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California. Designed after Armalite had sold the patents for the AR-15 rifle, the
AR-18 went in completely different directions in terms of materials and function. This resulted in a short-stroke gas piston driven selective fire rifle, with a lightweight stamped steel receiver assembly and a recoil system that permitted a folding stock. Despite being a promising design, the AR-18 wound up overshadowed by the “older brother” and large military contracts or license deals never arrived like they did for the AR-15 family, resulting in a very limited production. Somewhat infamously, two of the most prominent users of the Armalite AR-18 were both sides of “The Troubles” in Ireland, being adopted by both Loyalist militia units and some factions of the
Irish Republican Army, the latter embracing the arm to the point of it being the namesake of the “Armalite and Ballot Box Strategy” of the late 1980s. This particular AR-18 was featured in the article “The Lost Armalites” in the July 1998 (Volume 1 Issue 10) edition of Small Arms Review and can be seen in a half-page spread on page 48; a photocopy of the article is included with the lot. Features a winged post front and adjustable two leaf peep rear sights, with a conical flash hider, maker’s marks on the receiver, matching serial numbers on the receiver and frame, and
the ambidextrous three position safety selector on the frame. The bolt carrier has
a groove running across the right side, with a projecting stud to interface with the dust cover; this is in contrast to the more common AR-18 carrier design, which instead has a short groove for the dust cover. Fitted with a ribbed and vented plastic handguard, smooth plastic pistol grip, and a side folding plastic buttstock. Includes an extra magazine.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 75% of the matte black finish, showing wear, flaking and scattered scratches. The furniture is in equal condition. Mechanically excellent. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a “Curios or Relic” as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.
310 Estimate: 35,000 - 55,000
LOT 1348
Rare Armalite AR-18 Selective Fire Rifle, in “Shorty/Carbine” Configuration, Serial Number “014”, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable Machine Gun, as Seen in Small Arms Review - Serial no. 014, 5.56 mm cal., 10 inch round bbl., matte black finish, synthetic stock. An excellent example of an original and very scarce fully-automatic Armalite AR-18 rifle manufactured by Armalite in Costa Mesa,
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE ARTICLE THE LOST ARMALITES IN THE JULY 1998 (VOLUME 1NUMBER 10) ISSUE OF SMALL ARMS REVIEW