Quoted:
I was under the impression that it stood for ARmalite but a quick web search shows plenty of people say that it's Armalite Rifle.

I even have a recollection that Armalite used to have the story on their web page years ago that it was, in fact, ARmalite.

Can someone here refresh my memory?

Early Colt AR-15s, their magazines, and their operators manuals were marked with ArmaLite's name. Colt's
retained the AR-15 designation on commercial rifles. To this day Colt's has a model designation with the letters
AR, which stands for "ArmaLite".

A HISTORICAL REVIEW OF ARMALITE
Edition of April 23, 1999
Few firearm manufacturers have captured the imagination of American Shooters as thoroughly as ArmaLite.
ArmaLite first rose to prominence during the late 1950s, with a series of innovative rifles that looked unlike any
produced before. Although ArmaLite itself was unable to reap the full benefit of their work, the ArmaLite design
team created innovative designs that still are setting the standard by which new models are evaluated.
There is great interest in the history of ArmaLite. This document is a team effort that summarizes ArmaLite's origin
in 1954, its corporate shifts and changes over the years, and the developments that have taken place over that period.
It ends with the current status of the new company today, 45 years later. It is the official corporate history of
ArmaLite.
This document was established in an ArmaLite letter dated March 1974, and subsequently updated in 1998 and
1999. It includes information taken from ArmaLite documents whenever possible. It remains a work in progress,
with information continuing to arrive from ex-ArmaLite personnel, and new information added as the company
matures.
Like Colt and most other firearm manufacturers, ArmaLite has passed through a number of management and
ownership phases. Each will be discussed, with the participation of company officials of the time used where
available.
ArmaLite Division, Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation.
ArmaLite was first established as a Division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation on October 1, 1954. At
least two years of privately funded development preceded the Fairchild supported program. The ArmaLite Division
of Fairchild is the first phase of the company's history.
There had been very little fundamental development in the small arms industry for over fifty years. Increasing
military use of the machine gun and production of semiautomatic rifles were the main significant changes. No
fundamental change in military riflery doctrine had been made since the latter half of the nineteenth century, and
production materials and techniques were also largely unchanged. ArmaLite believed that a ready market existed
for firearms of advanced design featuring lightweight, modern alloys and plastics and economical production
procedures.
The initial plan was to produce fine sporting firearms for the commerc ial market. It was considered likely that in
due time some of the concepts used in the commercial firearms would have acceptance by the military.
Shortly after Fairchild established the ArmaLite Division, ArmaLite was invited to submit a rifle to the U.S. Air
Force as a replacement for the then-standard survival rifle. A few weeks after receiving information as to this
requirement, ArmaLite submitted the AR-5, .22 Hornet Survival Rifle for Air Force evaluation. The AR-5 was
adopted and designated the MA-1 Survival Rifle.
The initial success with the AR-5 led Fairchild to reverse the strategy of focusing on the commercial market first,
then entering the military market. With the adoption of the AR-5 and with a quantity purchase seemingly assured,
ArmaLite decided to defer entry into the commercial field until such time as their reputation and financial position
were established as a result of military sales. For the next five years all ArmaLite activity was directed to the
development of military firearms.
The concept of using the latest technical advances in plastics and alloys was the idea of George Sullivan, Chief
Patent Counsel for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Sullivan had started work in his own garage shop after WWII.
This work came to the attention of Fairchild in 1953 when Sullivan and Fairchild's Corporate Secretary, Paul S.
Cleaveland, discussed the principles at a meeting of an aircraft industry committee. Cleveland called attention of
this work to Richard S. Boutelle, Fairchild's president and a long-time gun enthusiast.
