Armalite

ArmaLite AR-15 with 25-round magazineTypePlace of originProduction historyDesigner, and Bob FremontDesigned1956Manufacturer.Produced1959–1964SpecificationsMass6.55 lb (2.97 kg) with 20 round magazineLength39 in (991 mm)length20 in (508 mm), (internal piston, not )3,300 ft/s (1,006 m/s)Effective firing range500 yd (457 m)SightsThe ArmaLite AR-15 is a select fire, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle manufactured in the United States between 1959 and 1964. Its military version was adopted by the United States Armed Forces as the. The military version M-16 was a select fire, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle. Designed by American gun manufacturer in 1956 (A division Fairchild Aircraft Company), it was based on its rifle. The ArmaLite AR-15 was designed to be a selective fire, lightweight rifle and to fire a new high-velocity, lightweight, small-caliber cartridge to allow the carry of more ammunition.In 1959, ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR-15 to due to financial difficulties, and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity. After modifications (most notably, the was re-located from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the ), Colt rebranded it the Colt 601, however it still carried the Armalite markings due to contractual obligations to Armalite/Fairchild Aircraft Co.

Cheaper Than Dirt. ArmaLite AR-10 Competition Semi Auto Rifle.308 Winchester 13.5' Match Grade Sta. Armalite is History. For more than 60 years, Armalite has manufactured products that consumers, military, and law enforcement users around.

Colt marketed the redesigned rifle to various military services around the world and it was subsequently adopted by the U.S. Military as the, which went into production in March 1964.Colt continued to use the AR-15 trademark for its line of marketed to civilian and law-enforcement customers, known as.

The Armalite AR-15 is the parent of a variety of. Contents.HistoryAfter World War II, the started looking for a single automatic rifle to replace the,. However, early experiments with select-fire versions of the M1 Garand proved disappointing. During the, the select-fire largely replaced the in US service and became the most widely used Carbine variant.

However, combat experience suggested that the round was under-powered. American weapons designers concluded that an intermediate round was necessary, and recommended a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge.However, senior American commanders having faced fanatical enemies and experienced major logistical problems during WWII and the Korean War, insisted that a single powerful.30 caliber cartridge be developed, that could not only be used by the new automatic rifle, but by the new (GPMG) in concurrent development.

This culminated in the development of the cartridge.The United States Army then began testing several rifles to replace the obsolete M1 Garand. Springfield Armory's T44E4 and heavier T44E5 were essentially updated versions of the Garand chambered for the new 7.62 mm round, while Fabrique Nationale submitted their FN FAL as the T48. Entered the competition late, hurriedly submitting several prototype rifles in the fall of 1956 to the United States Army's Springfield Armory for testing. ArmaLite AR-10 with mounted bayonet made by Artillerie Inrichtingen (A.I.).The AR-10 featured an innovative straight-line barrel/stock design, forged aluminum alloy receivers and with stocks. It had rugged elevated sights, an oversized aluminum and, and an adjustable gas system.

The final prototype, featured an upper and lower receiver with the now-familiar hinge and takedown pins, and the charging handle was on top of the receiver placed inside of the carry handle. For a 7.62mm NATO rifle, the AR-10 was incredibly lightweight at only 6.85 lbs.

Initial comments by Springfield Armory test staff were favorable, and some testers commented that the AR-10 was the best lightweight automatic rifle ever tested by the Armory.In the end the United States Army chose the T44 now called the which was an improved M1 Garand with a 20-round magazine and automatic fire capability. Also adopted the general purpose machine gun (GPMG). Its NATO partners adopted the and rifles, as well as the and GPMGs.The first confrontations between the and the M14 came in the early part of the. Battlefield reports indicated that the M14 was uncontrollable in full-auto and that soldiers could not carry enough ammo to maintain fire superiority over the AK-47. And, while the M2 Carbine offered a high rate of fire, it was under-powered and ultimately outclassed by the AK-47. A replacement was needed: A medium between the traditional preference for high-powered rifles such as the M14, and the lightweight firepower of the M2 Carbine.

Early ArmaLite AR-15 without magazine or flash hiderAs a result, the Army was forced to reconsider a 1957 request by, commander of the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) to develop a.223 caliber (5.56 mm) select-fire rifle weighing 6 lb (2.7 kg) when loaded with a 20-round magazine.

