When did the first "flat top" AR'S appear?

H

hlds54

New member
If someone could give me info on when ar's with removable or no carry handles first appeared that would be cool. thanks
 
Pretty sure the first flattop was the 6701 from the Colt Custom shop in 1990, and a general production model a couple years later, 92 maybe?
 
In the mid 1980s builders were cutting the carry handles off of A1 upper receivers and screwing on scope rails. I didn't bother with that mod at the time since my eyes were still good enough for iron sights.
 
In the mid 1980s builders were cutting the carry handles off of A1 upper receivers and screwing on scope rails. I didn't bother with that mod at the time since my eyes were still good enough for iron sights.
Click to expand...

Good memory, I had forgotten about those. The flat top is a civilian evolution of the AR platform. The issue M4 came much later.
 
OP asked about the first "flat top AR", what does that have to do with the M4? I am pretty sure they came out with flat top M16s before the M4 was ever introduced. M16 and M4 are both military designations though and he did ask about ARs. I guess it would help if he clarified the question.
 
*sarcasam*

My guess would be that the first one was created on February 6th or 7th 1968 by the tracks of a PT-76. That's why you never saw anybody make flattops for decades, it brought back memories of Vietnam and Lang Vei.

*/sarcasam*

/Sorry, have to be a smartie, since everyone else already answered the question.:p
 
The first one I remember seeing would have been around 1989-1990 time frame. I can remember thinking that was such a useless modification at the time. Live and learn. :o

According to Wikipedia, the earliest flattop model was the Colt Model RO656 - which was basically an SP1 with a heavy barrel.
 
My guess would be that the first one was created on February 6th or 7th 1968 by the tracks of a PT-76. That's why you never saw anybody make flattops for decades, it brought back memories of Vietnam and Lang Vei.
Click to expand...
It may be sarcasm but, I saw something similar happen. I was in AK in 1976 with the 23rd Cbt Hvy Engineer Co and saw a guy hop down off his D8K Dozier to take a ****. He leaned his M16 up against the front of the track and forgot about it. You probably know the rest of the story. A D8 does a little more modification than just making a flat top out of it.
 
I think A.R.M.S. created the original design back in the early/mid '80s.

The first widespread use of the flat top was the US military's fielding of Block 1 SOPMOD M4A1s.

Up till 1993, I was issued an M16A2 with solid carry handle. These were then replaced with our new USSOCOM purchased M4A1s (railed & removable carry handles).

Call it 1993.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top