Ultra Rare Mattel M16A1 Examination
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- Long thought to be a myth or a poorly-remembered memory of war, the M16A1 rifle made by Mattel for use by troops in Vietnam really does exist ... April Fools!
Discussion of the Mattel M16 myth with historian Martin K. A. Morgan: • The Myth of Mattel's M...
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My dad was in the Marines in Vietnam. He was issued both the M14 and M16 and liked them both. He never had the "horror stories" about the M16 that other vets had.
Some guys had issues and others didn't, that's for sure. Glad your Dad was one of the lucky ones.
My brother was in the Marines in the sixties. And trained with the M14 exclusively while on Parris Island. He was accelerated and wasn’t even done training and was deployed.
He shows up in country and received the M16 without any training. Great times.
@@whereswaldo5740 My dad swapped his M14 for an M16 as soon as he arrived in country.
Because he was a Marine. The Corps instills weapon maintenance like no other service. The M16 models are tight fitting weapons with little tolerance to build-up.
@Where’s Waldo Yep. They went from 12 weeks at boot camp to 6 weeks before being deployed and were expected to pick up the rest in country.
LOL, you got me. I'm usually good at picking up on April Fools jokes, but your deadpan delivery nailed it. Especially when you did a closeup of the handguard. I said to myself, "oh wow, they had the same problem with thermal sinks that Brownells has on their retro handguards". 😆 😂.
Thanks for watching and for taking the joke in stride!
@@beargillium2369 I don't recall ever saying I invented the myth, and I'd love to read the article you found. Can you send it to me if I give you an email address?
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC maybe ironically the place where we're most likely to find these grips is probably somewhere in Vietnam
@@beargillium2369 The snopes article you claim proves Mattel made the grips is exactly the opposite. The 1987 book they cite is called "More Rumor!" and it's about debunking common myths. The citation at snopes is showing an example of the myth that the book disproves.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC it says: "Morgan and Tucker, 1987]
The handgrip of the M16 rifle was made by Mattel. When the gun was first introduced in Vietnam, soldiers noticed the toy company's logo embossed on the handgrip and complained. Later shipments arrived without the imprint, but the grips were still manufactured by Mattel."
Mattel did make an M-16 though. They called it the 'M-16 Marauder Automatic Rifle' and featured 'real sound'. "Hear 50 rounds of Automatic Rifle Fire! No Caps! No Batteries!"
Very true - and they're surprisingly expensive for a toy!
I had one. Wore it out from so much play
They did make parts for the M16 and AR15, and there is proof. The Book Of Colt Firearms literally shows the Mattel parts. Not only do they show the parts, but one of the guns with Mattel parts that they show is the very first SP1 serial number 00001. That same rifle went up for auction at RIA, and was featured in the September 2012 RIA catalog, and in that catalog RIA also says it has parts made by Mattel. I am not sure if they made receivers, but they did in fact make parts. So just read The Book Of Colt Firearms or lookup the RIA catalog from September 2012, because both show the Mattel parts. So yes Mattel did at least make parts, and there is verifiable proof.
When I was a kid my younger brother had a Mattel marauder M16, he'd carry it when my granddad, dad & I would go rabbit hunting, when we got close to a good spot, he would shoot his M16 and scare the rabbits out of the brush for us to shoot.
I also had a Mattel marauder M16. I wish I still owned it, but I have no idea what happened to it.
Fun! Most unusual sight for me was at Ft.Benning about 16 years ago. I was assisting the USAMU deliver SDM Training and noticed one Soldier had an M16 Lower Receiver which was labeled as being made by General Motors Transmission Division as I recall. I have not seen another but then I do not get out much.
It was the GM Hydra-Matic division. They made around 469,000 in total. Thanks for watching!
Hydra-Matic had a long history (since WW2, possibly earlier) of war production - parts, and complete weapons.
Supposedly, the idea behind these were such that a *lot* of the parts were intended to be made by subcontractors. Someone had learned what Germany did in late ww2 about distributing production such that production could be maintained even when widespread bombing/shelling/missiles/ etc. was happening.
I was issued A2 with a hydromatic receiver for WESTPAC '85.
At Ft Hood, I had a receiver on my rifle stamped GM Turbo Hydramatic. I had one made by Chrysler Corp at Ft Knox and in 1976, they gave use replacement handguards made by Mattel (No April Fool's joke). C Company 46th Engr BN was up from Ft Rucker, AL to do dirt work on the Lower Douglas dam. Anyone who was there in '76 (In my platoon anyway) would remember this.
Yep, I carried one for a few years...
