Look what I found(what is it?)
 

I googled it, wiki'd it. Nothing. it was obtained in my AO from someone who was believed to have been using it for short range attacks on coalition forces. The Colt emblem, upon comparison to a modern M4 shows notable differences (size of the globe, horse's tail in relation to outer circle, overall demensions of horse in comparison to outer circle, etc.) and appears to be have marks resembling a type of impact engraving and not etching. The SN reads 7700874 and the machining index (or whatever it's called) near the carrying handle reads 8742. It has an oversized forward assist with the number 871851 engraved into its underside. The number 5122 is carved just forward of the trigger on the underside of the lower reciever. It has the letters CQ encircled on a curved pistol grip. The bolt assembly and charging handle seem to be about the same as on a modern M4, aside from having a terrible finish and being made of apparently cheaper metal. It has the dual aperture like other Colt ARs, but both apertures are the same size. It has an elevation adjustment on the right side, but the thumb wheel is not raised and only reads 1-4. It has safe-semi-auto settings and after a functions check on the weapon, it seems to work in both the auto and semi modes, although I don't know if I'll actually fire it. The flash suppressor has ports all the way around and shows no evidence of ever being soldered in place.

The suppressor reads 'GOLT 5.55 MADE IN U.S.A'(yes, with a G). The can has a wipe about 1/2" from the front end, and has a deep gouge in it where the rounds most've been grazing the inside edges. I haven't disassembled it yet, but I'm planning on doing that later today and will report my findings.

So what is this? I know I didn't stumble upon some mint condition relic or anything, but it seems interesting enough.

Here's what I found
 

Check this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Automatic_Rifle
www.army.lt/guns/gallery/gallery.html

It would appear that you have found something interesting. The pistol grip looks custom...maybe fabricated.

the wiki article was about full size SAW type weapons, this is a carbine and fires from the closed bolt. Another interesting thing i just noticed, the shell deflector is in the form of a piece of sheet metal protruding from behind the ejection port and is used to secure the rear side of the dust cover in place.

I'd bet you that its from the People's Republic of China. I remember in a intell report I read in the late-80'(?) about the Chicoms building a knockoff M16 to give to groups that they did not want to publicly support. Don't remember how many they made or what became of them.

I'd bet that rifle is one of them.

The Norinco copy of the M16A1 was/is known as the CQ M311. They have lately also produced a copy of the M4 carbine. A version of the CQ rifle is also being made in Iran by the Defense Industries Organisation as the S-5.56,

The characteristics of the pictured weapon do indicate that it is a carbine version of the CQ rifle. However the lower receiver markings are not the standard Norinco markings. The serial number and markings are suspect overall, ie. markings specifically made by Norinco to appear as original.

There is a cottage industry in the Middle East, primarliy in Pakistan, where small garage type shops produce small arms copies, everything from flintlocks to assault rifles, using hand tools, a drill press, and perhaps a lathe.

I would suspect that you have one of those.

I would not shoot it.

TR

+1 There's a thread here with a lot of info....Looking for it.

EDIT: Actually it was in a thread I posted to another forum... Here's some info.

http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/darra.htm

I'd bet it was a Chinese "Black Gun".
The markings are similar to some of their other project stuff, and the grip is identical to the one on the Chinese marked guns -- and the front handguard is identical too to their carbine. One of our guys in Baghdad had one -- if he still has it when I swing thru to go out on leave I will try to snap some pics...

The can I would guess is a local build -- I've several setups of local manufacture -- although none have bothered to make a decal for manufacturer marks.

I believe what you have found is probobly manufactured by Norinco of China. It is called the CQ/M311. Check out this link for more info.

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as79-e.htm

It looks a lot like the CQ/M311 from tubbs' link, except in a carbine version. Probably a knock-off version of that gun, since it has imposter Colt markings and not the Norinco marks.