Retro lower commemorating the M16A1 Commando submachine gun
Made from the former Nodak Spud forgings, JJE Capital purchased Nodak in December, 2021 and has moved production of H&R retro guns to South Carolina. Featuring the H&R Lion, these lower receivers are ready for a retro build.
Material is 7075-T6 and are marked with the Vintage 1960’s Harrington & Richardson Lion Logo. The finish is Black type 3 hard coat anodizing. Serial numbers replicate the original 900,000 range.
Highlights
- M16A1 lower – H&R factory made
- Nodak / H&R forging with right side partial fence (as in model 602 through 610)
- 7075 Aluminum
- Type 3 military grade black anodizing
- Left side marked: H&R logo, Property of US Government, Commando, Cal. 5.56 MM, Safe – Semi – Auto
- Serial Numbers correctly beginning in 9000
- No fully automatic sear hole
Background on the Commando Rifle
The Colt Commando, also known by its designations XM177 (US Army) and GAU-5 (US Air Force), is a compact assault rifle developed during the early Cold War era by Colt, a renowned American firearms manufacturer. This weapon, which originated in the United States, was a further development of the short-barreled M16 SMG (Submachine Gun), designed to be more reliable and easier to produce.
Characterized as a very short variant of the M16A1 assault rifle, the Colt Commando’s dimensions and shorter effective range liken it more to a submachine gun than an assault rifle. The weapon is outfitted with a two-position retractable stock and retains the M16A1’s direct impingement action and rotating bolt mechanism. The weapon is gas-operated, with a gas tube leading from near the end of the barrel down to a piston attached to the top of the bolt. The large flash hider also serves as a sound moderator.
The Colt Commando uses the 5.56x45mm M193 round, which can be loaded from 20 and 30-round magazines. The fire selector allows for semi-automatic and full automatic fire modes, with a cyclic rate of up to 950 rounds per minute. The maximum effective range of the weapon is over 200 meters.
The weapon gained fame during the Vietnam War, where it was used by Special Forces and Navy SEALs. It was also adopted, although in relatively small numbers, by the US Army and US Air Force for specialist use. Additionally, small quantities of the weapon were exported to US allies in Asia and South America.
Two main variants of the Colt Commando were produced. The first model featured a 10-inch barrel, a simple two-position retractable stock that wraps around the buffer tube at the rear of the receiver, and a round handguard instead of the triangular one used on the M16A1. In 1967, a year after the introduction of the first Colt Commando models, an updated model with an 11.5-inch barrel was introduced to improve reliability and allow for the mounting of the XM148 under-barrel grenade launcher
In terms of specific models, the early Commando, designated as the Model 609, was equipped with a forward assist feature. Meanwhile, the Model 610 Commando lacked this feature. A variant of the Model 610, known as the Model 610B, also featured a four-position selector, although it was not used by the U.S. military. All versions of the Commando were equipped with a 4.25-inch long flash hider, which also served as a sound moderator.
The Model 610 was reclassified as the XM177, but it was officially adopted by the US Air Force as the GAU-5/A Submachine Gun. The US Army purchased 2,815 Model 609 CAR-15 Commandos on June 28, 1966, officially designating them as the Submachine Gun, 5.56 mm, XM177E1. The XM177E1s were supposed to be supplied with seven 30-round magazines each. However, due to difficulties in producing a reliable 30-round curved magazine that would fit in the M16 magazine well, most XM177E1s were shipped with 20-round magazines instead.
In response to field testing, Colt lengthened the Commando’s barrel from 10 to 11.5 inches in 1967. This increased length reduced noise and muzzle flash, and allowed the fitting of the Colt XM148 grenade launcher. A metal boss was added to the flash hider for mounting the XM148 and rifle grenades, and the chambers were chrome-plated. These longer-barreled Commandos were designated as the Model 629 and Model 649. The Model 629 Commando featured a forward assist, while the Model 649 Commando did not.
The Colt Commando’s production ended in 1970. Despite its limited production run, the weapon’s compact size, firepower, and versatility have etched its name in military history. It remains a symbol of the era and a testament to Colt’s innovative approach to firearms design.
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