Retro Armalite Rifles?

It popped into my head the other day..... Why doesn't Armalite make a run of Retro AR style rifles?

Seriously. Being able to buy brand spanking new retro clones with the old school Armalite roll mark on the mag well would be very cool.

First, go here http://www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=3, find out what these guys would want to buy, follow their suggestions to the letter & you'll have a winner on your hands.

And as far as lowers go, NoDak Spud makes retro lowers, so you could use them for a source for those.

Just a thought.......

I asked a few years ago for a Dutch version of the AR-10 and the M15. Basically they were interested.

id buy 1

Talked to the Colonel and he suggested to me that I find out how many would be interested in this type of project and what would you like to see us do. No guarantees here but MW is interested in a retro project if it's feasible and will sell. Let's hear your suggestions.

TR

Sounds good.

I have a thread going over in the AR-15/M-16 Retro Forum here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=123&t=504249&page=1

I let them know about your response & hopefully, they will let you know what they think.

Me personally, I'd like to see a M-16A1 clone http://98.196.65.94/retroblackrifle/ModGde/RflGde/603A1.html

It would probably be the easiest way for you to go, although to get it right, you would have to either machine the lowers so that they have the A2 updates removed, or buy lowers from somebody like NoDak Spud that are already forged like that (which would be the easier way, IMHO).

Or, now that I think about it, just to test the waters, you could make a run of complete uppers. That way you wouldn't have to commit to cranking out complete rifles at first. But bear in mind that the purists are picky, so details will matter.

They had a retro AR10 for quite a few years.

I too have wished that somebody like Armalite would offer factory complete retro rifles.

Obviously the market for these wouldn't be as big as M4 and other "tactical" type ARs, but as evidenced by the retro forum here and the following of Retro Black Rifle, there is a demand for these classic style AR rifles.

As mentioned, I think a 603/M16A1 type rifle would probably be the place to start. How cool would it be though to see a modern clone of a 601? That would be the real trick.

I didn't know that, but I was thinking about the 5.56 version.

i think the best part would be the retro Armalite logo on the lower.

The most appropriate Armalite "Retro" would be the early slick side with the Pegasus logo.

We are willing to provide the NDS-601 lower forgings for such a product.

This project only requires the customers to show true interest.

All the components are available or can be made.

Y'all missed your chance shortly after the turn of the 21st century.

Retro 7.62 = AR10B (Pegasus logo and came with a toaster)
Retro 5.56 = AR180B (the original piston and not your father's AR)

Get both!

Arguably, neither were retro enough. They were both more homages to the retro rifles than actual reproductions.

I would love it if the AR-10B went into production again because I like the look of it and I'm sad I missed out on it. That being said, it's not really retro.

I also have an original AR-180. I'd like to get a new one to shoot, parts for the original are a bit too scarce these days to bring it to the range as often as I'd like.

Homage...yes, it is true.

in order to do this successfully armalite would have to have the details correct

forget that 603 stuff, armalite was out of the loop by then, go for the prototype models. unfortunately they were different enough that a new lower will have to be made

I can't tell if you're agreeing with me or not.

Agreed!

I would buy one. I also believe many others would buy one.

This could be just the gun for someone who owns many AR's in different configurations/calibers... After a while of playing with the "legos" you need something different. This is that.


ETA like others said, if this is done, it has to be done perfectly. No cutting corners. I would pay up to $1500 for an accurate recreation. Not just a cheap look alike, but a completely accurate recreation.

I think if these were just gotten out into gun shops they would sell themselves just fine. The pre-A2 AR-15/M16 rifles with the triangular handguards are iconic, and not just among people who served in the military when they were standard issue. Everyone of a certain minimum age remembers seeing them in forty-eleven thousand movies and TV shows in the '70s and '80s. This type of gun just tends to draw people to it when seen e.g., hanging on the wall in a gun shop. You just don't see them very often anymore, aside from the occasional old Colt AR-15 SP1.

