Colt 601: The AR-15 Becomes a Military Rifle
The Colt Model 601, an early AR-15 variant predating the XM16, featured distinct design elements like a triangular charging handle and green fiberglass furniture. It had standard Safe, Semi, and Auto selector settings and lacked a brass deflector or forward assist. The chrome-plated bolt carrier was non-serrated, reflecting its early production phase between Armalite and Colt.









