La France M16K

The M16K would take the place of pistols.

• Name — La France M16k • Origin — United States • Type — Assault rifle Carbine • Is Ranged — yes • Designer — Tim La France • Manufacturer — La France Specialties • Production Date — 1982-2004 • Variants — M16K-45 • Weight — 5.25 lb (unloaded) • Length — 23.5 in with stock collapsed 26.5 in with stock extended • Part Length — 8+1/8 in • Cartridge — 5.56×45mm NATO.45 ACP (M16K-45) • Action — Gas-operated Blowback (M16K-45) • Rate — 650 rounds/min 625 rounds/min (M16K-45) • Feed — 30-round box magazine 20/30-round M1 Thompson box magazine (M16K-45) • Sights — Iron sights

The M16K was produced by La France beginning in 1982. In the 1990s, an agreement was entered into between La France Specialties and NAIT to distribute La France Specialty products.

The M16K uses the early Colt AR-15 upper receiver, and therefore lacks the forward assist and shell deflector found on A1 and later upper receivers. The rear sight consists of a metal tube welded onto the carrying handle in place of the original adjustable sight, creating a quasi-ghost ring sight. The handguards are shortened versions of the original triangular handguards. M16Ks make use of the stainless steel twin-tube La France gas system, which greatly increases reliability using the short barrel. The lower receiver is a standard M16 select fire unit. The receiver is treated with a molybedenum-disulphide dry-film lubricant to prevent corrosion and rust while providing lubrication to the M16K's parts in extreme temperatures. Like many automatic and semi-automatic weapons the M16 utilizes pressure from the propellant gases in the barrel to cycle the bolt of the firearm. An adjustable gas system with an expansion chamber and second enclosed tube in order to make the M16K functional. This ensures that the carbine can fire at 600 rounds per minute. The barrel has a vortex flash hider to eliminate muzzle flash. The M16K originally had a front sight aperture on the carry handle, which was later changed to M-16-style sights with rounded handguards and accessory rail.

The La France/Blair high frequency silencer unit is designed to work with 5.56mm and 7.62mm weapons.

The M16K is a short carbine ("K" standing for the German word Kurz meaning short). The M16K has a 21-centimeter-long barrel and an overall length of 60 centimeters.

The later M16K-45 variant was produced using proprietary upper and lower receivers for the.45 ACP round. They use 20 or 30-round M1 Thompson magazines.