Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup

  1. Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup For Guns
  2. Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup Engine
  3. Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup
  4. Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup Reverse

PREBAN AR15 INFORMATION RESOURCES | PRE BAN AR 15

It's a Bushmaster Model XM15-E2S, Serial #L036XXX. It's got a 20' bbl, bayo lug, regular sights (not a flat-top). I've tried several web searches and all I got were guns for sale - not interested in buying/selling - just want some basic info like: Date of manufacture, any known problems, best type of ammo to use (especially bullet weights),. SERIAL NUMBER zMust be on the frame or receiver. Manufacturer: Bushmaster Model: XM15-E2S Caliber.223 (5.56mm) Type: Rifle Serial Number Location: Left side. Typical Bushmaster XM15 E2S A3 Type Rifle - “Flat-top” Upper Receiver w. 20' Barrel & Removable Carry Handle Bushmaster XM15 E2S M4 Type Carbine - 16' Barrel Flat-top Upper Receiver with Picatinny scope mount rail Telescoping 6 Position Stock Tele-Stock Latch Rifle Features & Controls - Identification / Location(cont’d.) Carbine Length.

PRE BAN AR 15

Bushmaster Model XM15-E2S.223 cal. Serial # L242908 Guns will sell after the vehicles around Noon. Please remember that all guns must be shipped to an FFL dealer only. From Proxibid, Inc. Kind of wonder if there is a data base for Bushmaster XM 15's Did a trade and in that trade I ended up with a Bushy A2 M4 style carbine XM15 E2s with ser# L390XXX. I remember the preban one I had years ago was in the L0500 grouping. L0500X and earlier were preban Pretty sure what I have here is a post ban of some sort.

PRE BAN AR 15 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 have to do with a PRE BAN AR 15?