In 1954, Eugene Stoner, who served in the Marines during World War II and who was something of an ordnance
expert, became Chief Engineer for ArmaLite. Stoner had been working on small arms independently since WWII.
Stoner's patents form the basis of much of ArmaLite's work.
From the beginning, Charles Dorchester directed and coordinated all development programs, first as General
Manager of the ArmaLite Division of Fairchild, later as President of ArmaLite, Inc., and still later as Chairman of
the Board. The combined efforts of these three individuals from this point on resulted in revolutionary changes in
combat weapon concepts.
ArmaLite's initial project, begun even before Sullivan brought ArmaLite to Fairchild's attention, was the AR-1
Parasniper, a lightweight bolt action rifle started in 1952. The 1956 success of the later AR-5 caused ArmaLite to
shift its attention to military designs.
The AR-10 became the main focus of attention beginning in 1955. At that time the Army was considering the
Springfield Armory T-44 (an updated Garand) and the T-48, a version of the FN FAL, as replacements for the M1
Garand. ArmaLite hoped to present a rifle capable of displacing both models.
The AR-10 was stunningly different than any previous design. It was produced with aircraft grade aluminum
receivers, and therefore weighed less than seven pounds. The lightweight material was possible because the bolt
locked into a steel extension on the barrel, not into the receiver itself. The stock and other furniture were plastic,
while the T-44 and T-48 were of wood. The configuration of the rifle itself, with its integral carrying handle and
charging handle distinctively mounted within it, sparked intense curiosity.
In the end, the AR-10 wasn't able to catch up; the T-44 was adopted as the M-14 rifle in 1959. The AR-10 fell
victim to both its own weaknesses, normal in early models of any product, prejudice within the Army Ordnance
Corps, and the head start of the other rifles.
Based on what they saw in the AR-10, however, other Army officials asked ArmaLite to develop a smaller version
of the AR-10 in 1956. The ensuing rifle was called the AR-15. Like the AR-10, it was a developmental model. Not
only was it too late to be considered against the T-44 and T-48, it didn't match the long-range marksmanship
doctrine of the day.
The AR-10 was licensed to the Dutch Arsenal, Artillerie Inrichtingen, for sale on the international market.
ArmaLite and its agents and assignees demonstrated the rifle around the world, but sales were limited. Even the
Dutch failed to adopt the rifle built in their own arsenal. Despite the background Army interest in a smaller caliber
rifle, ArmaLite licensed the designs and trademarks to the AR-10 and AR-15 to Colt's in January 1959.
Early Colt AR-15s, their magazines, and their operators manuals were marked with ArmaLite's name. Colt's
retained the AR-15 designation on commercial rifles. To this day Colt's has a model designation with the letters
AR, which stands for "ArmaLite".
The mid to late 1950s was a period of intense development at ArmaLite. The engineering staff was especially
strong, with Eugene Stoner, James Sullivan, and Robert Fremont present at the same time. The AR-17 12 Gauge
Shotgun started development in the mid-1950s. In 1959 ArmaLite developed the AR-7 .22 caliber survival rifle,
which exploited some of the features of AR-5. The rifle entered Production for the commercial market. Small
numbers were sold to various mi litary forces for use as survival rifles.
In 1959 ArmaLite began developing the AR-16, a sheet metal version of the AR-10. Three specimens were
produced. The adoption of the M-14 by the Army and ArmaLite's focus on the AR-10 caused the AR-16 to be
dropped.
The engineering team started to split up at the end of the decade. Fremont left for Colt in 1959. Sullivan left in
1960, and Stoner left in 1961 to serve as a consultant to Colt.
ArmaLite was late with the AR-10 and, in a way, early with the AR-15. With both models gone ArmaLite was in
trouble. It's only rifle in production was the .22 caliber AR-7. It wasn't enough. The second phase of ArmaLite's
history therefore began in early 1961.
ArmaLite Incorporated.
In 1961 Fairchild was undergoing financial troubles, and the original principals of ArmaLite acquired ArmaLite
from Fairchild, including rights and title to all ArmaLite designs except the AR-10 and AR-15, which had
previously been licensed to Colt's.
The organization continued from this time on as ArmaLite, Inc., with substantially the same nucleus of key
