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WTB CT Preban AR-15 Lowers and Complete Preban AR-15's


imschur

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I am always on the lookout for excellent condition preban AR-15's and lower receivers. They must be CT preban which was enacted slightly before the Federal AWB. Date can be determined by serial number. The date needs to be pre Sept 1993.

Typically I am looking at Bushmaster, Olympic Arms, PWA, Eagle Arms, Frankford Arsenal and Essential Arms

Colts are not allowed regardless of date.

Here's the AWB in full

ASSAULT WEAPON

"Assault weapon" means any one of the following:

1.        Any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic or burst fire at the option of the user or any of the following specified semiautomatic firearms:  Algimec Agmi; Armalite AR-180; Australian Automatic Arms SAP Pistol; Auto-Ordnance Thompson type; Avtomat Kalashnikov AK-47 type; Barrett Light-Fifty model 82A1; Beretta AR-70; Bushmaster Auto Rifle and Auto Pistol; Calico models M-900, M-950 and 100-P; Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88; Colt AR-15 and Sporter; Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max-1 and Max-2; Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45; Fabrique Nationale FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FN/FNC; FAMAS MAS 223; Feather AT-9 and Mini-AT; Federal XC-900 and XC-450; Franchi SPAS-12 and LAW-12; Galil AR and ARM; Goncz High-Tech Carbine and High-Tech Long Pistol; Heckler & Koch HK-91, HK-93, HK-94 and SP-89; Holmes MP-83; MAC-10, MAC-11 Carbien type; Intratec TEC-9 and Scorpion; Iver Johnson Enforcer model 3000; Ruger Mini-14/5F folding stock model only; Scarab Skorpion; SIG 57 AMT and 500 Series; Spectre Auto Carbine and Auto Pistol; Springfield Armory BM59, SAR-48 and G-3; Sterling MK-6 and MK-7; Steyr AUG; Street Sweeper and Striker 12 revolving cylinder shotguns; USAS-12; USI Carbine, Mini-Carbine and Pistol; Weaver Arms Nighthawk; Wilkinson "Linda" Pistol.

2.        A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon as defined in subdivision (1) or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon as defined in subdivision (1) may be rapidly assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person.

3.        Any semiautomatic firearm not listed in subdivision (1) that meets the following criteria:

(A)  A semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:

i.          a folding or telescopic stock;

ii.          a pistol grip;

iii.        a bayonet mount;

iv.        a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and

v.        a grenade launcher.

(B)  A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:

i.          an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

ii.          a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip or silencer;

iii.        a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;

iv.        a manufactured weight of fifty ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and

v.        a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.

©  A semiautomatic shotgun that has at least two of the following:

i.          a folding or telescoping stock;

ii.          a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

iii.        a fixed magazine capacity in excess of five rounds; and

iv.        an ability to accept a detachable magazine.

4.        A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (3), or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (3), may be rapidly assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person.

Source:  General Statutes § 53-202a (a) (applies to §§ 53-202b -- 202k).

Commentary:  The term "assault weapon" does not include any firearm modified to render it permanently inoperable.  General Statutes § 53-202a (b).

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  • 1 month later...
  • 9 months later...

Has not changed here much. $600-700 average though I see many going for $400 lately.  I think a lot of guys are unloading them in CT for fear they will lose their money if they have to disable, dispose of or sell out of state.

Im seeing complete preban OA and Bushmasters going for under $2000 which is real surprising.

 

The trick is to browse the local forums and buy from private sellers.

 

The whole preban thing will be irrelevant here by months end.

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  • 3 years later...

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and I have an Olympic Arms Pre-Ban .556 (Stop sign S.G.W) including a Certificate of Authenticity from Olympic Arms showing the manufacture date between March 1988 - May 1989 and nine Pre-Ban mags up for sale if anyone is interested please message me. - Thanks

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10 minutes ago, fivebyfive said:

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and I have an Olympic Arms Pre-Ban .556 (Stop sign S.G.W) including a Certificate of Authenticity from Olympic Arms showing the manufacture date between March 1988 - May 1989 and nine Pre-Ban mags up for sale if anyone is interested please message me. - Thanks

Welcome to the forum feel free to post up in the introduction area

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On March 26, 2016 at 0:49 PM, fivebyfive said:

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and I have an Olympic Arms Pre-Ban .556 (Stop sign S.G.W) including a Certificate of Authenticity from Olympic Arms showing the manufacture date between March 1988 - May 1989 and nine Pre-Ban mags up for sale if anyone is interested please message me. - Thanks

  Has to be manufactured before May of 1986 to be a pre-ban.

Edited by survivalshop
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  • 2 years later...

fyi if anybody needs this

 

Preban AR15 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.

OLYMPIC ARMS

What does my serial number mean?

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 firearm was produced.  Please read all of the details on this page because there are many questions answered in the following paragraphs.

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 ArmsThese 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!

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.
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. 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.
Armalite/Eagle 800-336-0184
Slightly over S/N 30,000 was the Pre-Ban cut-off, call to verify.* (Some Eagle lowers below the 30,000 range were determined to be POST ban by BATF – 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 800-998-SWAT
Below L051000 – Assembled Pre-Ban 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 Arms
Lower marked CIA. All are Post-Ban. Made with Olympic Arms Receivers under contract.
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
Dalphon (360) 427-6867
All are POST ban. Cast 356-T6 Aluminum, hardcoat anodized per mil-spec A-8625
DPMS 800-578-3767
Below 10300 – Pre-Ban.
Some or all lowers are cast. Black in color. Some lowers are Stainless Steel.
Eagle Arms 309-944-6939
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 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. 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* (603) 425-1860
SC001 thru SC250 are Pre-Ban. All others are post ban.
Knights Armament Co.
All AR-15’s are post ban, very few AR-10’s are pre-ban. No further info at this time.
Military Manufacturing (M2) (FAX 702-263-7875)
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 mag release. (See: http://www.m2corp.com/HOME.htm)
Nesard
See “Sendra” below.
Olympic Arms 360-459-7940
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 (360) 438-3983
35222 and Below – Pre-Ban (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).

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 citizen
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