I don't get it. I'm finding DPMS handles for 100 +. Colt is almost double.

I’ve been puzzled by that as well. They cost as much as a complete lower. They don’t seem that complex.

Name branding.
PSA isn't too bad
https://palmettostatearmory.co...ec-carry-handle.html

My guess is that lack of demand led to less production, which has now led to higher prices per unit.

The cost is primarily in the sight whereas an upper is machining a single piece of aluminum.

And there is a difference in the Colt handles being mil spec vs some corner cutting by lower manufacturers.

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quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
My guess is that lack of demand led to less production, which has now led to higher prices per unit.

That was my immediate guess.

New US-made carry handles are expensive because almost none are being made now. Everything comes with just a railed flat top. There are also a ton of used ones for sale cheap because back when rifles still came with detachable handles everyone removed it to install a red dot. Go to a gun show and the parts dealers will have boxes full of them.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
My guess is that lack of demand led to less production, which has now led to higher prices per unit.

For those of you who were around in the late 90s and into the early 2000s ( and particularly 2004-2006ish) gun shops used to have boxes full of carrying handles and those double heat shield M4 style fore arms. People would buy the rifle, and then trade those parts in (for a few bucks) for rails and an great big assed EoTech or Aimpoint.

I remember around 2007-2008, we had boxes of carrying handles at work. Buying a new rifle was about like buying from Henry Ford. You could get any color you wanted as long as it was black.

Ah, the good ole days.......

I agree with the limited production leading to higher prices.

Also I have heard that there is a difference between some of the carry handles. Now I am not an expert on this, and all of my carry handles are either Colt or LMT, and all my carbines have 'F' marked front sight bases, but years ago I did read that there were "Mil-spec" height carry handles (worked with the 'F' marked FSB) and there were "Commercial" height carry handles (worked with non'F' marked FSB).

Pic I saved from from years ago.