Saw your WTB on the hide but il just answer here.

1. The prices for earlier units have gone up since sage was taken over by us tactical supply (new markings, cerekoted, etc). Gen 2 chassis are going between 2500 - 4k lately if you watch GB sales, Navy Seal Grey fetch the most but you can get the black for cheaper. Most do not have the early grip, those sell for 500+ on their own however there are 2 on GB right now with those grips. Look at gunbroker item 1127599984. Patent pending chassis are very very rare, the military chassis have some differences an easy tell being the font is not the "silly" sage font, and yes there are patent pending military chassis as well of which I know of one.

2. There is a member here who had some marked bolts and was getting some lasered I am sure he will pop in here soon.

3. vertical fore grips od earlier gens pop up from time to time on here but are starting to get pretty rare. The standards appear to be available from the new supplier (EBR Vertical Foregrip)

See this thread here (https://www.m14forum.com/threads/sa...r-1st-generation-vs-2nd-generation-chasiss.540540/?post_id=4926255#post-4926255)

 

Thanks! I'll look into that listing. I was considering getting my bolt body engraved, but if I go that route I'd like to have it done the same way Crane did theirs. I think they machined the markings on, but can't remember how they colored in the font. I'll keep my eye on the forum for any new VFG listings.

 

Crane had the bolts lasered

 

Oh, gotcha. Thanks!

 

I’ll respond to this original question first:

The NSG finish was anodized aluminum. There is a shop or two up in Michigan where the original SAGE chassis were anodized, and I think stripping and re-anodizing is the best coarse of action. Not inexpensive, but much better than Cerakoting, which can’t mimic the finish of actual anodizing.

Your black SAGE chassis is a later one that is not marked “Patent Pending” like the original Mod 0 chassis, so you’ll be cutting corners if you go down that route. The SEI Vortex is the later version with grooves and is different from the earlier ones that are smooth. So you have to decide what corners you are going to cut and what is your product budget? I probably wouldn’t try to hunt down an original (expensive) Mk 14 Mod 0 marked bolt - unless I had the proper “Pat Pending” NSG chassis to go with it.

This brings me to the larger challenge: Historically “accurate” Mk 14 Mod 0s are almost impossible to piece together at this point in time. Why? The unique “Pat Pending” chassis and some other parts like the bolts were made 20 years ago circa 2005. So original Mod 0 parts are long discontinued and most are used-up on replicas built out over time. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but as of 2025 it will extremely challenging unless you cut corners re key details.

If you started the project 6 or 10 years ago it would have been much easier and far less expensive, but circa 2025 it’s better to find a complete rifle for sale, IMO. This replica Mod 0 rifle was complete and probably a good price given the scarcity of the unique Mod 0 parts. Unfortunately it’s the only one that has come up for sale this year:

https://www.m14forum.com/threads/spf-mk14-mod-0.552977/?post_id=5088958#post-5088958

My opinion? Even w/ a budget matching the selling price of that rifle, you’re going to need a LOT of luck hunting down the “correct” parts, and it might take a long time…with no guarantee that you’ll find them.

IMO, what would be much easier and less expensive would be a nice replica of a U.S. Army EBR-RI (even with an 18” barrel). Your chassis would be perfect for that replica, and the parts used are easier to find…

My buddy built this 3 years ago and it was relatively quick and affordable. He was a Marine, but decided replicating a USMC M39 EBR was just too hard and expensive, so he built a nice Army EBR-RI instead.

 

I’ll respond to this original question first:
View attachment 613891
The NSG finish was anodized aluminum. There is a shop or two up in Michigan where the original SAGE chassis were anodized, and I think stripping and re-anodizing is the best coarse of action. Not inexpensive, but much better than Cerakoting, which can’t mimic the finish of actual anodizing.

Your black SAGE chassis is a later one that is not marked “Patent Pending” like the original Mod 0 chassis, so you’ll be cutting corners if you go down that route. The SEI Vortex is the later version with grooves and is different from the earlier ones that are smooth. So you have to decide what corners you are going to cut and what is your product budget? I probably wouldn’t try to hunt down an original (expensive) Mk 14 Mod 0 marked bolt - unless I had the proper “Pat Pending” NSG chassis to go with it.

This brings me to the larger challenge: Historically “accurate” Mk 14 Mod 0s are almost impossible to piece together at this point in time. Why? The unique “Pat Pending” chassis and some other parts like the bolts were made 20 years ago circa 2005. So original Mod 0 parts are long discontinued and most are used-up on replicas built out over time. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but as of 2025 it will extremely challenging unless you cut corners re key details.

