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LOT 394
Very Scarce and Desirable Costa Mesa Armalite AR-18 Selective Fire Rifle, Class III/
NFA C&R Fully Transferable Machine Gun - Serial no. A5958, 5.56 mm cal., 18 inch round
bbl., matte gray phosphate finish, synthetic stock. An excellent example of an original and
very scarce fully-automatic Armalite AR-18 rifle manufactured by Armalite in Costa Mesa, California. Designed
after Armalite had sold their interest in (and patents for) the AR-15 rifle, the AR-18 went in completely different
directions in terms of materials and function. The result is a piston driven select fire assault rifle, with a lightweight
stamped steel receiver assembly and a recoil system that permitted a native folding stock as factory standard.
Delivering hard-hitting firepower in a compact package, the AR-18 had many things in its favor but wound up
overshadowed by the “older brother”; large military contracts or license deals never arrived like they did for the
AR-15/M16 family of weapons,
resulting in a very limited
production. Somewhat
infamously, some of the
most prominent users of the
Armalite were on 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. Primarily a design and
engineering firm rather than a
volume manufacturer, relatively limited numbers of AR-18s were made at Costa Mesa, the
bulk of the production happening at outside firms like Howa and Sterling. Post front and
adjustable two leaf peep rear sights, with a three-prong flash hider, maker’s marks on the
upper receiver, and the ambidextrous three position selector on the lower. The bolt carrier
and chrome plated bolt head are unmarked. Ribbed and vented handguard, with an “AR-
18/ArmaLite” marked pistol grip, and a side folding buttstock. Included with the lot are
three extra magazines and a manual.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 98% of the original matte gray phosphate finish, showing minor
scratches, edge wear and handling marks. The furniture is very good, with scuffing and
scratching. 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.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500