Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an exceptionally unusual U.S. Vietnam War-era oversized classroom training model of the Rifle M16, Cal. 5.56mm, constructed from painted wood with plastic and acrylic moving components mounted over the illustrated rifle profile. Large-scale working models of this type were used to teach weapons nomenclature and basic mechanical relationships in a format that could be clearly viewed by an entire classroom.

The complete display measures an impressive 4 ½ x 23 ½ x 84 inches, making it substantially larger than an actual rifle. The backing is constructed from relatively simple lumber and painted with a large representation of the M16, while colored plastic and acrylic components mounted over the image originally demonstrated portions of the rifle’s internal operation.

The model itself is identified as the Rifle M16 Cal. 5.56mm, and the painted weapon depicts the early configuration associated with the original M16 family, including triangular handguards and the distinctive open three-prong or “duckbill” flash suppressor.

The model was not built to last, and the wood frame is now very degraded with the wood showing some material loss and chipping, and the piece does not feel very sturdy anymore. It should be properly preserved and displayed or restored.

The mechanism originally meant to show the select fire options, SAFE, SEMI, and AUTO, with the bolt moving back and forth, but it does not function properly.

The entire display measures 4 ½ x 23 ½ x 84”. One end of the frame is stamped  TD7-1450, the designation code for the device, which was certainly made by a TSC at an Army Fort somewhere during the 1960s. TD likely stands for Training Device, with 7-1450 being the serial number or designation.

As mentioned the display has some damage, and it will not display well sitting up against a wall due to its weight and the fragility of the wooden frame.

The combination of the 84-inch oversized format, painted Rifle M16 Cal. 5.56mm profile, early M16 features, movable acrylic and plastic components, SAFE / SEMI / AUTO demonstration mechanism, TD7-1450 marking, and utilitarian wooden construction makes this an exceptional surviving artifact of Vietnam War-era U.S. military weapons instruction. The broken green component and spring, nonfunctional mechanism, and deteriorated wooden frame are the principal condition issues, while the scale and surviving instructional features provide unusually direct evidence of the classroom methods used to familiarize soldiers with the M16 during the period.

Curbside freight delivery is included in the purchase price for addresses within the contiguous 48 states. For delivery to Alaska, Hawaii, or locations outside the United States, please contact us for a freight quote.