While Eugene Stoner is often credited as the main designer of the AR-15, the design was a collaborative effort. The team included Robert Fremont and Jim Sullivan, who played crucial roles in the weapon's development.
The original design of the AR-15 was intended as a modern sporting rifle for civilian use. It was only later that it was adopted by the military and evolved into the M16, to give soldiers an advantage over the AK.
In 1956, Eugene Stoner created the AR-15, which was a lighter model of the AR-10 he made earlier. Back in 1945, Stoner began working at a machine shop and soon became a top design engineer. By 1954, he was the head engineer at ArmaLite.
This company was part of the Fairchild Engine and Plane Corporation. Today, people know ArmaLite for its expert gun designs.
After World War II, the U.S. military wanted stronger guns than they had. They mostly used the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and the M1918 Browning Machine Gun. They tested many rifles, including ones from Springfield Armory. They picked Springfield’s M14 rifle to use.
M14 rifle Springfield's M14 came from their T44 design in the 1950s. But the M14 had problems in real battles. During the Vietnam War's early days, it couldn't match the enemy's AK-47 gun. Soldiers also found it hard to control.
original AR-10 rifle Eugene Stoner designed the first AR-10, which came before the AR-15. (Photo: Wikipedia) Before this, the military had already looked at Stoner's AR-10. Even after they picked the M14, Stoner kept improving the AR-10. The first AR-10 had:
- A straight-line barrel and stock
- Aluminum parts
- A special stock made of layered materials like cloth or paper
When the M14 didn’t work well, the military looked at the AR-10 again. But they wanted a smaller version of it.
FAQ
When was the AR15 first made?
The AR15 was first designed in 1956 and was introduced to the public in 1959.
Who were the original makers of the AR-15s
The American company ArmaLite made the AR-15. They took ideas from their AR-10 rifle. They wanted the AR-15 to be light and shoot fast, small bullets. This way, soldiers could carry more bullets with them.
What does AR stand for?
AR stands for ArmaLite. It doesn't stand for Assault Rifle