Unknown Upper

[dallasw77]

If anyone can give me more info I would appreciate it. I was looking at a upper with the only marking on the upper receiver is a keyhole. No other markings to define what it is anywhere on the barrel or anywhere else. Can someone tell me who makes it?

Thanks for your help!

[tomd1584]

Could be from anyone......It will be almost impossible for someone to tell you what upper it is from what you've given us. my CMMG upper has the keyhole on it, but a few other companies do to.

I hope you find out, but you asking 'who makes it' without giving any info (I know you dont have any) is a little funny

[Wayneard3413]

The keyhole just means it is from Cerro Forge

That could be from J&T or Model 1 all the way up to S&W or Colt

[gun toting monkeyboy]

[asgalindez]

Pictures would be nice. More info would help a lot.

It's kinda like asking "What kind of upper do I have? It's black...that's about it."

[sonicbuff]

The keyhole just means it is from Cerro Forge

That could be from J&T or Model 1 all the way up to S&W or Colt

I think many makers use the same source for those uppers. If they have the keyhole, then I believe they're from the same source.

[missiontrails]

Take off the handguards and look at the barrel markings if there are some there on the under side

[aplinker]

The guy at the gunshow said the keyhole means it's FN.

Yeah, keyhole is a forge marking and essentially meaningless.

There would need to be a laser engraving or etching on the upper to be able to tell. Not many do this.

Even if we know who made the barrel (from barrel markings) it won't necessarily tell us where the other parts came from, as it could be a mutt.

[Flying Bones]

The guy at the gunshow said the keyhole means it's FN.

Yeah, keyhole is a forge marking and essentially meaningless.

There would need to be a laser engraving or etching on the upper to be able to tell. Not many do this.

Even if we know who made the barrel (from barrel markings) it won't necessarily tell us where the other parts came from, as it could be a mutt.

In regards to what matters in a world without mall ninjas...
The keyhole is meaningful, etching or engraving is meaningless.

[aplinker]

In regards to what matters in a world without mall ninjas...
The keyhole is meaningful, etching or engraving is meaningless.

What a ludicrous statement.

That's equivalent to saying that who made the steel your car is built from is more important than who built the car.

You do realize there are dozens of forgers and all of their respective marks all tell you nothing. Whether cardinal, square, keyhole or something else... they all mean the same thing: nothing.

[Flying Bones]

hogwarsh! That's like saying whoever made the car is more important than who put the bumper sticker on it.

[aplinker]

hogwarsh! That's like saying whoever made the car is more important than who put the bumper sticker on it.

The forging mark is imprinted by whomever turned raw bits of Al into a molded hunk of metal that only somewhat resembles the outer look of an upper. It looks like this:


Then it's cut, anodized (and often assembled) by one of the major manufacturers/cutters, not by whoever put the marking there.

The upper receiver is then assembled into a complete upper or rifle by one of many rifle manufacturers, not by whoever put the marking there.

Forging marks = meaningless with respect to who made the complete upper or any of its characteristics of quality.

Your analogy is simply wrong. Oh, but nice attempt at a quip by ignoring reality.

[Flying Bones]

Thanks for the good info...i've been wondering about that.

[Pistolwhipped]

I had a CMMG with just a Keyhole mark. I think like everyone else said a lot of companies put that on their recivers.

[aplinker]

I had a CMMG with just a Keyhole mark. I think like everyone else said a lot of companies put that on their recivers.

Go look at the picture I posted of the raw forging. Look just above the front of the tube for the forward assist. Do you see the little cardinal looking dookie-doo?

That's a Cardinal Forge forging mark. If it were Cerro, theirs would be on it. The forging mark is put into the metal before any manufacturer does anything to the upper - including the cutter.

Some manufacturers do engrave the upper with additional marks. Colt is a good example. In this picture you can see the Cerro Forge marking in front of the Colt C-engraving.