armaliter

Armalite is a firearms manufacturing company with a long history in the development of semi-automatic rifles. Founded in 1954, it gained significant recognition for its early designs, particularly those that influenced the development of the M16 rifle. The company's most famous product is the AR-15 platform, which was originally designed for military use. While Armalite developed the initial AR-15, the rights were later sold to Colt's Manufacturing Company, which produced it for the U.S. military.

Armalite's innovations extended beyond the AR-15. They also produced other notable firearms, including the AR-7 Explorer, a lightweight, takedown survival rifle. Over the decades, the company has undergone several ownership changes and has continued to produce civilian-oriented versions of the AR-15 platform, often referred to as AR-10 and AR-15 style rifles. These modern firearms are known for their modularity and widespread availability in various calibers and configurations for both sporting and self-defense purposes. Armalite's legacy is closely tied to the evolution of modern sporting rifles.