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LOT 1358
Desirable Costa Mesa Armalite AR-18
Selective Fire Rifle, Class III/NFA C&R Fully
Transferable Machine Gun - Serial no. A6020,
5.56 mm cal., 18 inch round bbl., matte gray 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 c.1969-1973.
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
with “SAFE”, “SEMI” and “AUTO”
markings. The bolt carrier and
chrome plated bolt head are
unmarked. Ribbed and vented handguard, with an
“AR-18/ArmaLite” marked pistol grip, green canvas
sling and a side folding buttstock.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 98% plus original matte gray phosphate finish, showing
some light handling marks overall. 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: 20,000 - 35,000