personnel. From the latter part of 1962 until near the end of 1971 the major portion of the ArmaLite development
programs were funded by Capital Southwest Corporation of Dallas, Texas. In November of 1971 Charles
Dorchester, Chairman, and Richard Klotzly, President, acquired the majority common stock position in ArmaLite
held by Capital Southwest Corporation.
It was obvious from Army purchases of the AR-15 that Fairchild had erred in selling the AR-15 in 1959. To recover
from that error, ArmaLite set about to develop a new rifle that wouldn't violate the Stoner gas system patents, which
now belonged to Colt's. The result was the AR-18, which began development in 1963. The combat effectiveness of
the .223 caliber cartridge was now well proven. ArmaLite hoped to build a new rifle capable of displacing the AR-
15 in the hands of the Army. The AR-18 combined the lessons of the AR-15 and the AR-16 in a rifle capable of
competing for the many expected contracts for new rifles.
The AR-18 is best described as a sheet metal AR-15, with a different gas system. It was to prove the main focus of
ArmaLite's efforts for the next two decades.
ArmaLite arranged exhaustive tests by the H.P. White laboratory of Belair, Maryland, to verify their claims for the
AR-18 with the hope of attaining DOD and State Department endorsement of the rifle toward filling the void
existing for a modern combat rifle for friends and allies around the world.
The Army conducted tests of ten prototype rifles at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, and at Ft. Benning,
Georgia, during 1964. The rifle was considered as "having military potential." The Army requested an additional
29 rifles in1964 for further testing. These 29 rifles, with a detailed operator's manual, were produced on a tool room
basis in a four-month period in compliance with the government contract. The tests were conducted as part of the
Army's Small Arms Weapons System (SAWS) tests. Not surpris ingly, the early rifles needed further development.
With the military market going nowhere fast, sales were shifted to the commercial market. A commercial,
semiautomatic-only version of the AR-18 was produced as the AR-180.
In 1967 production of the AR-18 was started at the Howa Machinery Company of Nagoya, Japan. For Japanese
political reasons the Howa rifles were allowed to be sold only to non-combatant nations, and even then only to non-
Asian nations. During the Vietnam War, the AR-18 could not even be exported to the United States.
As a result of continued ArmaLite effort, the Army was directed to re-evaluate the AR-18 during at the end of 1969.
It was too late. By the end of 1969 the Army had already standardized the M-16, and the AR-18 was unable to
displace it. Further efforts focused on overseas and commercial domestic sales.
The AR-18 suffered similar results in the United Kingdom a well. The Ministry of Defense first evaluated the AR-
18 in March 1966. It was found to be attractive in terms of its lightweight and ease of manufacture. It suffered, in
the eyes of the British, from lack of gas adjustment and the lack of a buffer system. Automatic accuracy was
considered somewhat inferior, and it was considered unsatisfactory in mud and "drag sand" conditions. The rifle
was modified with reinforcement of the hinge area of the lower receiver, addition of an ejection port cover and an
improved muzzle brake/flash suppressor and re-tested in August of 1966. The strengthening was appreciated, but
the sand and mud test results were largely unchanged, and the lack of a buffer continued to be criticized.
A Howa version was evaluated by MOD in January 1969. While it again failed the mud test, most criticism
concerned minor physical characteristics that could be readily resolved.
In fairness to the AR-18, the MOD evaluations are somewhat suspect. The Royal Small Arms Factory could hardly
be considered objective evaluators. The relationship between Sterling and RSAF was rocky at best, with RSAF
benefiting from government preference and a willingness to appropriate the work of others. It's especially
interesting to note that the RSAF's later 5.56mm rifle, the SA-80, (later adopted as the L85) was nothing more than
a bullpup version of the AR-180. That rifle is now regarded as probably the worst of the recent military rifles.
Lessons learned during evaluations of the AR-180 were ignored in the development of the L85, and ArmaLite's
knowledge of the mechanism wasn't available.
Nonetheless, it was apparent that the AR-18 had not benefited from the intense field use, criticism, and rework that
