Pre-Ban Olympic Arms AR15...what do you guys think??

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i know a guy trying to sell one for $800. it is a pre-ban Olympic lower with a post-ban upper, he has no mags cuz he sold them (figures). he also says the serial numbers on the lower are pre-ban, but the papers can't be obtained because the factory burned down a while back along with all the documentation for the guns. is this true?? can i still buy this gun legally as a preban?? is it pointless to have the pre-ban lower with a postban upper?? any info would be appreciated, it seems like a good deal. it does have a colapsable stock, muzzle brake, iron sights, picatinney rail, 16" barrell. don't know much about these rifles...looking for some guidance!!

he is gonna text me pics tonight which i will try to post later, and he is gonna tell me what brand the upper is.
 
Was it a complete rifle in AWB configuration prior to the 1994 cutoff? Or simply a lower receiver made before the cutoff?

If yes; you are all set.
If no; you are committing a felony.
If no one can prove it wasn't a complete rifle because the records have been destroyed; you are probably all set.
 
that's the thing, i don't know....the more i think about it i'm probably better of buying one new with some type of warranty. as much as i would love a pre-ban, i feel more comfortable with a brand new one.
 
I'm not sure I would be concerned about a warranty as much as proof that it is in fact pre-ban. Not worth getting jammed up over what someone "assumes" is pre-ban.

If it is pre-ban, that is a good deal though!
 
Due to the fire, only the date range of manufacture can be determined. Configuration is unknown...

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...

http://www.olyarms.com/index.php?Itemid=26&id=13&option=com_content&task=view
 
Just checked the serial number with the seller. It's listed in 1989...and he replaced the upper since he had it. Apparantly, and old relative of his worked for ARMS who made bi pods for the AR and this gun was bought by ARMS then sold to his relative and then given to him. So, $800 for a preban...or $700 for a brand new M&P sport?? Hmmmmm.....

Thank u very much for posting that link Kevlar!!!
 
Here it is, says it's 9 out of ten:


67cdc66b.jpg
 
So, $800 for a preban...or $700 for a brand new M&P sport?? Hmmmmm.....

Is it configured how you want it? If not you might be spending a few bucks to put a good stock and upper on it anyway. In my opinion the stock and upper on it (based on your picture) are kinda lame, but to each his own.

Looks like all Model 1 parts:

Upper: http://www.model1sales.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=321
Stock: http://www.model1sales.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=466

The M&P is probably better quality....
 
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That is worth $800 every day, and twice on Sunday.

I guess that depends how much of a premium you put on a pre-ban lower. Setting that aside the rifle would be worth $500 - $550 tops. It's a used Oly / Model 1 hybrid, neither of which have a great reputation for quality.
 
I plan on buying a bump stock no matter what I buy, so that's an expense I am planning on. Other than that, maybe a quadrail handguard. I kinda don't like the handle, I was wanting just a rail mount scope on top.

Maybe I'll offer him 650 and see if I can get it any cheaper:-)
 
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I plan on buying a bump stock no matter what I buy, so that's an expense I am planning on. Other than that, maybe a quadrail handguard. I kinda don't like the handle, I was wanting just a rail mount scope on top.

You don't need a pre-ban lower for any of those things. Just saying.
 
Given the prices I have been seeing lately for pre-ban lower only at roughly $800, is what I am basing my opinion on.
My outlook would be: If I had $800 to spend on an AR right now, and a deal came by on a complete AR with a Pre-Ban lower for $800, I would jump on it.
 
Given the prices I have been seeing lately for pre-ban lower only at roughly $800, is what I am basing my opinion on.
My outlook would be: If I had $800 to spend on an AR right now, and a deal came by on a complete AR with a Pre-Ban lower for $800, I would jump on it.

I think you're over-estimating. The last pre-ban Oly lower that sold on Gunbroker went for $350, and that was with a stock and trigger group. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=251153186

(That's even too high in my opinion.)
 
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You don't need a pre-ban lower for any of those things. Just saying.