The 5.56mm round had to penetrate a standard U.S. At 500 yards (460 meters) and retain a velocity in excess of the speed of sound, while matching or exceeding the wounding ability of the.30 Carbine cartridge. This request ultimately resulted in the development of a scaled-down version of the, called ArmaLite AR-15 rifle.In 1958, ArmaLite submitted ten AR-15s and one hundred 25-round magazines for CONARC testing.

The tests found that a 5- to 7-man team armed with AR-15s has the same firepower as 11-man team armed with M14s. That soldiers armed with AR-15s could carry three times more ammunition as those armed with M14s (649 rounds vs 220 rounds).

And, that the AR-15 was three times more reliable than the M14 rifle. However, then Army Chief of Staff, 'vetoed' the AR-15 in favor of the M14. In 1959, ArmaLite now frustrated with the lack of results and suffering ongoing financial difficulties, sold its rights to the AR-10 and AR-15 to. Colt ArmaLite AR-15 Model 01 with 20-round magazineAfter acquiring the AR-15, Colt promptly redesigned the rifle to facilitate mass production.

Based on the final ArmaLite design, most notably, the charging handle was re-located from under the carrying handle, like the earlier AR-10 to the rear of the receiver, like the later M16 rifle. Colt then renamed and rebranded the rifle 'Colt ArmaLite AR-15 Model 01' After a far East tour, Colt made its first sale of Colt ArmaLite AR-15 rifles to on September 30, 1959. Colt manufactured their first batch of 300 Colt ArmaLite AR-15 rifles in December 1959. Colt would go on to market the Colt ArmaLite AR-15 rifle to military services around the world.In July 1960, then Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, was impressed by a demonstration of the AR-15 and ordered 8500 rifles. In the meantime, the Army would continue testing the AR-15, finding that the.223 (5.56mm) rifle is much easier to shoot than the standard M14 rifle. In 1961 marksmanship testing, the U.S.

Army found that 43% of AR-15 shooters achieved Expert, while only 22% of M-14 rifle shooters did so. Also, a lower impulse, allows for more controllable automatic weapons fire.In the summer of 1961, General LeMay was promoted to Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and requested an additional 80,000 AR-15s. However, General, now, (who repeatedly clashed with LeMay) advised President that having two different calibers within the military system at the same time would be problematic and the request was rejected.: 372 In October 1961, William Godel, a senior man at the, sent 10 AR-15s to South Vietnam. The reception was enthusiastic, and in 1962, another 1,000 AR-15s were sent.: 372–373 personnel filed battlefield reports lavishly praising the AR-15 and the stopping-power of the 5.56 mm cartridge, and pressed for its adoption. Colt ArmaLite AR-15 Model 02 without magazine and new 1 in 12-inch (300 mm) rifling twist rateThe damage caused by the 5.56 mm bullet was originally believed to be caused by 'tumbling' due to the slow 1 in 14-inch (360 mm) rifling twist rate.: 372 However, any pointed lead core bullet will 'tumble' after penetration in flesh, because the center of gravity is towards the rear of the bullet.

The large wounds observed by soldiers in Vietnam were actually caused by bullet fragmentation, which was created by a combination of the bullet's velocity and construction.: 372 These wounds were so devastating, that the photographs remained classified into the 1980s.: 373However, despite overwhelming evidence that the AR-15 could bring more firepower to bear than the M14, the Army opposed the adoption of the new rifle. Now had two conflicting views: the USAF's (General LeMay's) repeated requests for additional AR-15s and the ARPA report favoring the AR-15, versus the Army's position favoring the M14. Even President Kennedy expressed concern, so McNamara ordered Secretary of the Army to test the M14, the AR-15 and the AK-47. The Army reported that only the M14 was suitable for service, but Vance wondered about the impartiality of those conducting the tests. He ordered the Army Inspector General to investigate the testing methods used; the Inspector General confirmed that the testers were biased towards the M14.In January 1963, Secretary McNamara received reports that M14 production was insufficient to meet the needs of the armed forces and ordered a halt to M14 production. At the time, the AR-15 was the only rifle that could fulfill a requirement of a 'universal' infantry weapon for issue to all services.

