Mattel M-16 Urban Myth Won't Die

Joe Demko · April 9, 2001, 05:41 PM

The "Mattel made some of the M-16's used in Vietnam" urban myth has turned up again on a couple of the boards I follow. If anybody has a rifle, stock set, part of a rifle, or photograph of any of the above clearly showing the Mattel factory logo, I'd be obliged if you'd post an image here. This is one of those things people claim to have seen, but nobody can ever produce any evidence. I'd like to lay this myth to rest, if possible.

Stephen Ewing · April 9, 2001, 05:59 PM

Remember: M-16s are made by Kenner and Hasbro.

Steve

bobs1066 · April 9, 2001, 06:00 PM

I remember seeing M-16s made by Hydra-Matic and Harrington & Richardson in the company arms room back in the 1970's. I suspect the Mattel ones are all mythical...my $0.02

JJR · April 9, 2001, 06:35 PM

I have heard that a subsidiary of Mattel was one of the many original contractors for some of the plastic furniture on the M-16's (and it makes sense if you think about it -molded plastic things is molded plastic things). Some GI probably saw "Mattel plastics corp." or some such thing on the inside of his handguards and the Barbigun myth was born.

[email protected] · April 9, 2001, 06:58 PM

Mattel is (or was) a contractor for M16 parts - I have first hand experience with this as my M16A1 that was issued for OSUT (Basic and MOS School rolled into one) had, you guessed it, a Mattel grip on it. Believe me, I was shocked when I saw this - but as long as the rounds hit what I aimed at, I didn't care too much in the long run.

Spark

paratrooper · April 9, 2001, 07:10 PM

ALMOST a little off topic but I will post it anyway . Anyone interested in working for Mattel should apply now . This way you can be right in the plant and perhaps find some proof . Before you apply though , please be advised that you need not go to the plant in Murray , Kentucky . That one is closing . Go directly to Mexico where production will commence as soon as possible . Habla Si one dollar per hour ???

Bam Bam · April 9, 2001, 08:01 PM

I had a friend of a friend who owned a M-16 made by Ronco. It was great in the field because it could slice, dice, mince, and puree like a mother!

Ed Brunner · April 9, 2001, 08:25 PM

I have seen the name Mattel cast into the inside surface of an M-16 stock. I picked up a piece of a broken stock and there it was.

C.R.Sam · April 9, 2001, 08:30 PM

Oft overlooked:

Mattel pioneered polycarbonate production. The stuff was available but without a use. Mattel figured out how to mold it, put compound curves in sheets etc.

Sam

Jorah Lavin · April 9, 2001, 09:59 PM

I know graphics people that could use Photoshop to "mould" any logo into any weapon you'd care to see, and it would "look real" online.

-J.

dZ · April 9, 2001, 10:50 PM

Scott Conklin · April 10, 2001, 08:39 AM

Stamped Mattel on the pistol grip and inside the butt. No logo, nothing. The lack of any design logo or trademark makes me wonder if it was the Mattel we all think of. But it DID say Mattel and they were a leader in plastics...

Ed Brunner · April 10, 2001, 09:36 AM

In 1967-68 I carried an XM19E1. I don't recall seeing Mattel anyplace on it. The piece of the stock I referred to in my earlier post was found in a rather busy area and I have no idea who manufactured the weapon, but I did see it.

If I had known that you all would be so curious I would have kept it.

Double Naught Spy · April 10, 2001, 09:40 AM

There is a brief discussion of Mattel's maurader at http://www.ultranet.com/~ed/toyguns.html
We had one. Nice toy. Now for the real thing?

Grumpy · April 10, 2001, 04:11 PM

I was issued an M-16 A1 with a Mattel stamp on the stock.
This was at Parris Island in Nov. of 80.
Dopey me asked the D.I. when were we going to get the REAL rifles.

Bam Bam · April 10, 2001, 05:25 PM

Hold on to that baby, DZ. It is probably already worth half the price of a Bushmaster.