Point taken...here's a question - I saw a bayonette that has a rail mount on eBay for like $60 smith and Wesson I believe. If I had a post ban with a quad rail hand guard, would it be legal to have a rail mounted bayonet? Since technically there is no bayonet lug??

And yes, this is the first I've seen listed at under $1,000 for preban.
 
Point taken...here's a question - I saw a bayonette that has a rail mount on eBay for like $60 smith and Wesson I believe. If I had a post ban with a quad rail hand guard, would it be legal to have a rail mounted bayonet? Since technically there is no bayonet lug??

And yes, this is the first I've seen listed at under $1,000 for preban.

I guess that would be legal, but very very lame. Would it even make it past the end of the barrel? It'd have to be like 15 inches long.
 
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I think you're over-estimating. The last pre-ban Oly lower that sold on Gunbroker went for $350, and that was with a stock and trigger group. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=251153186

That one didn't sell, reserve not met. So that could mean it's worth more cuz the seller didn't sell it at that price...or it could mean it's worth less cuz there wasn't a buyer willing to pay it. But I will say that lower looks beat up and it has a different grip so who knows. I've been shopping for a couple weeks and every Pre-ban AR was over $1000 and where pretty basic as well.
 
I guess that would be legal, but very very lame. Would it even make it past the end of the barrel? It'd have to be like 15 inches long.

Not if u had a full length hand guard...but even then the bayonet would only extend about 2-3" past the barrel. It's intended for pistols really. Just a thought I had about getting around the whole bayonet restriction.
 
That one didn't sell, reserve not met. So that could mean it's worth more cuz the seller didn't sell it at that price...or it could mean it's worth less cuz there wasn't a buyer willing to pay it. But I will say that lower looks beat up and it has a different grip so who knows. I've been shopping for a couple weeks and every Pre-ban AR was over $1000 and where pretty basic as well.

OK, here's one that went for $475: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=252594597

And a whole rifle that went for $650: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=257844555



Not if u had a full length hand guard...but even then the bayonet would only extend about 2-3" past the barrel. It's intended for pistols really. Just a thought I had about getting around the whole bayonet restriction.


Dude. If Elton John had an AR he'd have one of those.
 
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Did it come with a reach-around?

no but it did come with the comfort of being able see it before i buy it and i supported a local business. worth the extra $ to me. maybe its different in mass but in ct they go for 775 everywhere and there is a wait list.
 
no but it did come with the comfort of being able see it before i buy it and i supported a local business. worth the extra $ to me. maybe its different in mass but in ct they go for 775 everywhere and there is a wait list.

That wasn't a serious question, but good for you.
 
Is it configured how you want it? If not you might be spending a few bucks to put a good stock and upper on it anyway. In my opinion the stock and upper on it (based on your picture) are kinda lame, but to each his own.

Looks like all Model 1 parts:

Upper: http://www.model1sales.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=321
Stock: http://www.model1sales.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=466

The M&P is probably better quality....

Looks much more like a Bushmaster upper, I've got three of them exactly like it.View attachment 23216

The Model 1 Sales barrels have a different cut behind the flash suppressor. I've got a couple of them too. And, there's nothing wrong with Model 1 Sales uppers either, they shoot just fine.

Either way, that rifle if preban is worth $800. Bet you won't find one in any gunshop for less in MA.
 
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I would only buy it if you want to have a flash hider, or you want to add a collapsible stock.

If you don't need/want either of those two things, then save yourself the money and just build a post-ban.

In relative terms (eg, gun shop price for that would be way higher) its a good deal but there are a lot of junk parts on that thing you're going to be throwing away or will be collecting dust. (The A2 upper is pretty much worthless if you are going to put optics on it, for example). Then depending on how bad the other stuff is, you may end up tossing most of it except for maybe the bolt carrier group. If you look at it that way, then it might not be such a good deal.

-Mike
 
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Looks much more like a Bushmaster upper.

Either way it's not a great upper. I've had a model 1 barrel (my first and only) with the front sight pinned on a serious cant and my first service rifle upper was a bushmaster with rear sights that wouldn't track....

Whatever though, if you have money burning a hole in your pocket and you like it buy it. It's your money.
 
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