McNamara ordered its adoption, despite receiving reports of several deficiencies, most notably the lack of a chamber. An early M16 rifle without forward assistAfter minor modifications, the new redesigned rifle was renamed the. Meanwhile, the Army relented and recommended the adoption of the M16 for jungle warfare operations. However, the Army insisted on the inclusion of a to help push the bolt into battery in the event that a cartridge failed to seat into the chamber. The Air Force, Colt and Eugene Stoner believed that the addition of a forward assist was an unjustified expense. As a result, the design was split into two variants: the Air Force's M16 without the forward assist, and the with the for the other service branches. Photograph of Secret Service agent George W.

Hickey with an ArmaLite AR-15 Model 01 moments after was in Dallas on November 22, 1963.In November 1963, McNamara approved the U.S. Army's order of 85,000 XM16E1s;: 380, 392 and to appease General LeMay, the Air Force was granted an order for another 19,000 M16s.: 380 In March 1964, the M16 rifle went into production and the Army accepted delivery of the first batch of 2129 rifles later that year, and an additional 57,240 rifles the following year.The Colt ArmaLite AR-15 was discontinued with the adoption of the M16 rifle. Most AR-15 rifles in U.S. Service have long ago been upgraded to M16 configuration. The Colt ArmaLite AR-15 was also used by the United States Secret Service and other U.S.

Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.Shortly after the United States military adopted the M16 rifle, Colt introduced its line semi-automatic-only rifles, which it markets to civilians and law enforcement. Colt continues to use the AR-15 name for these rifles.Features Armalite AR-15.

ArmaLite AR-15 with 25-round magazine and flash hiderThe AR-15 is a. It is easy to assemble, modify and repair using a few simple hand tools, and a flat surface to work on. The AR-15's upper receiver incorporates the fore stock, the charging handle, the gas operating system, the barrel, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly. The lower receiver incorporates the magazine well, the pistol grip and the buttstock. The lower receiver also contains the trigger, disconnector, hammer and fire selector (collectively known as the ).

The AR-15's 'duckbill' flash suppressor had three tines or prongs and was designed to preserve the shooter's night vision by disrupting the flash. Early AR-15's had a 25-round magazine. Later model AR-15s used a 20-round waffle-patterned magazine that was meant to be a lightweight, disposable item. As such, it is made of pressed/stamped aluminum and was not designed to be durable.The AR-15's most distinctive ergonomic feature is the carrying handle and rear sight assembly on top of the receiver. This is a by-product of the design, where the carry handle serves to protect the charging handle. The AR-15 rifle has a 500 mm (19.75 inches) sight radius.

The AR-15 uses an L-type flip, aperture rear sight and it is adjustable with two settings, 0 to 300 meters and 300 to 400 meters. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation. The rear sight can be adjusted for windage. The sights can be adjusted with a bullet tip or pointed tool.' The (AR-15's) Stoner system provides a very symmetric design that allows straight line movement of the operating components. This allows recoil forces to drive straight to the rear.

Instead of connecting or other mechanical parts driving the system, high pressure gas performs this function, reducing the weight of moving parts and the rifle as a whole.' The AR-15's straight-line recoil design, where the recoil spring is located in the stock directly behind the action, and serves the dual function of operating spring and recoil buffer. The stock being in line with the bore also reduces muzzle rise, especially during automatic fire. Because recoil does not significantly shift the point of aim, faster follow-up shots are possible and user fatigue is reduced.Colt ArmaLite AR-15 (Model 601 & 602). Colt ArmaLite AR-15 Model 02 without magazine and new 1 in 12-inch (300 mm) rifling twist rate, made in 1964Colt's first two models produced after the acquisition of the rifle from ArmaLite were the 601 and 602, and these rifles were in many ways clones of the original ArmaLite rifle (in fact, these rifles were often found stamped Colt ArmaLite AR-15, Property of the U.S. Government caliber.223, with no reference to them being M16s).The 601 and 602 are virtually identical to the later M16 rifle without the forward-assist. Like the later M16 rifle their charging handle was re-located from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver.