Jeff OTMG · April 10, 2001, 06:38 PM

I use to shoot a Harrington & Richardson M-16 back in the early to mid-70's at the Naval Munitions Depot in McAlester, Okla.

Joe Demko · April 11, 2001, 09:10 AM

Hey All,
Thanks for the replies. I'm not interested in disproving this because I think it is an insult to the gun, rather I'm interested in historical accuracy. If Mattel stocks exist, I want one!
For those of you who remember seeing Mattel marks on guns, let's try to see if you are all remembering the same thing. It was a long time ago, I know, but try to answer a couple questions to the best of your recollection, if you would:
1. Where was the mark?
2. What was the mark?
3. Was the mark raised or stamped?

Thanks, gentlemen.

Joe Demko · April 11, 2001, 11:23 AM

http://mattel.com/corporate/company/...ection=history

Nothing at all about making M-16's or stocks mentioned here.

Have emailed Armalite and am attempting to contact Colt to see what they have to say.

Johns50ae · April 11, 2001, 03:20 PM

If you think about it, it all really makes pretty good sense. Well it does to me anyway.
The government contracts go, and have always went to, the lowest bidder. You have to consider the "times", there was no plastic bumpers, no plastic trash cans, plastic was a new thing, state of the art kinda stuff. There wasn't allot of it around like there is now and Mattel was then, at that time, the biggest producer of it, so i'm sure that they could fill the bill allot cheaper than any other (then new) company.
I i this question floats around long enough, someone who worked for mettle at the time will see it and post. It is an interesting question though.
Golgo-13 if you hear anything at all, let us know.
One more thought in closing, if not Mattel, then who?

-John-

Joe Demko · April 11, 2001, 03:52 PM

Here is the reply I got from Armalite.

Dear Sir,

Not by Armalite.

Thank you!

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Joseph Demko" <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 12:13:26 -0400

>To Whom it May Concern,
>
>Sorry if this is something you've answered before, but were any AR-15 rifles, parts, stocks, or training rifles manufactured under contract or otherwise by the Mattel toy company in the 1960's? There is a persistent story to this effect that I consider to be nothng more than a myth, and I am engaged in an effort to disprove it.
>
>Thanks,
>
>J. Demko
>
>

--
--
ArmaLite Internet Division
ArmaLite Inc.

--

Bogie · April 11, 2001, 04:29 PM

My basic training rifle was an H&R, and it consistently shot where it was supposed to...

Arrell · April 11, 2001, 08:16 PM

I was at Parris Island the same time you were. Went in August. I was in Platoon 1074, I think. Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sgt. Fiallo. After graduation I went to Marine Security Detachment, NAS Sigonnela, Sicily. Finally ended up in Camp Pendelton Ca. 1st Bn 9th Marines, at Camp Horno. Did a WestPac and a couple of other things, like Panama. The rifle I was issued in Boot Camp was made by General Motors, it was a really beat up A1. I also saw some Maytag made A1s.

Sempre Fidelis, Oooh Raah!!

Ed Brunner · April 11, 2001, 09:45 PM

All I remember about it is seeing the word. I think it was raised. (Of course I am a Certified Old Fart and that was more than thirty years ago.)

Fraser · April 12, 2001, 03:07 PM

The patent for synthetic plastic was issued in 1909. Plastic predates the Model 1911 pistol. The earliest handgun I've seen with a plastic frame was made in 1942. It is displayed in the UDT-Seal Museum, Ft. Pierce, Florida. Additionally, the US Army Air Force used plastic machine gun bullets during World War II.

Plastic has been around for over 90 years.

