Colt Model 723

Colt Model 723 carbine

After the model 629 (XM177E2), Colt sold the model 639 which was a 629 with the 4.5" suppressor deleted & fit w/a standard A1 FH, following this was the model 653 which was basically a 629 w/a 14.5" barrel w/A1 FH, all the above models, 629, 639 & 653 used the 1/12 barrel. The next carbine model was developed after the adoption of the M16A2 rifle w/ a 1/7 barrel. This carbine, the 723 basically started as a 653 but using a thin profile 1/7 14.5" barrel w/A2 FH. The 723 was first marketed in the mid 80's & some were purchased by the military & used mainly by Special Operations Units but were never "officially" adopted. The 723 can be found in a bewildering array of configurations, some w/early A1 uppers w/no deflector, some w/later A1 uppers w/deflector, some w/A2 uppers, the same for the lowers, they have been seen w/A1 style lowers marked Colt M16A2 & A2 lowers w/the same markings. Some late 723's were even made w/the M4 profile barrel w/M203 cut! Tracking the "correct" configuration for a 723 has proven to be almost impossible & bulding a replica is pretty much personal preference! The 723 in this album was built using an NDS A1 lower, late A1 upper w/deflector & 16" thin profile 1/7 barrel cut to 14.5" & permanently fitted w/an extended A2 FH for legal length. These carbines (723) & the later 727 are the basis for the "Black Hawk Down" carbines used in Somalia.