I had heard about the Mattel guns but didn't actually realize that they didn't exist until this video. Glad I watched until the end. LOL
Thanks for watching - and I'm glad you learned something!
Mattel M-16's did exist. I carried one in Army Basic Training. This TH-camr just thinks they didn't exist; but, I'm here to testify that yes they did.
@@301steady No, M16s with Mattel handgrips on them exist. Mattel never made a complete firearm. Here is the M16 wiki page, it clearly shows all the manufacturers of the M16 for the US military. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20the%20design,for%20the%20other%20service%20branches.
Hilarious video!! Well done. Kudos for keeping a straight face through it all!
Thanks!
Mattel did make a stock for that A1, my a1 hac.d Mattel on the stock , stupid.
In basic training in 1986 our drill set told us "Don't believe that crap about the M-16 being made by Mattel. They only make the butt stock, grip, and fore grips". HAHA!
I've heard that version too, but there's nothing to support it. To my knowledge, all of the plastic parts from the known makers are marked accordingly and there are no unidentified markings or even unmarked parts that could possibly be linked to Mattel.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC Indeed, my friend, but we all should respect the myth as one of the longest and most often repeated gun rumors in history.
I had a Mattel toy M16 as a kid it sounded really cool ! I am surprised you did not talk about that one .
There's another video here on the channel that talks about the Mattel Marauder.
The sound box was in the "magazine", which was much thicker than a real mag in order to hold the sound mechanism. I really wish I still had my toy guns, but my nephews were very rough with them after I left home for school.
As did I. Fond memories of me and Brian Harlan playing “Guns” outside.
Fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.
My old boss was a door gunner on a gunship in Vietnam back in the 60s and told me he had seen am M16 made by Mattel. I thought it strange but actually had an M1 carbine made by Underwriters. A typewriter manufacturer. IBM even made some. Not very knowledgeable about M16s everything you said made sense.
So I was definitely taken in.
April 3rd, 2023.
THAT was a good one.
Thanks for watching and for taking the joke in stride. Yes, over the years, a number of unconventional manufacturers have stepped up to help with weapons production, but there's zero physical proof that Mattel was ever one of them.
I think that should be Underwood.
When I was in DEP, the Marine and Navy recruiter offices were in the same building. The Marine recuiter brought in an M16 to show us future sailors. I remember distinctly him joking that the gun was made by Mattel because it was made of plastic. I always assumed he meant it was the plastic parts, like the handguard, and buttstock, made by Mattel. This was in 1983.
Thanks for watching! Joking is the key word here. There's never been any proof that Mattel made M16 parts - labeled or not.
Damnit! I wanted to believe!
In the early to mid 1970s I,as a child, had a toy M16 . M16 was cast written on the magazine well of the receiver. and it had a prong flash hider. The stock,pistol grip and forearm were black and the barrel and receiver were a blue color. This color combination exactly matched the color of the M16s in the John Wayne movie The Green Berets. If I recall correctly the toy was manufactured by Mattel toy company….. many years later I was issued an A2 variant followed by an M 4…. I miss my toys……😊
In the movie 'The Green Berets' there is a scene where John Wayne breaks one of the Mattel Toy M16"s on a tree. You can see it is a toy by the larger magazine on it as that was where the speaker on the toy was located.
I had one of those! It was awesome! Just wish I still had it.
This was amazing! I don't know why it took a year to cross my feed but I'm glad it did and I subscribed!
Awesome! Thank you! Better late than never, right!?
The new Toy Story looks absolutely incredible
Underrated comment lmao
A little off topic but....when me and my brother were kids (70s 80s) we had a toy pistol that shot the yellow rubber balls. The pistol was very streamlined and futuristic (I think it was made by Mattel or Daisy). Years later I learned at a gun show that there was an actual pistol. The Whitney Wolverine in 22 lr. Of course it was a little more than I wanted to pay. Later Olympic Arms released their version. Just a little side note of toy gun/real gun examples. edit: Okay. I found the toy. It's a Rayline Zebra II.
The Rayline Zebra does bear a striking resemblance to the Whitney Wolverine!
I have one of those!
I had that toy pistol as well.
th-cam.com/video/pMR9kwgxTh4/w-d-xo.html
If Forgotten Weapons and Valor Ridge had a child.
That's a new one I hadn't heard yet!
On a real Mattel M-16 ,the magazine would hold a 250 roll of caps.
Haha yes! The Marauder toy!
Mine had a pull back that wound a spring I think. You could shoot a really long burst with that thing no batteries in it it had a mechanical noise maker that sounded pretty real .