April 9, 2001, 06:58 PM	#5
[email protected] Wise Guy Join Date: October 10, 1998 Posts: 665	Sorry, but it's the truth. Mattel is (or was) a contractor for M16 parts - I have first hand experience with this as my M16A1 that was issued for OSUT (Basic and MOS School rolled into one) had, you guessed it, a Mattel grip on it. Believe me, I was shocked when I saw this - but as long as the rounds hit what I aimed at, I didn't care too much in the long run. Spark

April 9, 2001, 07:10 PM	#6
paratrooper Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2000 Location: Kingman AZ Posts: 1,290	ALMOST a little off topic but I will post it anyway . Anyone interested in working for Mattel should apply now . This way you can be right in the plant and perhaps find some proof . Before you apply though , please be advised that you need not go to the plant in Murray , Kentucky . That one is closing . Go directly to Mexico where production will commence as soon as possible . Habla Si one dollar per hour ??? __________________ TOM NRA LDMA AMERICAN LEGION U.S. PARATROOPER

April 9, 2001, 08:25 PM	#8
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,562	I have seen the name Mattel cast into the inside surface of an M-16 stock. I picked up a piece of a broken stock and there it was. __________________ MOLON LABE UNTIL IT'S OVER! Ed

April 9, 2001, 09:59 PM	#10
Jorah Lavin Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: Indian Land, SC USA Posts: 593	Also don't forget that "photographic proof" ...isn't. I know graphics people that could use Photoshop to "mould" any logo into any weapon you'd care to see, and it would "look real" online. -J.

April 10, 2001, 08:39 AM	#12
Scott Conklin Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2000 Location: B.F.E. Posts: 1,721	I've personally seen it Stamped Mattel on the pistol grip and inside the butt. No logo, nothing. The lack of any design logo or trademark makes me wonder if it was the Mattel we all think of. But it DID say Mattel and they were a leader in plastics...

April 9, 2001, 05:41 PM	#1
Joe Demko Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2000 Posts: 1,143	The "Mattel made some of the M-16's used in Vietnam" urban myth has turned up again on a couple of the boards I follow. If anybody has a rifle, stock set, part of a rifle, or photograph of any of the above clearly showing the Mattel factory logo, I'd be obliged if you'd post an image here. This is one of those things people claim to have seen, but nobody can ever produce any evidence. I'd like to lay this myth to rest, if possible.

April 9, 2001, 05:59 PM	#2
Stephen Ewing Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2000 Posts: 329	Remember: M-16s are made by Kenner and Hasbro. Steve

April 9, 2001, 06:00 PM	#3
bobs1066 Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: Eastern Kansas Posts: 222	I remember seeing M-16s made by Hydra-Matic and Harrington & Richardson in the company arms room back in the 1970's. I suspect the Mattel ones are all mythical...my $0.02

April 9, 2001, 06:35 PM	#4
JJR Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 1999 Location: Idaho Posts: 381	I have heard that a subsidiary of Mattel was one of the many original contractors for some of the plastic furniture on the M-16's (and it makes sense if you think about it -molded plastic things is molded plastic things). Some GI probably saw "Mattel plastics corp." or some such thing on the inside of his handguards and the Barbigun myth was born.

April 9, 2001, 08:01 PM	#7
Bam Bam Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 842	I had a friend of a friend who owned a M-16 made by Ronco. It was great in the field because it could slice, dice, mince, and puree like a mother!

April 9, 2001, 08:30 PM	#9
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Oft overlooked: Mattel pioneered polycarbonate production. The stuff was available but without a use. Mattel figured out how to mold it, put compound curves in sheets etc. Sam

April 9, 2001, 10:50 PM	#11
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548

April 10, 2001, 09:36 AM	#13
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,562	In 1967-68 I carried an XM19E1. I don't recall seeing Mattel anyplace on it. The piece of the stock I referred to in my earlier post was found in a rather busy area and I have no idea who manufactured the weapon, but I did see it. If I had known that you all would be so curious I would have kept it. __________________ MOLON LABE UNTIL IT'S OVER! Ed

April 10, 2001, 09:40 AM	#14
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	There is a brief discussion of Mattel's maurader at http://www.ultranet.com/~ed/toyguns.html We had one. Nice toy. Now for the real thing?

April 10, 2001, 04:11 PM	#15
Grumpy Junior Member Join Date: November 5, 2000 Posts: 13	I was issued an M-16 A1 with a Mattel stamp on the stock. This was at Parris Island in Nov. of 80. Dopey me asked the D.I. when were we going to get the REAL rifles.

