M16A1 assault rifle, USA 1967

Description of the Product

Development of the M16 assault rifle began after World War II in the 1950s. The idea was to develop a single weapon to replace both the heavy semi-automatic Military Rifles M1 Garands and the lighter and faster, but less powerful and effective M3 and Thompson submachine guns. What was needed was a weapon that was lighter, handier, and had more firepower than a full-size rifle, but at the same time was more powerful, more accurate, and had a better-range than a submachine gun. The initial development versions did not stand up to the classic Soviet AK-47 assault rifle, and there were ongoing problems with the weapons.

The M16 was introduced when the U.S. began operations in the Vietnam War in 1964 and the weapon immediately had to prove itself in the fierce jungle war. After significant reliability problems and demands for improvements, the weapon was renamed the M16A1 in 1967, and this time the weapon worked as had been hoped in the dense jungle battles. It was adopted as a U.S. infantry service rifle in 1969. The weapon served well until the end of the Vietnam War and has been in active use ever since. Currently, the U.S. military has a fourth development version of this same assault rifle, the M16A4, as a service rifle.

In the Vietnam War, the US-backed South Vietnam fought the Soviet- and Chinese-backed North Vietnam from 1955-1975. The U.S. feared  the Communist North would unite the country and began its own active warfare in 1964. This brutal jungle war was the first televised war, and widespread anti-war civic activism on the home front caused the U.S. to retreat from Vietnam. The US lost the war, even though it won all the battles. The bitter loss led to the dissolution of military service and the establishment of the professional U.S. Army.

The M16 fires 5.56 mm bullets either semi-automatically or fully automatically and is effective for distances up to 500 m. The weapon has a 30-cartridge magazine. About 8 million M16 rifles (and its copies) have been produced, most of which are still in use worldwide. The M16 is the most common weapon of its caliber, used in all NATO countries (including Estonia) and generally in many countries around the world, in addition to Europe and America, in India, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia.

The body and the barrel of the gun are made of metal and the stock and handle are made of plastic, as in the original.

• This gun is an exact replica of the original. The replica matches the original in size and weight. The mechanisms of the weapon are working. The weapon can be cocked and dry fired like a real one. The magazine is detachable. Due to the materials used, the mechanisms cannot withstand continuous cocking and firing for long periods.
• Plastic and cast metal has been used to make this replica weapon. Zamac differs from steel in many respects, so the structure of the gun does not withstand pressure, it cannot be used to fire bullets, nor can it be converted to a functional weapon by any means.
• Replica guns such as this do not require permits in Finland, nor in many other countries. However, since the gun looks real, it should not be carried in public.
•  This replica gun is perfect for historical re-enactment, on a theater stage, in film productions, for collectors of historical memorabilia, and as decoration.
• Length: 98 cm
• Weight: 3,34 kg
• Manufacturer: Denix, Spain

Due to the nature of this item please read about shipping options/restrictions if ordering outside Finland.   –More information about international shipping-