had been lavished on the AR-15. Major elements of its design have reappeared in several other rifles, but the AR-18
itself remains an unfinished work.
The Irish Republican Army illegally acquired a number of Howa AR-180s in the early 1970s, and in 1973 the
Japanese government halted all exports of AR-18 and AR-180 rifles. Howa produced 3,927 AR-180s between
October 1970 and February 1974.
In mid-1968 Arma Lite set up pilot production in its Costa Mesa plant. ArmaLite produced 1,171 AR-18s and 4,018
AR-180s at its Costa Mesa plant between July 1969 and June 1972. The Japanese government subsequently eased it
restrictions and allowed the commercial, semi -automatic AR-180 to be exported to the U.S., and by the late 1970s
U.S. production halted.
In order to concentrate full effort on the military sales program, ArmaLite elected to discontinue its other
commercial firearm activities. In mid -1973 ArmaLite sold the AR-7 rifle to Charter Arms.
The Japanese restrictions on export of the AR-18 and AR 180 forced ArmaLite to move the production machinery to
a new licensed producer. In 1974 Sterling Armament Company of Dagenham, England, was licensed to produce
ArmaLite's rifles. It took 15 months to complete setup and begin production. ArmaLite imported the Sterling rifles
into the U.S., and Sterling and ArmaLite both tried to market the rifles around the world. Sterling manufactured
12,362 AR-180s between the 1975 and 1983, when ArmaLite and Sterling were both sold. 10,946 AR-180s were
exported to the United States.
The AR-18 was highly regarded, but didn't find the favor that it could have. Even as ArmaLite marketed the new
small caliber rifle, FN and HK were selling more traditional 7.62mm rifles around the world. Colt was selling AR-
15s. The AR-18 remained somewhat prone to breakage, and never enjoyed the success ArmaLite expected.
The AR-18, however, has proven to be another seminal weapon from ArmaLite. A number of later rifles, including
the problem-plagued L85 (UK), the more reputable SA-80 (Singapore) and the new G-35 (Germany) were derived
from the AR-18.
With the foundering of the AR-18, ArmaLite's owners elected to sell the company. In 1983 ArmaLite was sold to
Elisco Tool Manufacturing Company, of the Philippines.
ArmaLite Division of Elisco Tool
The short-lived third phase of ArmaLite's history began with Elisco Tool Manufacturing's 1983 purchase of
ArmaLite. The new ArmaLite operation was headed by an Englishman hired to serve as interim President, Mr.
Bruce Swain. Mr. John Ugarte later replaced Swain. ArmaLite continued to market existing rifles and parts
manufactured by Sterling under the leadership of the new vice-president of Marketing, Mr. Joe Armstrong.
Elisco Tool had successfully produced the M16A1 for the Philippine armed forces and police. Difficulties with Colt
over M16 licensing prompted Elisco to seek another 5.56mm rifle, and the AR-18 was the only real contender.
Inventory, tooling, and machinery were therefore dispatched from Sterling's plant to the Philippines. The process
fell apart not in the U.S. market, but due to political events in the Philippines themselves. In short, Ferdinand
Marcos was overturned and went into exile. The political and economic links of the government were dramatically
shifted, and Elisco was unable to carry out the AR-18 production. The U.S. arm of the operation was closed in
1987.
ArmaLite Incorporated II
Independent of ArmaLite, Karl Lewis and Jim Glazier formed a company named Eagle Arms in Coal Valley Illinois
in 1986. Lewis had manufactured a wide variety of both commercial and military parts for M-16 rifles, and Eagle
Arms assumed the increasingly distracting retail business from Lewis' company, Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT).
Eagle Arms initially marketed M16 and AR-15 type rifle parts. The early Stoner patents had expired, and Eagle was
able to build both parts and complete rifles. In 1989 Eagle commenced production of complete rifles, with LMT
serving as the major supplier.
In January 1994 Mr. Mark Westrom purchased the company. Westrom was a former Army Ordnance Officer and a
civilian employee of the Weapons Systems Management Directorate of the Army's Armament Materiel and
Chemical Command (AMCCOM) at nearby Rock Island Arsenal.
After the purchase, he continued producing Eagle Arms EA -15 rifles. Plans were made to add a line of telescopic
sights to the product line. Westrom's background in military Service Rifle competition produced a focus on high