April 10, 2001, 05:25 PM	#16
Bam Bam Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 842	Hold on to that baby, DZ. It is probably already worth half the price of a Bushmaster.

April 10, 2001, 06:38 PM	#17
Jeff OTMG Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: OKC, OK & Austin, Tx Posts: 3,707	I use to shoot a Harrington & Richardson M-16 back in the early to mid-70's at the Naval Munitions Depot in McAlester, Okla.

April 11, 2001, 09:10 AM	#18
Joe Demko Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2000 Posts: 1,143	Hey All, Thanks for the replies. I'm not interested in disproving this because I think it is an insult to the gun, rather I'm interested in historical accuracy. If Mattel stocks exist, I want one! For those of you who remember seeing Mattel marks on guns, let's try to see if you are all remembering the same thing. It was a long time ago, I know, but try to answer a couple questions to the best of your recollection, if you would: 1. Where was the mark? 2. What was the mark? 3. Was the mark raised or stamped? Thanks, gentlemen.

April 11, 2001, 11:23 AM	#19
Joe Demko Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2000 Posts: 1,143	http://mattel.com/corporate/company/...ection=history Nothing at all about making M-16's or stocks mentioned here. Have emailed Armalite and am attempting to contact Colt to see what they have to say.

April 11, 2001, 03:20 PM	#20
Johns50ae Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2001 Location: Mt. Vernon, IL. Posts: 10	If you think about it, it all really makes pretty good sense. Well it does to me anyway. The government contracts go, and have always went to, the lowest bidder. You have to consider the "times", there was no plastic bumpers, no plastic trash cans, plastic was a new thing, state of the art kinda stuff. There wasn't allot of it around like there is now and Mattel was then, at that time, the biggest producer of it, so i'm sure that they could fill the bill allot cheaper than any other (then new) company. I i this question floats around long enough, someone who worked for mettle at the time will see it and post. It is an interesting question though. Golgo-13 if you hear anything at all, let us know. One more thought in closing, if not Mattel, then who? -John-

April 11, 2001, 03:52 PM	#21
Joe Demko Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2000 Posts: 1,143	Here is the reply I got from Armalite. Dear Sir, Not by Armalite. Thank you! ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Joseph Demko" <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 12:13:26 -0400 >To Whom it May Concern, > >Sorry if this is something you've answered before, but were any AR-15 rifles, parts, stocks, or training rifles manufactured under contract or otherwise by the Mattel toy company in the 1960's? There is a persistent story to this effect that I consider to be nothng more than a myth, and I am engaged in an effort to disprove it. > >Thanks, > >J. Demko > > -- -- ArmaLite Internet Division ArmaLite Inc. --

April 11, 2001, 04:29 PM	#22
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	H&R made some good ones... My basic training rifle was an H&R, and it consistently shot where it was supposed to...

April 11, 2001, 08:16 PM	#23
Arrell Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2000 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 201	Hey Grumpy!!! I was at Parris Island the same time you were. Went in August. I was in Platoon 1074, I think. Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sgt. Fiallo. After graduation I went to Marine Security Detachment, NAS Sigonnela, Sicily. Finally ended up in Camp Pendelton Ca. 1st Bn 9th Marines, at Camp Horno. Did a WestPac and a couple of other things, like Panama. The rifle I was issued in Boot Camp was made by General Motors, it was a really beat up A1. I also saw some Maytag made A1s. Sempre Fidelis, Oooh Raah!!

April 11, 2001, 09:45 PM	#24
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,562	All I remember about it is seeing the word. I think it was raised. (Of course I am a Certified Old Fart and that was more than thirty years ago.)

April 12, 2001, 03:07 PM	#25
Fraser Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2000 Posts: 230	The patent for synthetic plastic was issued in 1909. Plastic predates the Model 1911 pistol. The earliest handgun I've seen with a plastic frame was made in 1942. It is displayed in the UDT-Seal Museum, Ft. Pierce, Florida. Additionally, the US Army Air Force used plastic machine gun bullets during World War II. Plastic has been around for over 90 years.