@@jhonsiders6077 The Marauder was a cool toy!
When I was a kid, I had a Mattel® M-16 Marauder. The Mattel® toy was used in a scene in the movie The Green Berets, Col. Striker (John Wayne ) broke an M-16 against a tree to disable it to keep it from being used by the Viet Cong. ( the A-1 flash hider did look a bit fishy as I would have expected a 3-prong hider.)
I was a Basic Training Commander at Fort Jackson years ago, and among the rifles the troops were issued were a mixture of Colt, FN, Balimoy, Harrington and Richardson, and Hydramatic. The old receivers were repurposed with A2 uppers right up to the point where M4's replaced the A2 rifles.
Here's why this argument even exists: Plenty of veterans remember the Mattel rifles. The government and Mattel corporation absolutely don't want that fact confirmed and despite so many knowing the truth, simply scrubbed the records.
Plenty of guys who join and serve in the military are not gun guys, especially in basic.. But seeing a rifle sporting a toy company logo gets more than a few people's attention and is often many a veterans introduction to the "lowest bidder" reality.
Of course the last of those rifles were gone from BCT unit armories by the time the military moved to the M-4. Likely destroyed.
The fact this argument persists is in itself very interesting. First I heard of it was in the mid 2010's. So after the military likely had long disposed of the rifles. The argument is so persistent that it's to the point of me wondering if was and still is an early example of 5th Generation Warfare being deployed and tested, possibly still tested to see how well and long a manipulated truth can persist in a community that values facts and correct information.
You guys have your lack of records, we have what we clearly remember.. It's an information version of Yanni/Laurel and the white gold/black blue dress perception problem.
I randomly got suggested this video 11 months after it was first posted.
TFW you get to 8:00 min mark and thinking this is a crazy story and then you drop the date you posted this video lmao.
Haha thanks for watching and for taking the joke in stride!
I was in the USAF and my first "M16" was marked Colt / Armalite.
Then I got a "Colt M16a1 with the unicorn logo"
Both were 100% reliable!
Loved the video! Very fun.
In the same vein, I remember talking to a couple WW2 vets who insisted to me that their favorite rifle was the one made by cutting down an M1 into (drumroll) the M1 carbine!
Lol, memory/perceptions are a funny thing.
Now that's one I have never heard before!
The fact that you went out of your way to get this lower made, is a level of commitment to the bit that I highly fucking respect. I am subscribing.
Thanks very much! Appreciate you watching, commenting, and subscribing!
I carried the M16A1 rifle. It was the best variation. The front sight post was tubular, so it was sturdy. It was easy to Zero the sights. The Left Right forearms fit nicely in the no firing hand and easy to steady. The M16A1 had a foreward assist.
That's exactly the weapon I had in infantry basic training at fort Benning, it was so worn out that the barrel jiggled inside the upper
I remember these rifles. I was an armorer in 1979 in the Army, stationed at Ft Knox, and I remember seeing m16s that were marked Mattel and I don't think anyone ever believed me. I also remember the manifest and the fact that the rifle cost about $75 each.
Interesting. One, because you are too dense to realize this is a joke video, and 2, because you, like many others of your generation, always say you remember this vividly, yet there is literally zero physical evidence via photographs or videos of the time, nor any statement from Mattel themselves vindicating these claims of "seeing Mattel M16s". Ever heard of the Mandela Effect?
Our memory can play tricks on us
I did my basic training at Ft.
Jackson, SC in 1982. The rifle I was issued had the Mattel logo on the lower receiver. It did not look like the one in this video.
I was in the Marines from 1981 to 1988.....I was in the infantry....lejune n Pendleton n Parris Island....I guarantee you with out a shadow of a doubt different places I was stationed issued us Mattel M16s.....for real real
The problem here is that someone will watch the opening of this, not watch to the end, and then declare he's seen PROOF it exists... I can't believe it never occurred to me to have a A1-style lower marked with Mattel markings before seeing this.
Unfortunately, there are people who claim to have actually held them, so I'm not worried about the video.
You got me good… I was believing it all…
Haha! Yes - gotcha! Thanks for watching!
Oh man did I fall for that one. You made it sound so believable and I’m an 60’s kid do you know I love Mattel! Too bad I didn’t watch the end of video before I went out telling everyone. 😂 I want one even more now! 2 of a kind! 😂❤️🇺🇸
Thanks for watching! Glad you got a kick out of it!
I knew this was going to turn out to be what it was, you're actually not the first person to do this, there's been other one's surface that people have had made like what you've done.
Great April Fool's day video.