grade target rifles even before the AR-15/M-16 rifles came to dominate American Service Rifle competition in the
mid-90s.
In November 1994 Westrom decided to initiate the design of a .308 caliber AR-10 type rifle, to be called the "M-10"
in line with Eagle's production of .223 caliber "M-15" rifles. Work on the project began in November 1994. The
bulk of the engineering work was contracted out to LMT, with an experienced Quality Assurance expert, Mr. David
Dorbeck, doing the bulk of the work.
By coincidence, the president of the company manufacturing telescopic sights for Eagle, Dr. John Williams, had
worked for ArmaLite in his youth. He introduced Westrom to the former Production Manager for ArmaLite, Mr.
John McGerty. McGerty led Westrom to John Ugarte, the most recent President of ArmaLite.
Ugarte had retained rights to the ArmaLite trademark. In early 1995 Westrom purchased those rights, and
production of ArmaLite rifles resumed in Illinois. The corporation was reorganized as ArmaLite, with Eagle Arms
converted to a division of ArmaLite. First shipments of new ArmaLite rifles began in 1995.
With the reorganization as ArmaLite, the M-10 rifle was renamed. ArmaLite/Fairchild had already used the AR-10
designation with its 1950s era .308, and had developed the AR-10a as an improvement on it. The planned M-10
rifle series was designated the AR-10B series, and deliveries commenced in January 1996.
The AR-10B rifle was developed using unusual reliance on computer design and simulation. In fact, the rifle was
never prototyped. Individual sub-components were tested on a special lower receiver made of two slabs of
aluminum fitted to an SR-25 upper receiver assembly. The full prototype AR-10B was the first rifle off the
production line.
This approach was risky, but required by the limitations on cash at that time. It proved stunningly successful.
Results from the prototype and the first production rifles disclosed that the only error was in not installing a firing
pin retarding spring. The spring was planned early in the development, but left out of the final design because there
seemed to be no need for it. Subsequent problems with the surplus ammunition used by some customers required
manufacture of the spring. Fortunately, space for the spring was built into the Bolt Carrier, and it was quickly
dispatched to the field and the production line. Subsequent adjustments to dimensions and tolerances of the AR-10B
have been minor.
In late 1997 ArmaLite began development of a new rifle, the AR-50 .50 caliber rifle. Chambered for the Browning
Machine Gun cartridge. This innovative single-shot rifle was designed strictly for the commercial market. It was
introduced to the industry at the 1999 SHOT Show, and is in production at the time of this writing. The AR-50 is an
innovative single shot rifle conceived by Mark Westrom, and the design team of George and Paul Reynolds.
George Reynolds also brought two new projects of his own to ArmaLite in 1997: a Blank Firing System and Sub-
Caliber Device for the Mk 19 Mod 4 Grenade Machine Gun. These projects have been designated the AR-22 and
AR-23.
ArmaLite continues to produce firearms and design new ones. It has shipped far more .223 caliber rifles than
ArmaLite did during its first through third phases. It has shipped more AR-10s than ArmaLite/Fairchild and
Artillerie Inrichtingen combined. There are more active development projects in process today than any time since
1961.
Throughout the past 45 years, ArmaLite's durability has been based on one core theme: the innovation present in its
firearms. That theme continues to serve both as the basis of ArmaLite's corporate strategy, and as a challenging
image to maintain.
ARMALITE'S DEVELOPMENTS. The following firearms were developed or produced by ArmaLite. Other AR
family firearms were designed by Eugene Stoner, but not developed by ArmaLite, and aren't listed.
AR-1 (1954 and before)
"Parasniper" rifle, using either military or sporting calibers, including 7.62 NATO. The Parasniper is a very high
quality, lightweight bolt action rifle designed as a fine sporting rifle or for special military sniping operations.
The AR-1 began life at ArmaLite's first location in Hollywood, California. It broke new ground by using foam filled
fiberglass stock and an anodized aluminum barrel with a thin steel liner. A variety of receivers were to be used, with
a Remington action common. The rifle with scope weighs a modest 6 pounds. Very few AR-1s were made.
AR-5 (1954-55)
A bolt action, .22 Hornet survival rifle adopted by the Air Force in 1956. It weighed a mere 2  pounds.