If you started the project 6 or 10 years ago it would have been much easier and far less expensive, but circa 2025 it’s better to find a complete rifle for sale, IMO. This replica Mod 0 rifle was complete and probably a good price given the scarcity of the unique Mod 0 parts. Unfortunately it’s the only one that has come up for sale this year:

https://www.m14forum.com/threads/spf-mk14-mod-0.552977/?post_id=5088958#post-5088958

My opinion? Even w/ a budget matching the selling price of that rifle, you’re going to need a LOT of luck hunting down the “correct” parts, and it might take a long time…with no guarantee that you’ll find them.

IMO, what would be much easier and less expensive would be a nice replica of a U.S. Army EBR-RI (even with an 18” barrel). Your chassis would be perfect for that replica, and the parts used are easier to find…
View attachment 613892
My buddy built this 3 years ago and it was relatively quick and affordable. He was a Marine, but decided replicating a USMC M39 EBR was just too hard and expensive, so he built a nice Army EBR-RI instead.

Thank you for answering the original question! If you can, would you be able to name the shops that worked on them? I'd like to see if they're still accepting requests.

I do plan to seek out another chassis or a rifle with the correct markings (or close to them) here soon, pretty sure the hardest thing is the availability. I think Smith still does limited runs every so often with their parts, might have to reach out and ask if there is any chance they'd be willing to do one. I think another option I could try is sand blasting the original finish, tic welding the grooves, smoothing it back down, then re-parkerize if all else fails.

I already plan on laser engraving the bolt body since it would likely be the easiest way of replicating it without the search and high cost of an original part. But I want to be as close as possible to the original, I think Chris from Intl.Mil.Co has one of the best looking MK18 Mod 0 engravings I've seen, so it would be cool if he could also replicate the Mk14 Mod 0 engravings, but I don't know if he does much custom work outside of M16s/M4s.

I figured it would be challenging, kind of wish I was about a decade or so older so I could have started this sooner 😅. I'll keep trying at it for a while, if it isn't possible I might just go with your suggestion. What is your opinion on Fulton Armory? I know they make 22" barreled action replicas for the MK14's.

 

International Hardcoat is one of the anodizer entities up in MI that SAGE used. They prefer bulk, so a one-off job will be quite pricey…

I already plan on laser engraving the bolt body since it would likely be the easiest way of replicating it without the search and high cost of an original part.

SEI laser engraved bolt:

…versus original engraved bolt:

I do not recommend tying to mimic the original. To me the top bolt look silly fake, and that’s being kind.

For an early SEI Vortex reach out to Forceman to see if he has one. He might have other parts as well. See post #14 for his replica, which is possibly the most accurate one made:

https://www.m14forum.com/threads/prototype-mk-14-mod-0s-the-alpha-variants.518980/?post_id=4665008#post-4665008

FYI: SEI doesn’t make the smooth Vortex part anymore nor will they make retro parts, which is too bad, IMO. Good luck with your project.

 

International Hardcoat is one of the anodizer entities up in MI that SAGE used. They prefer bulk, so a one-off job will be quite pricey…


SEI laser engraved bolt:
View attachment 613924

…versus original engraved bolt:
View attachment 613925

I do not recommend tying to mimic the original. To me the top bolt look silly fake, and that’s being kind.

For an early SEI Vortex reach out to Forceman to see if he has one. He might have other parts as well. See post #14 for his replica, which is possibly the most accurate one made:

https://www.m14forum.com/threads/prototype-mk-14-mod-0s-the-alpha-variants.518980/?post_id=4665008#post-4665008

FYI: SEI doesn’t make the smooth Vortex part anymore nor will they make retro parts, which is too bad, IMO. Good luck with your project.

Thanks! I'll give them a call and see what they say, hopefully we can come to some kind of agreement.

Yeah I really don't like SEI's attempt at all; deep engravings and incorrect font + Crane logo, that's a no go for me. Seems like the original was just a simple, quick surface level engraving that they could mass produce, somewhat similar to the serialized upper receivers on Mk18 CQBRs. Shouldn't be hard to replicate, the issue is getting the correct font size and color (looks to be gold, but might have been white originally and discolored over time) on a DXF file. I'll need to check to see if anyone on here as a new(er) / old stock bolt body for better accuracy.

Oh, this is why I have higher praise for Intl.Mil.Co:

(btw, I believe he does these by hand)

It would be very difficult to tell the two apart from one another if given the chance to compare, if he'd be willing to do the same for the mk14 mod 0 bolt bodies, I'd send it to them with no hesitation. But he's more specialized with M16/M4 clones, and last I checked I don't think he had a laser engraver (yet).

I've been in contact with Forceman via PM's, given him a list of some items I'm interested in, but it depends on what he is willing to let go of.

Thank you again for you help! If I get a MK14 Mod 0 made I'll post it up.