👍👍👍
Yeah, I actually had the lower made by the same guy who made one for Martin KA Morgan, who I mentioned in this video.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC ; wish you could have made a third hole in the lower to make it more believable at first but im sure you like your freedom, plus the explanation you gave for why it wasnt there was perfect. great video lol
@@bobbywright6354 Thanks! Yeah, would have loved to drill that third hole, but as you said, I value my freedom - and my dogs!
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC you know about the third hole I think he even taking a sharpie and putting a black dot there so idiot would call that your marking it so it can be drilled I wouldn't put nothing past the politicized government agencies very nice rifle man
Not April fool's , actually true.
It's true, Mattel made parts for the M16, or so some may (correctly? incorrectly?) remember. A summary search, based on the insistence of the originator of the top comment on this video indicates that there is no physical evidence of Mattel having made plastic components for the M16. A lot of memories, but that's it.
I'll be honest, I never studied the various weapons I was issued for over two decades close enough to remember small details like furniture markings. My M249 SAW was made in Belgium, so I suspect it was an early Army contract receiver (most are made in Columbia, SC now), and my M16s and M4s were all either Colt or FN.
I ran four Arms Rooms, including one with a lot of historical weapons including an XM177E2, an MP44, and other fairly uncommon small arms, and still can't insist on knowing much about each gun. I made note of the manufacturers of our M14s and ensured I was assigned a certain one, but to be honest still can't say which manufacturer I chose. That's been less than 20 years ago, much more recent than the 50+ years ago that Mattel M16s supposedly existed.
Anyway, nice and convincing video. I've subscribed and wish that I'd have found your channel sooner. I wonder if Forgotten Weapons' rather elaborate April 1st video and collaboration pushed the algorithm to recommend other good channels.
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
Had a neighbor growing up that fought in Viet-Nam. He told me that most M16's he came across in theater had Mattel handguards on the front.
I was issued an M16 A1 made by Mattel. Recieved from the armorer and proceeded to clean it and seen the exact stamping on the magazine well. I thought how funny! As a kid I had a hand me down marauder by Mattel. Years later I'd tell people about that rifle and they wouldn't believe me. The crazy thing is I was issued the rifle in 1993 with the California National Guards 40th Infantry division. A mechanized moarter unit of Brookhurst street. I believe Fullerton. Then I look that rifle up a few years ago and all the "experts" said it never existed. April fools bs. That gun existed.
Cool vidieo! When I was in the Marine Corps in the 70's Staff NCO's referred to this as a "Matel" gun beacause of the butstock, pistol grip and handguards. Should make one to take to the gun club just for shits and giggles. Loved it thanks!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, it's definitely a conversation (and sometimes argument) starter at the range!
I knew immediately it had to be a gag. I carried the M16 in the early 1970s and although we joked about it being made by Mattel, I don't think any of us actually believed it. However, Mattel had more experience with polymers than most companies so it wouldn't have been hard to believe they made the stock, handguard, and/or pistol grip. Even so, I don't remember anyone I served with giving it any credence.
There's a surprising number of people who swear they exist.
I remember a skit on "The Flip Wilson Show" where there were a group of soldiers who were fighting in Vietnam and were complaining that the Army didn't care about them. One of them said, "Look, even the gun is made from Mattel!" I remember the sequence well although I am paraphrasing the lines here. Great video though as I admit, you got me! Thanks!
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video.
As someone watching this well after April, I knew something was wrong when I saw the bcg wasn't Chrome, and it had the forward assist ratcheting cuts. 😂😂😂 had me going for a sec though!
Thanks for watching and for taking the joke in stride!
The Mattel logo has saw tooth points all around the circle that surrounds the name, and perhaps the smooth circle on that receiver keeps the lawyers away.
Nah, Mattel used the smooth circle on the rifles to differentiate the divisions that made guns versus toys. LOL. Just kidding.
Ahhh! Bamboozled! Good video Logan. Took it hook, line, and sinker.
Haha! Yes - gotcha!
I went to Basic Training at Fort Dix in the Fall of 1980 and used the Mattel manufactured M16's
The logo on the side was the actual Mattel Round Saw Blade Logo.
Cute. Word was back in my 70s Ordnance Daze, word was that Mattel actually DID produce the stocks, handguards and grips for M16/M16A1 rifles. True Story? I've no clue. I've never seen those items in packaging indicating Mattel as the manufacturer and I know of no cage code assigned to Mattel.
There's simply no proof that Mattel ever made any parts for the military. No documentation or parts have ever surfaced.