They were equipped with triangular fore-stocks and occasionally green or brown furniture. Their front sight had a more triangular shape. They had flat lower receivers without raised surfaces around the magazine well. Their bolt hold open device lacked a raised lower engagement surface and had a slanted and serrated surface that had to be engaged with a bare thumb, index finger, or thumb nail because of the lack of this surface. Their fire-selector was also changed from upward = safe, backward = semi-auto and forward = full-auto, to the now familiar forward = safe, upward = semi-auto, and backward = full-auto of the M16 rifle.The only major difference between the 601 and 602 is the switch from the original 1:14-inch rifling twist to the more common 1:12-inch twist. The 601 was first adopted by the United States Air Force, and was quickly supplemented with the 602s (AKA: XM16s) and later the 604s (AKA: M16s). Over time, the 601s and 602s were converted to M16 rifle configuration.

The USAF continued to use ArmaLite AR-15 marked rifles well into the 1990s.See also.Further reading. (1981). 1983 winner. (June 1981). One of three excerpts from National Defense published in; includes the origin of the Armalite AR-15.References.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FIELD UNIT. Advanced Research Projects Agency. July 31, 1962. Ezell, Virginia Hart (November 2001). National Defense. Archived from on December 7, 2010. ^; Weeks, John S.

Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications., p. 291. ^. Infantry Combat Developments Agency. February 17, 1978. ^ Kern, Danford Allan (2006). A thesis presented to the Faculty of the US Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE, Military History.

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. ^ Bartocci, Christopher R. (July 16, 2012). Retrieved May 24, 2017. ^ Kokalis, Peter G. Nodakspud.com. ^.

Department of the Army. June 1, 1968.

^ Ehrhart, Thomas P. (Maj.) (2009). US Army. The M16.

By Gordon Rottman. Osprey Publishing, 2011. Page 6. Schreier, Philip. Pp. 24–29, 46. Archived from (PDF) on December 4, 2013.

Retrieved August 19, 2016. Gordon Rottman (2011). Osprey Publishing. P. 6. Leroy Thompson (2011). The M1 Carbine.

Osprey Publishing. Retrieved November 23, 2011. Hall, Donald L. (March 1952). Maryland: Ballistic Research Laboratories (published March 29, 1973).

Fanaticism And Conflict In The Modern Age, by Matthew Hughes & Gaynor Johnson, Frank Cass & Co, 2005. Retrieved August 23, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2011. Archived from on June 22, 2015.

Retrieved November 23, 2011. ^ Harrison (NRA Technical Staff), E. (Col.) (June 1957). Archived from (PDF) on November 7, 2015.

Williams, Anthony G. (February 3, 2012). Archived from on June 2, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2011. ^ Pikula, pp. 36, 38. Pikula, Major Sam.

The ArmaLite AR-10. Regnum Fund Press, 1998. 27-29.

A tutorial is included, but you’ll barely even need it if you’ve already played through the game. Multiplayer modes allow as many as four people to participate at once either locally or online, but it’s also possible to interact with other players less directly. The game includes an intuitive level editor. But the platforming feels better in other games, and the puzzling is lacking a hook like Braid’s time mechanics – it’s mostly pushing blocks. Battleblock theater reset game.

Pikula, Sam (Major), The ArmaLite AR-10, p. 38: Later changed to titanium. Pikula, pp. 27-30. (1963). 'The M-14: Boon or Blunder'.

3 (4). Pikula, pp.

39-40. ^ Bruce, Robert. Small Arms Review. Jane's International Defense Review.

Jane's Information Group. The M14 is basically an improved M1 with a modified gas system and detachable 20-round magazine. Missing or empty title=. September 20, 1945. Retrieved November 23, 2011. Emerson, Lee (October 10, 2006).

Archived from (PDF) on December 15, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2016. Rottman, Gordon (2002). Green Beret in Vietnam: 1957-73. Osprey Publishing.

P. 41. Hutton, Robert (ed.), The.223, Guns & Ammo Annual Edition, 1971. Ezell, Edward Clinton (1983). Small Arms of the World. New York: Stackpole Books. Pp. 46–47.

Rifle Squad Armed with a Light Weight High Velocity Rifle. Army Combat Experimentation Center. June 24, 1959. Dockery, Kevin (2007).

P. 56. Zimba, Jeff W.

Retrieved November 13, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2007.

(PDF). Retrieved June 3, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2007. (PDF). Retrieved June 3, 2014. ^ Rose, Alexander (2009). Random House Publishing Group.

(PDF). RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FIELD UNIT. Advanced Research Projects Agency. July 31, 1962.

