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ArmaLite AR-18
The AR-18 Rifle was developed in the early 1960s as a low cost alternative to the AR-15 Rifle and was produced by Armalite in the U.S. and manufactured via contract by Sterling of England and Howa of Japan. The AR-18 was a (5.56mm) select fire assault rifle that used simple stampings for ease of manufacture. The Semi-automatic Civilian version of the rifle was called the AR-180. Hoping to capture the third world market as an alternative to the more expensive M16 assault rifle, Armalite was set for a disappointment, when the U.S. Government commissioned, bought and then gave away hundreds of thousands of M16s during the course of the 1960s and 1970s (to stem the tide of Communists arming 'their side' with free weapons). Armalite discontinued AR-18 production in the late 1970s.
Although never adopted officially by any Armed Forces, it did somewhat serve as a testbed for weapons such as the Sterling SAR-87, SA80, SR-88, H&K G36 etc. The AR-18 was notoriously supplied underground to the Irish Republican Army hence the Armalite and Ballot Box strategy. The rifle is now once again being manufactured by Armalite as the modernized AR-180B, with new Polymer Lower receiver that accepts AR-15/M16 STANAG Magazines. The original AR-18/180s had a "similar looking" magazine to the AR-15 but it was a proprietary design and the magazines for the two rifles were NOT interchangeable unless modified; a cut out space on the magazine to catch in the magazine well was on different sides for each weapon, but a skilled armourer could modify one magazine to fit in the other. The new version allows for the usage of the vastly more common AR-15 magazines. Despite being once again manufactured for the civilian shooter market, none of the new Armalite guns with the synthetic lower receiver have appeared in any movies or television shows yet.
Specifications
(1963 - 1980)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Weight: 6.6 lbs (3 kg)
- Length: 38.2 in (97 cm)
- Barrel length: 18.3 in (46.4 cm)
- Feed System: 20. 30, 40 round box mag
- Fire Modes: Semi-Auto/Full-Auto
The ArmaLite AR-18 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Streak | Ray Walston | Thug Edgar Whiney | 1976 | |
| The Enforcer | 1976 | |||
| The Spy Who Loved Me | KGB Assassins | 1977 | ||
| Sorcerer | Venezuelan soldiers | 1977 | ||
| The Gauntlet | Phoenix Police | 1977 | ||
| Stingray (AKA: Abigail Wanted) | Sherry Jackson | Abigail Bratowski | 1978 | |
| For Your Eyes Only | Michael Gothard | Michael Corben | 1981 | |
| Harry's Game | Derek Thompson | Billy Downes | 1982 | |
| The Terminator | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Terminator | 1984 | |
| Tomorrow Never Dies | Pierce Brosnan | James Bond | 1997 | |
| The Last Train | Treva Etienne | Ark Tribesman | 1999 | |
| Shergar | Andrew Connolly | Concannon | 1999 | |
| Serenity | Nathan Fillion | Mal Reynolds | 2005 | |
| Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia | Colombian Rogue Unit soldier | 2009 | ||
| The Guard | 2011 |
Television
| Show Title | Actor | Character | Note / Episode | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. | Christopher George | Mr. Bravo | 1975-1976 | |
| The Professionals | Lewis Collins | Bodie | 1977-1983 | |
| The A-Team | Ismael Carlo | Salvador | 1983-1988 |