About two minutes before you mentioned the date, I was thinking that I should check the date of this video to see if its a prank.
Beautifully done, I suspect that had you not announced that it was a gag, that many viewers would've fsllen for it.
Thanks for watching!
8:13 I’ve never felt so betrayed in my life
I appreciate you watching and taking the joke in stride.
Awesome joke! I would've believed it based on your delivery. 😆😆😆
Thanks for watching and for taking the joke in stride!
Dude, that's awesome, and you 100% got on on the April.Fools prank hahahaha 😂
It still a super cool gun and I loved the story.
chEErs!
Thanks for watching and for taking the joke as the fun thing it was meant to be!
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC chEErs 😎
I have argued with people over two ARs that were issued to us in basic at Fort Polk. About half our company had M16s that were labeled Mattel. Perhaps it was only on the plastics, but not on the receiver, but it did exist somewhere on the weapon. The other was the Colt, fully automatic, AR15s, of which I was shooting. I remember that I preferred it over the Mattel, only because it did not say Mattel and because I was able to shoot Expert Marksman. I was in 1973 to 1976. There were many variations of which may not have received much attention.
I was issued a Mattel M-16 in Basic Training in 1974. I had no problems with it and it fired OK. It's hard to miss that "Mattel" in the circle logo. Tens of thousands of soldiers used this weapon and the Government was worried about a NDA about a weapon with the company logo emblazoned on the magazine well??? That sounds like too many voices to ignore!
I would think it would be Mattel that didn't want the public to know about this
One veteran who went overseas with a M14, was later issued a M16, said he sent home a request for a made by Mattel sticker.
I grew up playing with toy guns made by Mattel. 50 years ago I was in air force basic training and qualified on a Mattel made M16. So yes, they do exist.
When and where were you in basic?
They don't exist. If a M16 made by Mattel exists than prove it.
I, for one, totally believe you.
I was issued one in basic training in 1987 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Tripped me out.
I remember showing it off to the other soldiers.
I believe it was a Nam-Era rifle.
If we had camera phones back then, I would have taken a picture of it, because no one in permanent party ever believed me.
Best to you-
😂at first I was like, bruh that's an a2 lower😂 good video
Thanks for watching!
Mattel did make a M-16 toy rifle in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Also, A U.S. Army soldier told me that the hand guards and pistol grip were made for the M-16 by Mattel back in 1980.
Yes, they did make a toy. It was called the Marauder. As for the hand guards and grips: that has never been proven. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I took basic at Benning 1979...used one for everthing! I remember it well ! Expert badge and it never let me down. Had a laugh or two with my brothers about it! Had narrow handguards seemed like also.
I enjoyed the ride; Nicely done!
Thanks! 👍
I came to call BS, but see this was an April Fool's release. Mattel would not have made just a lower receiver. In fact, it is unlikely they would have made any aluminum parts since their specialty was plastics.
Now if you said Mattel was a third party supplier to colt and others for the the furniture, that would be entirely possible.
Mattel's involvement in M16 production is one of the most pervasive gun myths of the 20th century. Guys claim everything from their production of small plastic parts all the way up to entire guns. The fact of the matter is that there's zero documentation or tangible proof that they had any involvement whatsoever.
I know for a fact that Matel made furniture for the M-16. I have seen the marks on the weapon myself that a friend that came back from Vietnam ( who kept his rifle ) showed a group of us.
Your friend kept the machine gun that was issued to him in Vietnam?
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC , It was a long time ago. In the early 70s and he just got back so I assumed that is where he got it. At the time I wasn't that into weapons yet.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC HAHA 😂 my thoughts exactly
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC I have heard multiple stories of guys shipping the parts to reassemble an M16 back home piece by piece.
I was in the USAF and THAT Was my rifle. They still exist. We had a joke of Matty Mattel. It's a very nice shooting rifle. Now that is a different deal because ours were full auto and stamped Mattel. You will find they do. Also us carrying them know what we carried.
In the Marines I was issued the first M16,A2 IN 1981,I got first COLT. I loved it. Good video. It had a bad reputation to start with
Cheap toy.
Yes, early on they were often compared to cheap toys because of the plastic components, but nontheless, they were never made by a toy company. At any rate, thanks for your service.
I was going to call out the missing sear pin above the selector, the mis-matched coloring. LOL Happy April Fools.
Happy April Fools to you as well! Also, I've seen plenty of photos of guys with M16s (a1s and a2s) that have been reworked and the colors on the upper and lower don't match. So, I figured this didn't bother me too much. Plus, since Mattel was putting Colt uppers on their own lowers, some color discrepancy is to be expected! LOL!
