The AR-18 is an American assault rifle developed in the early 1960s as a low-cost alternative to the AR-15 (a design originally from ArmaLite but later sold to Colt) and was produced by ArmaLite in the U.S. and manufactured via contract by Sterling of England and Howa of Japan. The AR-18 is a 5.56x45mm select-fire assault rifle that used simple stampings for ease of manufacture. The semi-automatic civilian version of the rifle is 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 and remains an enduring symbol of the 1970s and 1980s period of The Troubles.
The AR-18/180 uses a proprietary magazine that looks similar to the AR-15/M16 STANAG magazine, but isn't interchangeable with it; the different magazines have their cut-out (to catch the magazine well) located on different sides. A skilled armorer however could potentially modify one magazine to fit in the other.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingArmaLite AR-18 Carbine (serial number AS033) – 5.56x45mm. This gun was manufactured by Sterling, and is marked with "AR-18S" on the receiver. Note the straight charging handle and slightly longer barrel compared to A5689 below.Error creating thumbnail: File missingArmaLite AR-18 Carbine (serial number A5689) with ArmaLite 2.75x20mm scope – 5.56x45mm. This gun was manufactured by ArmaLite; Small Arms Review stated that A5689 was the model that was intended as the "standard production style". Note the standard charging handle and slightly shorter barrel compared to AS033.Error creating thumbnail: File missingArmaLite AR-18 Carbine (serial number 014) – 5.56x45mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingArmaLite AR-18 Carbine (serial number 021, nicknamed "Shorty") - 5.56x45mm NATO
AR-18 and AR-180 Carbines, sometimes named "Shorty" (either as a nickname, or as an additional "S" marking on the gun that stands for "Shorty"), are very rare production variants of the ArmaLite AR-18 featuring shortened barrels, short handguards, front grips, and conical flash hiders. Rarely observed and poorly documented, there are apparently a few different production variations of the AR-18/180 Carbine based on their production site, as different AR-18/180 Carbines observed on the internet seem to each feature their own assortment of components. There are also many prototype variations of the AR-18/180 Carbine with their own components, some of which lack front grips.
Between 2001 and 2007, ArmaLite Inc. manufactured the modernized civilian AR-180B, with a new polymer lower receiver that accepts the vastly more common AR-15/M16 STANAG magazines. It also lacked a side-folding stock (though it can be modified with aftermarket parts to have one).
In 2019, Brownells, Inc released a new, modern version of the AR-18 upper receiver known as the BRN-180, utilizing an updated short-stroke piston system found on the AR-18. The BRN-180 is compatible with most common AR-15 lower receivers and can be fired with the stock folded, unlike a standard AR-15.
The Strike Warrior is an airsoft pistol designed by Japanese airsoft company Tokyo Marui. The design features a Detonics CombatMaster slide (note the cut-out at the rear) over a full-sized frame, as well as a "strike face" compensator.