(PDF). RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FIELD UNIT. Advanced Research Projects Agency. July 31, 1962. 'Martin L. Fackler, Wounding patterns of military rifle bullets'.

(PDF). RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FIELD UNIT. Advanced Research Projects Agency. July 31, 1962.

(February 28, 2011). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. Retrieved June 6, 2013. Ezell, Edward Clinton (1983). Small Arms of the World. Pp. 46–47. ^ Thomas P.

Ehrhart. Bartocci, Christopher R. (July 20, 2011). Archived from on April 14, 2013.

Retrieved August 23, 2012. ^ Ezell, Edward Clinton (1983). Small Arms of the World.

New York: Stackpole Books. Pp. 746–762. (PDF).

Archived from (PDF) on May 17, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2014. CS1 maint: archived copy as title ARMALITE TECHNICAL NOTE 54: DIRECT IMPINGEMENT VERSUS PISTON DRIVE.

Pages 744–759 'Small Arms of the World' 12th Revised Edition by Edward Clinton Ezell.

Armalite
Subsidiary
Industry	Firearms
Founded	1954
Headquarters	,
Products	Firearms Firearm accessories
51–200 (est.)
Parent	Strategic Armory Corps
Website	armalite.com

ArmaLite, or Armalite, is an American small arms engineering company founded in the mid 1950s in Hollywood, California. It ceased business in the 1980s. The company was revived in 1996 by Mark Westrom.

The idea of entering the small arms industry caught the interest of then-company president Richard Boutelle at Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation, and Armalite was incorporated as a division of Fairchild on October 1, 1954. Their first design, the AR1 Parasniper^[1] from 1952, used foam-filled fiberglass furniture and a composite barrel using a steel liner inside an aluminum sleeve. This was little used, but when they were asked to compete in a contest for an aircrew survival rifle their AR-5 and AR-7 designs from 1956 saw production use. This was followed by an invitation to compete for the new combat rifle for US forces, which led to the AR-10. The AR-10 lost the 1957 contest, but many of its ideas were reused in the smaller and lighter AR-15.

Tired of repeated failures in the market, Fairchild licensed the AR-10 and AR-15 designs to Colt, and the AR-10 to a Dutch company. Fairchild sold its interest in Armalite in 1962. That year, Colt sold the AR-15 to the United States Air Force to arm base security troops. Commercial models were then sent to Special Forces in Vietnam, who reported success using the weapon.^{[clarification needed]} This led to its being adopted as the Army's main combat rifle starting in 1964. Officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16, it remained the US's primary combat rifle in one form or another to this day (October 2016), however it is in the process of being phased out by other weapon systems, notably the M27-IAR and is expected to be out of service by the mid 2030s. It has been adopted by many NATO countries in the 1980s.

Armalite had further brushes with success, especially with the ArmaLite AR-18. These were not enough to keep the company going, and they ceased operations in the early 1980s.^[2] The design rights and name were purchased in 1996 by Mark Westrom, who re-launched the company Armalite, Inc., now headquartered in Geneseo, Illinois.^[1]

In 2013, Westrom sold Armalite, Inc. to Strategic Armory Corps, who also owns AWC Silencers, Surgeon Rifles, Nexus Ammo, and McMillan Firearms. Strategic Armory Corps was formed with the goal of acquiring and combining market-leading companies within the firearms industry.^[3] In 2014, 3-Gun Champion Tommy Thacker was appointed president. In 2015, Armalite introduced 18 new products including AR-10 and M-15 platform firearms. In mid 2018, Armalite was relocated to Phoenix Arizona.

History[edit]

Armalite began as a small arms engineering concern founded by George Sullivan, the patent counsel for Lockheed Corporation, and funded by Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation.^[4] After leasing a small machine shop^[5] at 6567 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, California, Sullivan hired several employees and began work on a prototype for a lightweight survival rifle for use by downed aircrew.^[4] On October 1, 1954, the company was incorporated as the Armalite Corporation, becoming a subdivision of Fairchild.^[4] With its limited capital and tiny machine shop, Armalite was never intended to be an arms manufacturer.^[4] Armalite was instead focused on producing small arms concepts and designs to be sold or licensed to other manufacturers.^[4] While testing the prototype of Armalite's survival rifle design at a local shooting range, Sullivan met Eugene Stoner, a talented small arms inventor, whom Sullivan immediately hired to be Armalite's chief design engineer.^[4] Stoner was a Marine in World War II and an expert with small arms. Since the early 1950s, he had been working at a variety of jobs while building gun prototypes in his spare time. At the time, Armalite Inc. was a very small organization (as late as 1956 it had only nine employees, including Stoner).^[4]

With Stoner as chief design engineer, Armalite quickly released a number of interesting rifle concepts.^[6] The first Armalite concept to be adopted for production was the AR-5, a survival rifle chambered for the .22 Hornet cartridge. The AR-5 was adopted by the U.S. Air Force as the MA-1 Survival Rifle.