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC True, I really like that lower, I have 2 A1's I built back in the 80's - back then if you wanted an AR you either built an A1 or a XM177A1 -- I went with the A1 - You had to scrounge around at gunshows, but pretty much everything you bought back then was surplus military, not like today where that's dried up and everybody that can pronounce AR makes a part for the 10,000 different models. Since those early days I've built a few A2's and a few M4's look-a-likes, Guess I'm old, but the original A1 is still my favorite, it's everything it was meant to be, light, accurate at combat distances and you can't hang a bunch of useless shit on it. the A2 is a close 2nd for me. Enjoy, it's a nice and rather unique rifle.
Hate to make this long, I know a guy that served in the AF back in the 80's, He swears up and down that his issue M16 said Mattel LOL -- I just let him live the fantasy.
Pretty funny how war stories grow and grow. You got me on this one. I never believed the whole rifle story, but did believe that a plastic toy maker could easily get a contract for plastic parts. In WWII, companies that made anything often found themselves making anything they could get a wartime contract for. Today, any aluminum casting company worth their salt could cast parts that could be CNC machined by 50 or 100 different shops easily. Making M16 rifles utilizing multiple contracts for components in 2023 would be a real easy ramp up. Right now, any current AR maker could tool over to M16 only in a very short time in an emergency military order. If there was anything pure genius about the whole M16 concept was that they are easier than ever to make because of the polymers and aluminum alloy that have become common as dirt throughout industry over the last 60+ years. I was in an anodizing shop several years ago in Kansas City and recognized AR buttplate and trapdoor parts going down the anodizing line. Relatively small shop doing their part in the making of an AR for some company.
Yeah WWII was an all hands on deck operation when it came to manufacturing. Definitely a different story in Vietnam. And yeah, the modularity of the platform and its popularity makes it really easy for places to jump on board in 2023.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC How many times have you had someone tell you Charlie's guns could shoot our ammo but ours couldn't shoot theirs. 🤔🙄 I've seen a lot of cartridges over the years, and reloaded a few. And I cant figure how such a story ever started.
I know this is a joke, but I was really surprised to learn that International Harvester manufactured M1 rifles during the Korean War.
Yeah, lots of unconventional makers chipped in during WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
The Aussie army M16A1's we had were old by the time I got my hands on one in 1985. Only the section commanders, forward scouts and #1 rifleman used them. The #1 rifleman had an M203 mounted to his. Everybody else (except the gunner) carried an FN L1A1. There was a lot of play between the upper and lower. I do remember the discoloration between the upper and lower as well, like yours. All were stamped Colt, Hartford Conn. Great yarn. Had me for a while.
Thanks for watching and for sharing the Aussie insight!
Indeed. Must have been easier just to dunk the whole thing in a barrel of LSA...
I'm currently building
a GM Hydra Matic M16 Clone.
The project started when I found original early M16 Triangular Handguards, Pistol Grip and Stock that are a Fiberglass Bakelite Material with whitish threads in the Material.
An Upper from Brownells and other small parts.
Last year did GM Hydra Matic XM177E2 Type Prototype and R&H XM177E2 Prototype...both have the Aluminum 2 position Buttstocks
Nice! The pistol grip and stock on this one are original, but the handguards are Brownells repros.
What I understand is when the M16 was first issued soldiers thought it looked more like a toy because of all the plastic and that's how the rumor started that Mattel make M16s a friend of mine was in the Air Force in Vietnam he's even said that the M16 was made by Mattel and I asked him I said did you ever see one he said no he said that the once he saw were made by Colt it was a rumor that was spread around
Yep, definitely one of the most pervasive military myths of the 20th century.
"This is my rifle. This is my gun. This is for fighting. This is for fun." Gunny Ermey.
Okay, April fools. But still listen to our famous drill Sergent, when it comes to that weapon system.
Great video. Good April Fools joke.
Thank you!
Matel was ahead of the game lol they even had A2 lowers. Haha love the video.
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great retro build. I have been planning the same build for years but never followed through. I couldn't find anyone to do the rollmark. Great work
I've heard that issue from a few people. Unfortunately, the company that did this one no longer offers the service.
I knew something was weird at first with how new and lighter colored the lower looked, but then just rolled with it and was fooled
I should have gone with my gut lol
Thanks for taking the joke in stride!
My pleasure buddy! It was an Awesome April fools!!
Glad you enjoyed the joke!
As soon as he started being coy in the first minute about what the gun was I immediately noticed the two 80% lowers sitting on the shelf right above his head and figured he had the markings done himself, but he was pretty convincing because who would go to the trouble and expense just do a goof? But the 2 lowers were an immediate red flag.