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 AR 15 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 Range1st DateEnd DateSpecial Notes
0001000403/14/79Prototypes
1000884503/14/7906/04/82Cut from aluminum bar stock. Most were made for other manufacturers such as Palmetto Armory.
X1001X298707/02/198206/01/1983
X2988X348406/02/198309/01/1983
X2988X348406/02/198309/01/1983
P0001AP0588A12/17/198207/18/1988PAWS
Z0001Z200209/08/198308/24/1984
Z2003Z395505/29/198402/08/1985
Z3956Z600702/14/198512/12/1985
Z6008Z801812/17/198509/10/1986
Z8019Z998509/15/198603/09/1988
Z9986Z999903/09/1988
W1001W295703/09/198805/08/1989
V0001V071612/02/198610/01/1987These receivers were manufactured
for Bushmaster. While all of these
are for BM, there were more.
NAMV1NAMV10003/20/198508/28/1986These were limited edition Vietnam War Commemoratives.
USMC1USMC32001/21/198604/05/1993Limited Edition US Marine Corp Commemoratives
U1001U159708/18/198711/28/1989
F1006F300004/27/198908/25/1989
F3001F505208/25/198912/14/1989
F5053F910912/14/198908/10/1990
F9110F999908/10/199010/03/1990
T1001T211910/03/199001/08/1991
T2120T375801/08/199104/05/1991
T3759T748004/05/199101/31/1992
T7481T953201/31/199208/12/1992
T9533T999908/13/199209/24/1992
AA00109/24/1992PROTOTYPE
AA1001AA229709/24/199212/23/1992
AA2298AA242512/23/199201/04/1992
GG1000GG100902/01/199307/05/1993
OA1001DOA1039D10/07/199110/31/1991
OAD1040OAD106703/16/199210/09/1992
OAS1042OAS113803/18/199210/13/1992
AC10000AC1005802/08/1993
LL0001LL026701/05/199301/22/1993
BL1000BL278402/01/199305/26/1993
BL2785BL481405/26/199312/03/1993
BL4815BL686112/03/199302/24/1994
BL6862BL879902/25/199406/18/1994
BL8800BL953306/20/199407/20/1994
BS0001BS069908/27/199408/27/1994
BS0700BS082508/27/199408/27/1994
NF0001NF199901/03/199405/21/1994
NF2000NF399905/21/199408/27/1994
NF4000NF405508/27/1994
94NF100095NF258711/14/199401/24/1995
UK0001UK044808/27/199408/27/1994
E1001E209909/01/199104/24/1997 ?
E2100E229004/24/199703/08/1990 ?
CA0001CA069002/21/199408/09/1994
TBOR1791TBOR199119911991These receivers are made from Beryllium copper.
CIA0001CIA340210/28/199607/14/1997These receivers were made under contract with Century International Arms. These are NOT Olympic Arms firearms, are post ban and not supported by Olympic Arms.
H1300H329908/27/1994
H3300H335408/17/199409/13/1994
95H111295H334006/06/199507/07/1995
V1000V149905/05/199405/11/1994
V1500V275505/11/199408/05/1994
V2757V319509/26/199711/25/1997
SA961000SA96197503/21/199609/18/1996
SA1975SA350004/15/199701/02/1998
SA3501SA515001/01/199806/18/1998
SA5151SA655006/18/199809/28/1998
SA6551SA819910/05/199805/10/1999
SA8200SA980005/11/199910/07/1999
SA9801SA999910/07/199910/18/1999
AUS1000AUS104905/06/199802/01/1999
JJ0001JJ160010/09/199902/18/2000
JJ1601JJ205902/18/200003/22/2000
JJ2060JJ418203/22/200010/03/2000
JJ4183JJ543910/03/200002/07/2001
JJ5440JJ692003/08/200112/04/2001
JJ6921JJ871312/04/200108/06/2001
JJ8714JJ999908/07/200101/29/2003
KX0001KX160111/04/199805/10/1999
KX1700KX293505/10/199908/20/1999
KX2936KX473508/23/199901/20/2000
KX4736KX576001/20/200003/31/2000
KX5761KX766804/01/200007/20/2001
KX7669KX959007/20/200104/03/2002
SGW0001SGW104502/15/200004/10/2001All SGW receivers are CAST receivers, and sold stripped, or as “Plinker” Rifles only.
SGW1046SGW204304/10/200102/14/2002
SGW2044SGW387803/25/200204/05/2003
SGW3879?CURRENT
MX1001CURRENTThese receivers are match-grade quality Maxhard® treated Aluminum forged receivers.
BT0001BT185305/24/200201/20/2003Series named after long time employee Bill Thrall. Thanks for your service Bill!
BT1854BT365401/21/200307/11/2003
BT3655BT545307/11/200312/01/2003
BT5454BT730012/02/200305/02/2004
BT7301
M0001M019802/20/20020304/01/2002Series Stopped because of CNC change.
LP0001LP057705/02/200102/19/2004OA-98 Pistols only
SM0001SM999901/30/200310/2005Series names after Oly CNC programmer Steve Melby. Thanks for your service Steve!
TB0001TB999910/20054/2007Series named after long time employee Tim Butterfield. Thanks for your service Tim!
KJ0001KJ99994/20076/2008
JF0001JF99996/20089/2009Series named after long time employee John Fischer. Thanks for your service John!
WZ0001WZ56862/2009CurrentSeries named after long time employee Walt Dziadyk. Thanks for your service Walt!
CH0001CH65759/2009CurrentSeries 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 AR 15. 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 (LMT).

Armalite | Eagle Arms

Slightly over S/N 30,000 was the Pre Ban AR 15 cut-off, call to verify.* (Some Eagle lowers below the 30,000 range were determined to be POST BAN AR 15 by BATFE – 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

Below L051000 – Assembled Pre Ban AR 15 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 International Arms

Lower marked CIA. All are Post-Ban. Made with Olympic Arms Receivers under contract.

Colt Firearms

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

All are POST ban. Cast 356-T6 Aluminum, hardcoat anodized per mil-spec A-8625

DPMS

Below 10300 – Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles.
Some or all lowers are cast. Black in color. Some lowers are Stainless Steel.

Eagle Arms

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 AR 15 Rifles 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 AR 15 Rifles. 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*

SC001 thru SC250 are Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles. All others are post ban.

Knights Armament Co. aka KAC

All AR-15’s are post ban, very few AR-10’s are pre-ban. No further info at this time.

Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup For Guns

Military Manufacturing (M2)

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 magazine release.

Nesard

See “Sendra” below.

Olympic Arms (Continued)

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

35222 and Below – Pre Ban AR 15 Rifles (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

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 citizens

By Geremy Chubbuck (chubbg@champint.com)
Excel Version

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

Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup Engine

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.

Bushmaster

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.

    Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup

    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.

    Lookup

    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.

    Bushmaster Xm15 E2s Serial Number Lookup Reverse

    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).