A civilian survival weapon, the AR-7, was later introduced, chambered in .22 Long Rifle. The semi-automatic AR-7, like the AR-5, could be disassembled, and the components stored in the buttstock. Primarily made of alloys, the AR-7 would float, whether assembled or stored, due to the design of the buttstock, which was filled with plastic foam. The AR-7 and derivative models have been produced by several companies since introduction in the late 1950s, currently^[when?] by Henry Repeating Arms, of Bayonne, New Jersey, and the rifle is still popular today.^[when?]

Most of Armalite's time and engineering effort in 1955 and 1956 was spent in developing the prototypes for what would become the ArmaLite AR-10. Based on Stoner's fourth prototype, two hand-built production AR-10s were tested by the Springfield Armory in late 1956 and again in 1957 as a possible replacement to the venerable yet outdated M1 Garand. The untested AR-10 faced competition from the two other major rifle designs, the Springfield ArmoryT-44, an updated M1 Garand design that became the M14, and the T-48, a version of the famous BelgianFN FAL rifle. Both the T-44 and the T-48 had a lead of several years over the AR-10 in development and trials testing; the T-44 had the additional advantage of being an in-house Springfield Armory design.^[7] The Army eventually selected the T-44 over both the AR-10 and the T-48.

Armalite continued to market the AR-10 based on a limited production of rifles at their Hollywood facility. These limited-production, virtually hand-built rifles are referred to today as the 'Hollywood' model AR-10.^[8] In 1957, Fairchild/Armalite sold a five-year manufacturing license for the AR-10 to the Dutch arms manufacturer 'Artillerie Inrichtingen (AI). Converting the AR-10 engineering drawings to metric, AI found the Hollywood version of the AR-10 deficient in a number of respects, and made a number of significant design and engineering changes in the AR-10 that continued throughout the production run in the Netherlands. Firearms historians^[who?] have separated AR-10 production under the AI license into three identifiable versions of the AR-10: the 'Sudanese' model, the 'Transitional', and the 'Portuguese' model AR-10.^{[citation needed]} The Sudanese version derives its name from its sale to the Government of Sudan, which purchased approximately 2,500 AR-10 rifles, while the Transitional model incorporated additional design changes based on experience with the Sudanese model in the field. The final AI-produced AR-10, the Portuguese, was a product-improved variant sold to the Portuguese Air Force for use by paratroopers.^[9] While AR-10 production at AI dwarfed that of Armalite's Hollywood shop, it was still limited, as sales to foreign armies proved elusive. Guatemala, Burma, Italy, Cuba, Sudan and Portugal all purchased AR-10 rifles for limited issue to their military forces,^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12] resulting in a total production of less than 10,000 AR-10 rifles in four years. It appears that none of the design changes and product improvements made by AI were ever transmitted to or adopted by Armalite.

Disappointed with AR-10 sales, Fairchild Armalite decided to terminate its association with Artillerie Inrichtingen and instead concentrated on producing a small-caliber version of the AR-10 to meet a requirement for the U.S. Air Force. Using the Hollywood-produced AR-10, the prototype was downsized in dimensions to accept the .223 Remington (5.56 mm) cartridge.^[13] This resulted in the ArmaLite AR-15, designed by Eugene Stoner, Jim Sullivan, and Bob Fremont, and chambered in 5.56 mm caliber.^[13] Armalite also re-introduced the AR-10, this time using a design derived from the original Hollywood prototypes of 1956, and designated the AR-10A. Unable to produce either rifle in quantity, Armalite was forced to license both designs to Colt in early 1959. That same year, Armalite moved its corporate offices and engineering and production shop to new premises at 118 East 16th Street in Costa Mesa, California.^[14]