Armalite is the only other name aside from Colt that has any "cred" in the retro market (unless you want to count H&R and GM); so be sure to capitalize on that by using the old Pegasus logo, and making the markings as close as possible to an original Armalite AR-15. I wonder if it is legal to put the "Hollywood, Calif., USA" on it even though Armalite is no longer located there. That would be a nice touch. Too bad that you [probably] can't use the "AR-15" model name.

I think if it was made in the style of the Colt 601 (slabside lower receiver, and no forward assist on the upper), that would be close enough.

A production M16A1 clone would sell.

I would buy one!

For a "prototype" clone, the details would have to be right. At a minimum, an NDS-601 slab side lower, NDS-32 trigger-charging-handle upper, and special prototype-style furniture. A prototype-style FSB would be even better, and a prototype-style lower (slabside on both sides) would really complete the overall look. I have no idea if such a product would be economically viable; each retro-head would probably find one tiny thing wrong with it and decide they'd be better off building their own. Still, I'd buy one if the details were close enough.

As far as building an M16A1 clone goes, they might sell fine in gun shops, but I already have one so I don't really have an opinion on this possibility.

I'd go for the original AR-10 "Dutch".

THis.

I would be interested in something like that. Considering Armalite AR-15 originals in C&R status can bring upwards of 15k easily.....

I might be interested in a retro one with the old markings. I'd say I'd rather have an ar-15 over the ar-10 though. I like my flat top ar-10.

I have always wanted an Armalite AR-15 with the Pegasus logo. Heck it doesn't even have to be retro I would buy a current configuration Armalite rifle or stripped lower (or 2 or 6 ) if it had the Pegasus logo. BUT I would prefer a retro look.

I see lots of interest in retro. Retro sells.

Here's ours with an Armalite handguard.

Looks sharp! Now only if you could make an original dutch configuration AR-10.

Now that is nice. Are you making those hanguards now? Your waffles are wonderful. I salute you.
My retro.

No, that's an AR-10B handguard I purchased a while back when they still had them.

I'd go for an AR10 version if it didn't take M14 style magazines

there again if they made a retro AR10 lower that used original waffle mags, I'd buy five just to replace my other AR10 lowers

On the flip side, NDS-Mike could supply Armalite with the correct retro AR15 receiver forgings in trade for AR10 forging and he could have them machined to take AR10 waffle mags as there is a growing market for people that have armalite AR10's but would willingly replace the lower to make them Waffle/SR25/M110/PMag compatible.

Really. Tell us about this "growing market" of people who actually have AR10s who want to replace the lower so they can use those other mags.

There might be one or two here and there, but generally the only ones pissing and moaning are those who don't have one.

I have 5 AR10s and wouldn't replace any of them.

I wouldn't replace mine either, no way, no how. ArmaLite is top quality. BUT... cheap throw-away mags would be nice, even polymer, for range/plinking use. That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with my Gen2's. Pay attention and get on the Gen2 mag sales that ArmaLite has almost every year and stop bitching. The last 5 Gen2's I bought were $27.50 each, not that expensive for a mag that will last VERY long.

Late to the game again...I'd sure buy a AR-10B type. I'm on a long and exhaustive search all of a sudden, I see some dealers still list the 10B. Then the fine print says Out of Stock. Then I find out they are out of production for a while. Saw one on GB that went in 2days.
So I quesss its an 10A2 (not too easy either)...then find the Sudanese furniture. Fat chance I've been told.

"Have cash..Will Travel"

There have been a couple of real nice A2's on the EE in the last few weeks.
One of them was bumped to top only a couple days ago.

I love that gun.

I hate being poor!!!!

I'd be very much interested in a 601 or 602 clone

+1, had a friend at work ask me if there was such a rifle the other day. I would buy one
also.

ARKAR

The more I think about the whole Pegasus Vs. Loin thing, I'm beginning to think that the Loin logo would be an easy way do distinguish between the originals & the re-productions without knowing all the particulars that only a hardcore retro black rifle aficionado would know.

BTT...patiently waiting with amex in hand for prototype styled armalite rollmarked rifle.

Do you mean Lion, or is someone offering a lower with a phallic logo on it?

I think he means meat.

mmmmm...Pegasus Sirloin

Yeah, that was a typo.

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