Thanks for taking the joke in stride, but the lowers you see aren't 80% ones. The completely unfinished one is a solid forged piece, so essentially, still a 0% lower. The other one is actually chunks of an M16A1 that had been crushed at a base in Colorado a couple decades ago when they had orders to scrap a bunch of rifles.
The Filk Song Space Hero mentions "guns that jam and spray like hell, with stocks made by Mattel." I never thought that Mattel actually made furniture for the M16 proper.
They never did.
AF vet from 73-77. Being on the nuclear arms convoy crew I had 23 M16's signed out to me for the Weapons storage area. We only heard of these and it was a standing joke with everybody. But I never seen one untill now
If you watch to the end or read the video description, you'll see that it was an April Fool's joke.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC Your right but the joke was always real. 🤣🤣
I bet the ATF is confused about the origins on that lower. No third axis pin. Colt AR-15 upper.
I have just come upon your channel and have watched four of your videos, prior to this one, and plan to watch many more of them. While I realize that many-or most-people enjoy April Fools pranks, I don't number myself among them. While I, very much, enjoyed the previous videos, I'm disappointed that I wasted eight minutes of my life watching this prank. I'm sure I'll see better work from you in the future.
Thanks for watching. I assure you this is the only joke video on the entire channel.
And I thought you found the ultimate unicorn...shame.
If I had, it would be worth untold sums!
You really F 'd my mind up with this story . Problem is I had an M 16 A 1 issued to me in boot camp at Fort Dix June 1975. I remembered my rifle serial number until a few years ago , and I still remember it once in awhile. I can tell you my rifle had Mattell Toy stamped on the left in a circular Seal Type Logo. I never cared about that stuff or knew much about it. I just knew every freaking part of it from dis assembling it and cleaning it so often. That SOB was clean when I had it, I can tell you that . I apparently was pretty good with it in Basic I qualified Sharpshooter . I have a certificate. LOL. So a few times I told guys about Mattell Logo on my M 16 and of course they all call BullShit . All I know is we had them in the Armory at Fort Dix in 1975.
If you ever remember the serial number, let me know!
ROFL bullpoop… your mattel rifle has M16A2 reinforcements. That was a 8O% receiver done with mattel markings.
@@p99guy I take it you didn't watch until the end of the video.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC it just wasn’t that good of a joke….. it probably caused more confusion among
The low info types than anything useful.
@Grumpy Bastard hiketh longly
Your story had one little thing missing and that was that Mattel did make the handgrip. The myth about Mattel helping to make M16s is true, but saying that Mattel manufactured M16s is a bit misleading because they never actually manufactured the firearm itself. They just made one of the plastic components on the gun. It was a patriotic way for the toy makers to support our troops, and provided a low-cost addition to the firearm. While the M16’s handgrip was imprinted with Mattel’s logo, as soon as they started gaining notoriety for their involvement in the M16’s manufacture, Mattel stopped embossing their logo on the grips. While the grips no longer bore the Mattel logo, that didn’t mean they had stopped making the part. They continued to do so and simply stopped adding their logo. But at that point, the damage was done and that one little detail gave rise to an ongoing myth. Soldiers joking about how their guns felt like toys and the ill-timed release of Mattel’s toy M16, the M16 Marauder, fueled these myths that live on to this day.
The laser engraving rather than a roll mark was the biggest giveaway. Mismatched everything, and no auto sear could possibly be explained away, but not the markings.
Thanks for watching!
Lol! I am commenting *exactly* a year, to the day, that you posted this video.
So, *HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!*
Btw, I remember being an 18 year old "basic trainee" at Ft. Dix, NJ (1986 or so) discussing whether or not "the rumors were true'' that Mattel may or may not have had a hand in our issued weapons... 😂
Thanks for being here, watching, and taking the joke in stride!
I was issued one at Ft. McClellan in May of 1982. C 10 MP 14th Training Bde OSUT Charging Charlie. Drill Sgt was SSG Perry Allis, asst Drill Sgt was SGT Paul Roberts. You can say April fools all you want. I had one in my hands and fired it at the range at Ft McClellan. It happened. I knew at the time it had to be rare, but a recruit isn't allowed to take pictures of such things. You didn't know SSG Allis, he was a 27 year old airborne qualified, jungle expert hardass.
The Barbie gun!!! Well played
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the joke.
Born on 1975 so the story I was told, was the first Air Force M16A1 guns like 1000. Mattel made the buttstocks , pistol grips and handguards. But an outside company gave Mattel the resin to make the parts.