Frustrated by what it perceived as unnecessary production delays at AI, and poor AR-10 sales, Fairchild decided not to renew Artillerie Inrichtingen's license to produce the AR-10. In 1962, disappointed with Armalite's meagre profits, largely derived from licensing fees, Fairchild dissolved its association with Armalite.^[14]

With the AR-10 and AR-15 designs sold to Colt, Armalite was left without a viable major infantry arm to market to potential manufacturers and end users. Armalite next developed a series of less expensive new rifle designs in 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm. The 7.62 mm NATO rifle was designated the AR-16. The AR-16 and the other newly designed Armalites utilized a more traditional gas piston design along with stamped and welded steel construction in place of aluminum forgings. Due to the success of the FN FAL, H&K G3, and the US M14, the 7.62 mm AR-16 (not to be confused with the M16) was produced only in prototype quantities. Another Armalite project was the AR-17, a two-shot autoloading shotgun based on the short-recoil principle and featuring a weight of only 5.5 pounds thanks to its aluminum and plastic construction; only about 1,200 were ever produced.^[15]

In 1963, development began on the AR-18 rifle, a 'downsized' 5.56 mm AR-16 with a new gas system utilizing a short stroke gas piston instead of the Stoner direct gas impingement system used on the AR-10 and AR-15. Designed by Art Miller, the AR-18 was accompanied by a semi-automatic version, the AR-180.^[2] However, the sales success of the AR-15 worldwide to the U.S. military and other nations proved the undoing of the AR-18, and the latter failed to garner substantial orders. In response to criticism of the rifle's performance in trials by the military in the United States and Great Britain, a few minor improvements were made to the original design, but little else was done. Armalite manufactured some AR-18 and AR-180 rifles at its Costa Mesa facility and later licensed production to Howa Machinery Co. in Japan. However, Japan was prohibited under its laws from selling military-style arms to combative nations, and with the United States involved in the Vietnam war, production at the Howa plant was limited. Armalite then licensed production to Sterling Armaments in Dagenham, Great Britain. Sales remained modest.^{[clarification needed]} Today, the AR-180 is best known for its use by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Ireland, who received small quantities of the rifle from black market sources. The AR-18 gas system and rotating bolt mechanism did serve as the basis for the current British small arms family, the SA80, which came from the XL65 which is essentially an AR-18 in bullpup configuration.^{[citation needed]} Other designs, such as the Singapore SAR-80 and German G36, are based upon the AR-18.^{[citation needed]}

A derivative of the AR-18 was the AR-100 series. It came in four variants: the closed-bolt AR-101 assault rifle and AR-102 carbine, and the open-bolt fired AR-103 carbine and AR-104 light machine gun with ejecting magazines. The weapon was intended to increase firepower of a squad as well as mobility. It was never adopted; however, it led to the Ultimax 100.

By the 1970s, Armalite had essentially stopped all new rifle development, and the company effectively ceased operations.^[2] In 1983 Armalite was sold to Elisco Tool Manufacturing Company, of the Philippines. The AR-18 tooling at the Costa Mesa shop went to the Philippines, while some of the remaining Armalite employees acquired the remaining inventory of parts for the AR-17 and AR-18.^[2]

Resurrection of the Armalite brand[edit]

Armalite AR-10B

After passing through a series of owners, the Armalite brand name and rampant lion logo was sold in 1996 to Mark Westrom, a former U.S. Army Ordnance officer and inventor of a 7.62 NATO sniper rifle based on the design concepts of Eugene Stoner. The company resumed business as Armalite Inc. Today, Armalite produces a number of AR-15 and AR-10-based rifles, as well as .50 BMG rifles (the AR-50), and a modified AR-180 named the AR-180B (discontinued in 2009). In the mid-2000s, Armalite had also announced that they are introducing a handgun line including the AR-24 and AR-26 (both pistols also discontinued).

