 1988 the friend I bought it from remembers getting it from his Son for Christmas of 1988. Unfortunately he threw out the box and paperwork years ago.