Interesting story, but there's simply no proof that this ever happened.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC I knew it was not true but that story was being pass around in the 80. I told you would like hearing the Mattel story. It was told from the Vets told to friends and a dumb 9 yr. LOL
You can tell by the smell it's made by Mattel...old Cav scout joke
All I remember of them was as a JOKE, "Made by Mattel" when the AR-15 were replacing M14 just after the M-1 Garands.
Who did those roll marks with Mattel? I want to get one made for myself asap! Thanks and funny vid!
The company who offered them is no longer doing it.
Today's Forgotten Weapons/Bloke on the Range collab sent me here.
Welcome!
Definitely not a myth. In the 1980s I was in the Texas Air National Guard at Hinsley Field in Grand Prairie TX and I was issued and qualified with the M16 made by Mattel. It was stamped right on it.
We used to joke about the old Toy company slogan "If it's made by Mattel, It's swell!"
I always thought the story was about sub contract plastic injection molding furniture made by Mattel. Had no clue it was whole rifles.
It depends on which version of the story you get from the vet who tells it. Some say it was the entire rifle and they were rollmarked Mattel right on the side plain as day. Others say they only made small parts. It's a roll of the dice as to which version you get!
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC if you had put the Tri Tip flash hider you would have had me for a few more minutes. 🤪
Good Job!
@@ElmoUnk1953 Thanks for watching!
😸 I thought it was a joke, too, and I served in the Army in the late seventies! Notice the lack of a forward assist, but it has the "birdcage" flash suppressor, not the "Vine catcher" of the earliest models.
Yeah, some concessions had to be made for this project due to difficulty in sourcing certain parts. Thanks for watching!
Wow A unicorn for sure!!! Awesome job and great jab and upper cut body blow at the end! I was starting to lean towards this outlandish theory but once you should this unicorn I was like woooooOOOOOOOooooo! Thanks for the education as always!
Thanks for watching and taking the joke in stride!
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC You seriously had me going like WHAAAAAAA.....?!?!?! THEN YOU SHOWED THE STAMPED LOGO and with the different parts vs the p-grip and shoulder, you had me seriously having A MANDELA EFFECT AND I WAS LIKE WTF, WHEN DID I ENTER ANOTHER TWILIGHT ZONE EPISODE AND HOW DO I GET OUT OF ROD STERLING'S MIND! - Maaaaaan you seriously got me like we playing cowboys and robbers boy I'm just glad that I'm not in another strange Salvador Dalhi surrealism nightmare!😅😆😂😁😀😊😋😎😍🤔😐😑😶😑😐😉😆😙😗🤗😇😎🙄😏😣😥😌🤓😛😜😖🙃😝🙁😪😯🤐😮😲😬😦😵🤑😳😳😳😳😳😳😖😂😂😂😂😂
I was issued the M16A1 in the 70s we use to laugh when cleaning weapons in basic training the plastic was stamped made by Mattel and being 17 years old most of us still had toys at home that was made by Mattel LOL
I love the slick side A1 upper. Wish they'd pump out a few more.
I love it, too. The asthetics are perfect.
I had one of those in66. I don’t know what happened to it but I loved it. Now I have 5 at-15’s😊
As soon as I saw the Mattel logo on the lower, I knew this was a gag. However, having said that, going back to the late 60s, my next door neighbor was a Master Sargent in the armory at the local army base and according to him replacement stocks and grips were being supplied by Mattel. So that may have contributed to the myth that they were making the whole guns.
There's never been any proof that Mattel made stocks or grips.
You got me, well done!
Thanks for taking the joke in stride!
I went to basic training in 1989 and we used weapons issued during Vietnam war. I had a Mattel M16 during basic and nobody since then believes me when I say I shot one.
The plastic was designed by "Mattel" and the BCG was designed by GM. My jaw dropped when we were told this in 1981 by our Vietnam/vet drill sergeant in our weapons class, and had Colt stamped on it, with M16A1.
Then were told that they probably saw combat.
GM Hydra-Matic made more than 400,000 complete rifles, but there's no proof of the Mattel connection.
@@HighCaliberHistoryLLC LOL....Ya it was prolly more of a bit of satire placed on the M16, cause of Mattel did introduce its M-16 Marauder in 1966-the same year the actual firearm went to Vietnam.
Came across my feed, outstanding!! And neat rifle to boot.
Thanks for watching!
I owned an M-1 Carbine made by the Underwood typewriter co made in 1943 and it jammed often but was easy to clear.