Products[edit]

(1954–1983)^[16]

AR-1 'Parasniper', bolt-action rifle (1954 prototype, was not developed further)
AR-3, 7.62×51 mm NATO select-fire battle rifle (prototype, used as a test-bed for rifle design features)^[17]
AR-5, .22 Hornet bolt-action survival rifle (1954–1955), was submitted to replace the Air Force's standard survival rifle.
AR-7 'Explorer', .22 LR semi-auto survival rifle
AR-9, semi-auto 12-gauge shotgun (1955 prototype, forerunner of the AR-17)
AR-10, 7.62×51 mm NATO select-fire battle rifle (1955–1959)
AR-11, .222 Remington select-fire rifle (prototype, smaller version of the AR-3)
AR-12, 7.62×51 mm NATO select-fire battle rifle^[18]
AR-13, hyper-velocity multi-barrel machine gun for aircraft
AR-14, .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, or .358 Winchester semi-auto sporting rifle (1956)^[19]^[20]^[21]
AR-15, .223 Remington select-fire rifle (smaller version of the AR-10 and forerunner of the M16 rifle, made from 1956-1959)
AR-16, 7.62×51 mm NATO select-fire battle rifle (1959–1960)
AR-17, semi-auto 12-gauge shotgun^[22]^[23]
AR-18, .223 Remington select-fire rifle (smaller version of the AR-16, made 1962–1964)
AR-180, .223 Remington semi-auto sporting rifle (civilian version of the AR-18)

(Armalite, Inc. 1996–present)

AR-10B, .308 Win semi-auto rifle (1994–Present)
AR-10A, .308 Win semi-auto rifle (2006–Present) (re-designed AR-10 - most parts are not compatible with AR-10B)
AR-10 SuperSASS, .308 Win semi-auto sniper system (2006–Present)
AR-20, .50 BMG single shot rifle (1998–1999)
AR-22, blank firing device for the Mk 19 40 mm grenade launcher (1998–2008)
AR-23, sub-caliber training device for the Mk 19 40 mm grenade launcher (1998–2008)
AR-24, 9 mm pistol (2006–2012)
AR-30, .308 Win, .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 WIN MAG bolt-action rifle (1999–2012)
AR-30A1, .300 WIN MAG, .338 Lapua Magnum bolt-action rifle (2013–present) (re-designed AR-30; most parts are not compatible with AR-30)
AR-31, .308 Win bolt-action rifle (2013–present)
AR-50, .50 BMG single-shot rifle (1998–present)
AR-180B, 5.56 mm semi-auto rifle (2001–2009)
M-15, 5.56 mm semi-auto rifle (1994–present)

References[edit]

^ ^a^b'History - Armalite'. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
^ ^a^b^c^dPikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, p. 92
^ ^a^b'Strategic Armory Corps'. Strategic Armory Corps. SAC Firearms. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^gPikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, pp. 23–26
^Pikula, p. 25: The workshop on Santa Monica occupied only 1000 square feet, and was referred to as 'George's backyard garage' by employees.
^Pikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, pp. 30-36
^Pikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, pp. 39-40
^Pikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, pp. 29, 31
^ ^a^bPikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, p. 78
^Pikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, p. 45
^Pikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, p. 72,73
^Pikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, p. 75
^ ^a^bPikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, p. 88
^ ^a^bPikula, Sam (Major), The Armalite AR-10, p. 90
^Hahn, Nick, The 'Other' Autoloaders, Gun Digest 2011, 65th ed., F+W Media (2010), p. 69
^Hobart, F. W. A. (1972). Small Arms Profile 22: Armalite Weapons. Profile Publications. pp. 182–189.
^'springfield armory'.
^'sturmgewher.com'.
^Evans, Joseph Putnam (2016). The Armalite AR-10: World's Finest Battle Rifle. Collector Grade Publications. p. 39. ISBN0889355835.
^Evans, Joseph Putnam (2016). The Armalite AR-10: World's Finest Battle Rifle. Collector Grade Publications. p. 39. ISBN0889355835.
^US Expired 2951424, Stoner, Eugene, 'Gas operated bolt and carrier system', issued 1960-09-06, assigned to Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp
^'ArmaLite AR-17 Shotgun'. www.chuckhawks.com. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
^'Armalite AR-17: A Shotgun from the World of Tomorrow!'. www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 27, 2018.

Sources[edit]

McElrath, Daniel T. (December 10, 2004). 'Golden Days At ArmaLite'. American Rifleman. National Rifle Association of America. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
Pikula, Sam (Major), The ArmaLite AR-10, Regnum Fund Press (1998), ISBN9986-494-38-9
Walter, John (2006). Rifles of the World. Krause Publications. pp. 34–37. ISBN978-0-89689-241-5.