It distinguishing characteristic was the ability to detach the barrel from the action, and the action from the stock, and
place both within the stock. With the buttcap replaced, the rifle would float. The government specification for the
MA-1 called for a second, .22 long rifle barrel to be attached outside the stock.
After adopting the AR-5 as the MA-1, the Air Force failed to follow through with a purchase. The main effect of
the AR-5 was to whet ArmaLite's appetite for government business. It led to development of the AR-7.
AR-7 (1959-60)
The AR-7 Explorer was the first commercial item to be put into production by the ArmaLite Division of Fairchild.
This rifle is the civilian version of the Air Force adopted AR-5 Survival Rifle. The AR-7 fires the popular .22 long
rifle rimfire cartridge. The rifle disassembles without the use of tools and stows inside its plastic butt stock. The
AR-7 weighs as little as 2  pounds and will float in water, either assembled or in the stowed configuration. The
action is semi -automatic and is fed from an eight-round magazine.
The AR-7 was sold to Charter Arms in xx. It has been in intermittent production since. ArmaLite reintroduced it in
early 1998.
AR-10 (1955-56)
Basic infantry rifle, caliber 7.62mm NATO. The AR-10 was conceived by Eugene Stoner, and was tested by US.
Ordnance as early as 1956 at Springfield Armory. It was licensed to Artillerie Inrichtingen in Holland in 1957, and
with the AR-15 was licensed to Colt's Patent Firearms Company in 1959.
The AR-10 combined a number of previous features with a new gas system patented by Stoner. In the Stoner
system, gas ported off the barrel travels down a tube back into the upper receiver, and into the bolt carrier. It enters
an expansion chamber, where it expands and drives the carrier to the rear. The rearward movement of the carrier
transferred by a cam pin riding in a curved path and engaging the bolt, forces the bolt to rotate to unlock.
(Common reports that the Stoner system is copied from the Swedish Ljungman system are incorrect: the Ljungman
system has a tube carrying gas ported off the barrel, but the tube simply directs the gas into a cavity in the top of the
carrier to blow the carrier to the rear.)
The AR-10 was later improved with lessons learned from the early AR-15s. The new model was designated the
AR-10a. It was produced in prototype form only.
The AR-10 was intended to compete with Springfield's M-14 rifle and FN's FAL. It was, unfortunately, a bit too
late. Although it showed great promise during tests, it required a bit of further development. It was too late.
The major effect of the AR-10 was to lead to Army interest in a similar rifle of smaller caliber. That rifle became
the AR-15.
AR-10B (1994-96)
An update of the AR-10 placed in production in 1996.
The AR-10 was fielded in very small numbers: less than 6,000. Despite the small numbers, the fame of the rifle
grew to take the rifle to cult status. It was, after all, the more powerful and rare precursor to the AR-15. Civilian
shooters took great pains to recover used AR-10s from the surplus market and convert them to civilian rifles by
means of new, semi-automatic only receivers.
The popularity of the AR-10 rifle led Knight's Manufacturing and, later, ArmaLite to return it to production. Knight
entered the market first with an AR-10 derivative called the SR-25.
The SR-25 combined features of the AR-10 with as many parts of the AR-15 as could be used. The ArmaLite AR-
10B was then patterned on the SR-25 rifle. To improve function, the ArmaLite AR-10B employs far fewer parts
from the M-15/M-16 rifles than the SR-25, and uses a modified version of the proven M-14 rifle magazine.
AR-15 (1956-1959)
Basic infantry rifle using ArmaLite developed .223 caliber ammunition. The AR-15 was licensed to the Colt's
Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in January 1959.
The U.S. Air Force completed tests of the AR-15 in January 1961. The Air Force procured 8,500 rifles in 1961 and
standardized the AR-15 in 1963. 85,000 rifles were purchased in that year. The military designation of the AR-15 is
M-16.
The Army also ordered 85,000 rifles in 1963. An additional 35,000 were ordered in 1964, 100,000 in 1965, and
100,000 in 1996. These rifles were initially issued primarily to combat troops in the Dominican Republic and to
Special Forces, Airborne, helicopter crews, Air Commando and other special category troops in Vietnam. The M-16
was type classified standard A in 1965 and became the military's basic service rifle.
