Original-SSR
08-18-2004, 07:10 PM
It's been a known fact, but for those that may not have known, here is some info on the subject:
There have been two reliable sources that have stated that Bushmaster did indeed make early M-4's for our US military forces. One statement source was from a Bushmaster Representative on a well known internet forum (I believe during late 1999 to early 2000). The other was from information written by the well known firearms expert, Duncan Long.
The Bushmaster Representative stated that Bushmaster had to not only meet the Government rifle specification requirements, but also had to set up to manufacture the M203 grenade launcher in order to become a DOD contractor. I guess sometime after meeting those requirements, they were contracted to build a small batch of the early M-4's. The Material Data for the M-4 upgrades were supplied to them by the Government. Though Bushmaster filled some orders for these guns, Colt was very unhappy with the US Government for giving Bushmaster the Material Data on the M-4 upgrades, and for giving Bushmaster an M-4 contract. Colt felt that the M-4 was their design, and that only they should have the right to make them for our military. Not sure if Colt went to court for this, or if they were able to stop the Government by just having discussions with them. One thing is for sure, Colt stopped the Government from ordering future Bushmaster made M-4's, and forbade Bushmaster from using the M-4 Material Data upgrade information on their own products.
The other reliable source, Duncan Long, gave a short description of the Bushmaster M-4 saga via his "The Complete AR15/M16 Source Book".
So yes, Bushmaster did supply the US military (DOD) with a small batch of M-4's (during the time of the first Gulf War), but they were limited on how many they could produce because of the Colt dispute with the Gov on the M-4 design upgrades. If any of these M-4's are currently over in Iraq in US Military hands, it may be like finding a needle in a haystack, but some could actually be there (again, they were made in very few overall numbers).
Bushmaster has also filled other US Government rifle orders, like filling a contract given to them by the Department of Energy (DOE).
They are not the big supplier of rifles that Colt or FN have been, but they have been and continue to be a US Government Contractor. They also supply foreign contracts.
In any case, they don't usually like to disclose their clients (especially their foreign contracts), though on their company website, they do list some specific agencies that they have supplied rifles to.
Here are a few public statements posted by the Bushmaster firm on the law enforcement section of their website:
"They (Bushmaster) are a U.S. Government Defense Contractor - selling to U.S. Military Forces and Governmental departments - as well as many foreign governments and armed forces. In order for Bushmaster to fulfill U.S. Government contracts, they must manufacture all products to the strictest U.S. Military Specifications."
"Bushmaster Weapons Systems have proven themselves on the battlefield as well as on the streets against crime."
Also found on their website is the following information:
Currently Using Bushmaster Weapon Systems
* U. S. Border Patrol
* U. S. Department of Defense
* U. S. Department of Energy
* U. S. Department of Parks and Recreation
* U. S. Customs
* U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency
* U. S. Marshall Service
* U. S. Secret Service
* All Special Forces Units, SEALs, Rangers, Green Berets
* Alabama Highway Patrol
* California Department of Justice
* California Highway Patrol
* Florida Highway Patrol
* Utah State Highway Patrol
* Los Angeles Police Department
* Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
* Georgia Bureau of Investigation
* City of Philadelphia
* City of Salt Lake
* City of San Jose Police Department
The following info was gathered from a personal website found on the internet. I don't know how credible this information is, but I am posting it here because it does sound like it would fit in with the credible statements made by Duncan Long and the Bushmaster company:
"Bushmater Firearms entered the scene during Operation Desert Shield. With the imminent prospect of war, the military suddenly found themselves with a large demand for rifles. Many Army units were still armed with the M16A1, the replacement of which had only begun in 1986. With a large demand for M16A2s and M4s both from the US forces and allied forces, the Dept. of Defence approved a contract to buy M4 carbines from Bushmaster Firearms of Maine. Bushmaster supplied 4,000 M4 carbines to the US Army, these were deployed by the 82nd Airborne Division during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, reportedly being used by Gen. Schwarzkopf's bodyguards at one point.
Consequently, Bushmaster and Colt's are the only companies to have supplied M4s to the US military."
AND
"Bushmaster only got one contract for the M4 because apparently the TDP (Technical Data Package) was improperly released to them, and Colt's threatened to sue the US Govt. if Bushmaster got any more contracts."
