Please click here to visit the "Military Rifle Components Guide" for
additional info and photos of the various components used on this model.
HISTORY / BACKGROUND:-
The Model 601 was the first "AR15 Model" produced by Colt . Manufacturing started in December of 1959,
with the first 300 rifles being produced, and continued until the summer of 1963. Changes made by Colt in
the production process would include; painting the furniture green (after approx 100 were made), different
roll markings, and changing the aluminum alloy from 7075 to 6061. Less then 14,500 were produced, with
serial numbers in the 101-14,484 range. The bulk of the rifles went to the US Military with 8,500 going to the
Air Force, 1,000 going to the Army for evaluation in project AGILE, and a handful going to the Navy SEALs.
The rest went in very small numbers to police departments, and to foreign militaries such as Australia,
Burma, India, Malaya, and Singapore. Many of the components found on the 601 were "Prototypes", and
were unique to that only that model.
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BUTTSTOCK:
STYLE:
Original Solid Body
Type A & B


BUTTPLATE:
Solid Rubber



SWIVEL:
Pinned, Bare Metal


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BUFFER GROUP:
BUFFER:
"Original" Edgewater Design


SPRING:
Standard Rifle Spring


TUBE:
Original Tube,
No wrench flats,
Hole in tube at receiver
end to tighten tube

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LOWER RECEIVER:
STYLE:
"Slabside"




MARKINGS:
Colt Logo
ARMALITE AR15
PATENTS PENDING
CAL. .223
MODEL 01
Serial 000XXX



TAKEDOWN / PIVOT PINS:
"Original" with "Divot" in Center

SELECTOR:
"Original" with Hole in Center

MAGAZINE RELEASE BUTTON:
Original with Horizontal Line Pattern

BOLT CATCH/RELEASE:
"Original" with Flat End

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UPPER RECEIVER:
PROOF MARKS / FORGE CODE:
Colt Proof Marks - Triangle & Square with "C"
Located in front of ejection port
No Forge Code


REAR SIGHT:
Screw has "Divot" in center
Directional arrow on sight dial, no numbers
No Directional Markings on receiver

EJECTION PORT COVER:
"Original" with "Large Square Plate"
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BOLT GROUP:
CARRIER:
Chrome Slickside


BOLT:
Chrome


FIRING PIN:
"Original" Heavy Flat Head
Retained with "Original" Machined Pin

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CHARGING HANDLE:
Original Triangular Shaped








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HANDGUARD SLIP RING:
Flat




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BARREL:
NOTE:
The first barrels were
manufactured for
Colt by Winchester


DIAMETER:
0.625" at the Front Sight Base


LENGTH:
20"


TWIST RATE:
1/14


MARKINGS:
See Examples

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HANDGUARDS:
"Original" Triangular without Drain Holes
Brown Fiberglass painted Green





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FRONT SIGHT BASE:
STYLE:
Cast


MARKINGS:









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FLASHHIDER:
Original 3 Prong "Duckbill"
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ADDITIONAL COLT MODEL 601 INFORMATION
Unknown Date - Vietnam
Possibly being evaluated under Project AGILE
Unknown Date - Vietnam
US Navy SEAL
RETRO BLACK RIFLE - RIFLE GUIDE - MODEL 601
ATF National Reference Collection
Colt Model 601 Parts Layout / Breakdown
Oct 1991 - Osan Air Base, KOR
Airman Emswider, 18th Security Police Squadron, in the ground base defense
exercise Foal Eagle '91. Note this Model 601 still has the original Triangular
Charging Handle, Port Cover, and Selector with Divot. However it appears that
the original Green Furniture has been replaced.
Pin with Divots & Ball Detent
Colt Model 601 Front Takedown Pin
Detent in the Rebate
Rebate on Front Lug
setstats
.223 Cal / 5.56mm
MILITARY RIFLE
GUIDE
Military Rifle
Components Guide
Colt Model 601
Colt Model 602
Colt Model 603 /
XM16E1
Other M16A1
Manufacturers
Colt Model 604 /   
USAF M16
Colt Model 603
M16A1
Colt Model 606
HBAR