AR-16 (1959-60)
The AR-16 is a basic infantry rifle of 7.62mm NATO caliber. The primary reason for the development of the AR-
16 was to produce a weapon with the performance capabilities of the AR-10/AR-15 series, but at a greatly reduced
production cost.
Another consideration was to make a rifle less difficult to produce in countries without advanced technological
resources.
Although the AR-16 didn't enter production, elements of its design influenced the 1995 design of the AR-10B.
AR-17 (1956-62)
The AR-17 is an innovative semi-automatic shotgun featuring a hard-anodized aluminum receiver and barrel and a
plastic stock. The barrel was equipped with replaceable chokes. The AR-17 was called the "Golden Gun" due to
the color of the aluminum components.
Two thousand sets of parts for the AR-17 were produced, but only 1,200 guns were sold. The AR-17 never met
commercial success; it was semi -automatic, but held only two shots. It was lightweight, but was marketed to trap
and skeet shooters, who normally fire many shots per day.
AR-18 (1963-65)
Just as the AR-16 is basically a sheet metal version of the AR-10, the AR-18 is a sheet metal version of the AR-15.
The AR-18 was an effort to correct the 1959 mistake of selling the AR-15 to Colt's. As the AR-15 became
successful, ArmaLite needed a rifle that could compete in the same market.
The AR-18 is a .223 caliber, gas operated, 6.9 pound rifle equipped with a folding stock. It is capable of both full
and semi-automatic fire.
The AR-18 uses steel stampings instead of allow forgings, this simplifying manufacture and greatly reducing
production costs. The main functional differences include the use of a Tokarev style sliding gas cylinder under the
handguards that avoided violating the Stoner gas system patent that was sold to Colt's. The new system had the
advantage of keeping powder residue out of the action. The second difference was the use of dual operating springs
on rods in the upper receiver, which allowed the stock to fold to the side.
AR-22 (1998-present)
The AR-22 is a Blank Firing Device for the Mk 19 Mod 4 40mm Grenade Machine-gun, and is designed for training
or testing the Mk 19. It employs the standard 7.62mm NATO Blank.
The AR-22 was conceived by CW4 John Miller, and designed by George Reynolds. Reynolds brought it to
ArmaLite when he began work on the ArmaLite AR-50 rifle (see below).
AR-23 (1998-present)
The AR-2 is a Sub-Caliber Training Device for the Mk 19 Mod 4 Grenade Machine-gun.
It will employ a special tracer cartridge designed to follow the same ballistic arc of the 40mm grenade.
The AR-22 was conceived by CW4 John Miller, and designed by George Reynolds. Like the AR-22, Reynolds
brought it to ArmaLite when he began work on the ArmaLite AR-50 rifle (see below).
AR-50 (1998-99)
ArmaLite's normal pattern of sequential designation of models was altered for the AR-50. The model reflects the
rifle's caliber. It is chambered for the .50 caliber Browning Machine Gun cartridge, and is capable of being built to
accept the more powerful Russian 12.7mm cartridge. It features a unique stock made largely of aluminum. The
forend, in particular, is interesting. It is extruded with a V cross section that mates with an octagonal receiver. This
allows precise, repeatable bedding with no hand labor. The buttstock includes a vertically adjustable butt pad and
adjustable cheek rest.
The initial AR-50 departs from ArmaLite's normal trend towards lightweight rifles: it weighs 41 pounds. It is
intended for the commercial market, where the weight adds comfort when firing the powerful cartridge. Shorter and
lighter versions are in development.
OTHER PROJECTS
ArmaLite has a number of models in development or under consideration. They will be announced as soon as
practical.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
As noted above, this is a document in transition.
ArmaLite is seeking additions or corrections to this record, and is focusing especially hard on participation by
previous ArmaLite employees. If you have information to add, historical documents, photographs, or hardware,
please contact ArmaLite at:
P.O. Box 299
Geneseo IL 61254
Email: [email protected]

Quoted:
Assault rifle

Quoted:
Airybody run!

Quoted:
America's Rifle, duh.

Quoted:
Ass Rider

Quoted:
Wow, I've lived long enough to see what I know become history!

AR was Armalite Rifle back in the 60s and 70s.  And their website backs me up.

Quoted:
Then explain the AR-17.

Quoted:
The AR17 wasnt an Armalite rifle.

Quoted:
I always thought it was Armalite Rifle