I found these TACM III weapon mounted light lamp assemblies while going through some family estate items I inherited. They had been carefully stored away in a box that had receipts in it from the early 2000’s, so I believe they are quite old.

I have tried to google some stuff to know more about them, but can’t find much.

Based on the little I can find, it appears TACM III was a major player in the late 90’s and early 2000’s in the tactical light game. TACM 3 originally operated under the name Diamond Products Marketing, Inc.

It looks like they were popular with law enforcement. Did they ever have any military contracts? Any other interesting tidbits about them?

Hi all, getting ready to build my first ar. Does anyone have any experience with this kit from what a country? Looking to build an ar using real colt m16a1 parts and this looks to be my only option.

My pre-injunction 11.5

The three amigos

We are visiting a collector in Europe who has an incredible selection of rare firearms. Here is an extremely-early production Model 01 AR15. The serial number is 000192, and because the serial numbers for the Model 01 started at 000101, it is among the first 100 ever manufactured. This extremely-early serial number also indicates it was probably manufactured in December of 1959, the same month that large-scale production of this model started. 

The Model 01 was the first mass-produced version of Eugene Stoner’s AR-15 design after Colt acquired the manufacturing rights from ArmaLite. Serial production began in December 1959 and continued into mid-1963, with roughly 14,500 made in the range starting around serial 000101 through about 014484.

These early rifles were primarily for U.S. Air Force use, Project AGILE testing (AGILE was basically the predecessor to DARPA), limited foreign military sales, and some commercial/police sales. Key early export contracts included small batches (around two dozen each) to Malaya/Malaysia and India, plus smaller numbers to places like Australia, Burma, and Singapore.

Note some interesting features on this early AR include semi-gloss green furniture (is this original furniture?). These also have the slab-side lower (no fencing around the magazine release at all) and this is probably a 1-14" twist barrel. 

If this rifle was a transferable machinegun in the US, it would probably be worth in the $40k - $50k range. 

After being bitten by the bug of carry handles, I decided I needed a gray build. Build details:

BAD Attitude Lowkey raw aluminum A1 lower, electro etched and Moly Resin’d ([u/SLN583](u/SLN583), thanks again for the tutorial my man.)

Original Colt A1 CH marked upper with C MP Chrome Bore barrel

70s SP1 LPK

NOS Seatbelt Sling

USGI furniture (don’t grill me for the wrong stock, I had it on hand already from a previous build, trying to source a Type E in good shape)

Early-ish Colt - Armalite marked Bipod

All in, I think the build cost around $1100. The upper was complete- I managed to snag it off gunbroker for ~$600. SP1 LPK & sling was from AR15 sport and about $200 total. Front take down pin and buffer assembly was from max arms (probably aren’t 70s produced but close enough) and were about $60.

Furniture was sourced from various places.

Only thing I’m not 100% happy with is the depth of the right side of the colt manufacturing markings. Definitely undercooked but I don’t think it’s entirely out of the realm of rollmark irregularities.

An old guy brought in his AR to sell today and he had this bad boy attached. For the right price, I might like it for a late 90’s Colt SBR build that I have in mind.

I very much appreciate any input you all might have on a fair price that I may offer the fella.

Many Thanks!

Ya know.... I love this little turd. Everyone needs a middy in my opinion.

The only thing its missing is a HEL-E4A.

Lethal Weapons Retro Rifle match in Texas the past weekend. OG bushmaster upper.
Definitely a match to go to if you want to use your retro rifles!

Hello! I’m planning on building an early 80’s style M16A2 as my first AR build and already have a nice gray colt upper. I was curious from people who have some retro rifles built under their belt on how they would recommend going about it.

My current plan is to get a B.A.D lower with a clear anodizing and working with a company to cerakote it a gray thats close enough but want opinions or alternative methods! Thank you!

(I could care less if they are identical cause I know that was a given in the service but close is nice) ((photo of my upper for fun))

Hello all, does anyone know if a surefire l72 head can fit on a 660 body. And if so, would it hold zero on an m25 mount?

Blood Diamond car 15 I know there’s some things that aren’t clone correct like the streamlight, the 100 concepts light cover, the radian charging handle (I have a m4 one for it), and the mount under the fsb isn’t a weaver one, and the slings a blue force gear, I also have a butt pad on the car 15 stock, aside from that it’s clone correct. Happy to answer any questions!

My BRN-10A with a free float handguard and wood stock. Fantastic rifle, very balanced and hits hard. I want to eventually put a two stage trigger in it to really finish it off.

I've had pretty bad luck with H&R when it comes to anodizing, which is shocking to absolutely no one. I'm tired of dealing with customer service and don't really want to drop even more cash on Cerakote. The annoying guy who lives in my head is screaming "rattle can!" Thoughts?

Something about the current rattle can job is telling me to redo it, but boy do I like the way this turned out.

Thankful the old Armalites came with clamp on FSB. Made the whole toob process way more easier. Hose clamped on some spare weaver rail and drilled and tapped pic rail onto the bottom. Angle grinder go brrrr.

Sorry, fairly new to this but where can I get an upper with a 14.5 inch stepped barrel with a fixed carry handle

Did fixed stock, either A1 or A2 length, lowers exist with carbine barrel lengths (10.3-14.5 inches) uppers in the old Colt (or other brands too) development days? It sounds like an odd configuration choice but someone probably thought of it.

Btw, I saw a picture of a monolithic lower with an average sized barrel and carry handle upper a long while ago and was amused by the proportions.

H&R 303 upper Non clone specific. Got the ‘faster semi trigger’ functioning properly now. Plan on getting an optic for the carry handle next then continue marking it up the way I want.