The 10 inch barrel Colt XM177 (model 609) was essentially a fielded prototype - and the first Colt CAR-15 SMG version to see limited issue to SEALs, Special Forces and the CIA. Production ran only about one year (1966-67), with possibly less than 3,000 fielded before replacement in 1967 by the longer (and better known) 11.5 inch XM177E2.

The Colt Model 609 was the first Colt Carbine to see wide scale production and use by US Military Forces. The Colt Model 609 entered US Military Service with the US Army and was given the designation of XM177E1. The Model 609 went into production in late 1966, and continued production until early 1967.

Feb 1, 1998 · Colt 609: The “Commando”. This is the original ìXM177î model of the M16 submachine gun. Original 609’s are marked ìCommandoî as in the illustration, and they are also U.S. Property Marked. Colt went back to the full pistol grip on the Commando.

The Colt Automatic Rifle-15 or CAR-15 is a family of M16 rifle–based firearms marketed by Colt in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, the term "CAR-15" is most commonly associated with the Colt Commando (AKA: XM177 ); these select-fire carbines have ultrashort 10.5-inch (270 mm) and 11.5-inch (290 mm) barrels with over-sized flash suppressors.

Nov 22, 2022 · Model 609: Adopted by the Army as the "XM177E1" with 10-inch barrel and forward assist. Model 610: Adopted by the Air Force as the "GAU-5/A" with 10-inch barrel and no forward assist. The Army designated it simply "XM177" but likely didn't actually use it due to the lack of forward assist.

Jan 24, 2019 · Colt’s first CAR-15 version had a 10" barrel and, like the M16A1, included a forward bolt assist. When it was acquired by the U.S. Army in 1967, it was designated the XM177E1 with more than...

Mar 29, 2018 · Moving forward to create a workable compact carbine for volume production, the Colt team developed the Model 609 and 610 rifles which made improvements on the CAR-15 SMG platform. Those enhancements included development of a two-piece front hand guard system to replace that iconic triangular one.

Nov 8, 2017 · The XM177E1 – or Colt Model 609 – was the first Colt carbine length version used by US forces on a larger scale. It came into production in late 1966 and lasted until early 1967. It turned out that the 10” barrel used in the E1 had some flaws.

Mar 15, 2018 · Moving forward to create a workable compact carbine for volume production, the Colt team developed the Model 609 and 610 rifles which made improvements on the CAR-15 SMG platform. Those...

May 3, 2015 · Colt 609, the famous XM177E1, along with the Colt 610/XM177 US Air Force “slick side carbine”, it was the first successful AR-15 carbine, and was used extensively by US special operations units in Vietnam. It was fitted with a moderator to …