There have been two reliable sources that have stated that Bushmaster did indeed make early M-4's for our US military forces. One statement source was from a Bushmaster Representative on a well known internet forum (I believe during late 1999 to early 2000). The other was from information written by the well known firearms expert, Duncan Long.
The Bushmaster Representative stated that Bushmaster had to not only meet the Government rifle specification requirements, but also had to set up to manufacture the M203 grenade launcher in order to become a DOD contractor. I guess sometime after meeting those requirements, they were contracted to build a small batch of the early M-4's. The Material Data for the M-4 upgrades were supplied to them by the Government. Though Bushmaster filled some orders for these guns, Colt was very unhappy with the US Government for giving Bushmaster the Material Data on the M-4 upgrades, and for giving Bushmaster an M-4 contract. Colt felt that the M-4 was their design, and that only they should have the right to make them for our military. Not sure if Colt went to court for this, or if they were able to stop the Government by just having discussions with them. One thing is for sure, Colt stopped the Government from ordering future Bushmaster made M-4's, and forbade Bushmaster from using the M-4 Material Data upgrade information on their own products.
The other reliable source, Duncan Long, gave a short description of the Bushmaster M-4 saga via his "The Complete AR15/M16 Source Book".
So yes, Bushmaster did supply the US military (DOD) with a small batch of M-4's (during the time of the first Gulf War), but they were limited on how many they could produce because of the Colt dispute with the Gov on the M-4 design upgrades. If any of these M-4's are currently over in Iraq in US Military hands, it may be like finding a needle in a haystack, but some could actually be there (again, they were made in very few overall numbers).
Bushmaster has also filled other US Government rifle orders, like filling a contract given to them by the Department of Energy (DOE).
They are not the big supplier of rifles that Colt or FN have been, but they have been and continue to be a US Government Contractor. They also supply foreign contracts.
In any case, they don't usually like to disclose their clients (especially their foreign contracts), though on their company website, they do list some specific agencies that they have supplied rifles to.
Here are a few public statements posted by the Bushmaster firm on the law enforcement section of their website:
"They (Bushmaster) are a U.S. Government Defense Contractor - selling to U.S. Military Forces and Governmental departments - as well as many foreign governments and armed forces. In order for Bushmaster to fulfill U.S. Government contracts, they must manufacture all products to the strictest U.S. Military Specifications."
"Bushmaster Weapons Systems have proven themselves on the battlefield as well as on the streets against crime."
Also found on their website is the following information:
Currently Using Bushmaster Weapon Systems
* U. S. Border Patrol
* U. S. Department of Defense
* U. S. Department of Energy
* U. S. Department of Parks and Recreation
* U. S. Customs
* U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency
* U. S. Marshall Service
* U. S. Secret Service
* All Special Forces Units, SEALs, Rangers, Green Berets
* Alabama Highway Patrol
* California Department of Justice
* California Highway Patrol
* Florida Highway Patrol
* Utah State Highway Patrol
* Los Angeles Police Department
* Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
* Georgia Bureau of Investigation
* City of Philadelphia
* City of Salt Lake
* City of San Jose Police Department
The following info was gathered from a personal website found on the internet. I don't know how credible this information is, but I am posting it here because it does sound like it would fit in with the credible statements made by Duncan Long and the Bushmaster company:
"Bushmater Firearms entered the scene during Operation Desert Shield. With the imminent prospect of war, the military suddenly found themselves with a large demand for rifles. Many Army units were still armed with the M16A1, the replacement of which had only begun in 1986. With a large demand for M16A2s and M4s both from the US forces and allied forces, the Dept. of Defence approved a contract to buy M4 carbines from Bushmaster Firearms of Maine. Bushmaster supplied 4,000 M4 carbines to the US Army, these were deployed by the 82nd Airborne Division during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, reportedly being used by Gen. Schwarzkopf's bodyguards at one point.
Consequently, Bushmaster and Colt's are the only companies to have supplied M4s to the US military."
AND
"Bushmaster only got one contract for the M4 because apparently the TDP (Technical Data Package) was improperly released to them, and Colt's threatened to sue the US Govt. if Bushmaster got any more contracts."