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While most earlier breech-loading rifles had a single receiver housing both the trigger and reloading mechanism, an innovative feature of the AR-15 was modular construction to simplify substitution of parts and avoid need for arsenal facilities for most repairs of malfunctioning military rifles. As Colt continues to own and use the AR-15 trademark for its line of AR-15 variants, other manufacturers must use their own model numbers and names to market their AR-15 style rifles for commercial sale. Today, nearly every major firearm manufacturer produces its own generic AR-15 style rifle. In 2009, the term "modern sporting rifle" was coined by the National Shooting Sports Foundation for its survey that year as a marketing term used by the firearms industry to describe modular semi-automatic rifles including AR-15s. Some versions of the AR-15 were classified as "assault weapons" and banned under the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act in 1994. After Colt's patents expired in 1977, an active marketplace emerged for other manufacturers to produce and sell their own semi-automatic AR-15 style rifles.
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In 1964, Colt began selling its own version with an improved semi-automatic design known as the Colt AR-15.
![colt ar 15s colt ar 15s](http://www.dlsports.com/ar15_stock_handguard_images/pic_2008_03_10_1911_ar15_med2.jpg)
Due to financial problems and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity, ArmaLite sold the design and the AR-15 trademark along with the ArmaLite AR-10 to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959. In 1956, ArmaLite designed a lightweight selective fire rifle for military use and designated it the ArmaLite Rifle model 15, or AR-15. The rifles are controversial in part due to their use in mass shootings.ġ973 Colt AR-15 SP1 rifle with 'slab side' lower receiver (lacking raised boss around magazine release button) and original Colt 20-round box magazine Steadily increasing popularity in part is due to "the amount of attention through politics and media that is devoted to banning or restricting AR pattern rifles". The rifle has been promoted as "America's rifle" by the National Rifle Association. In the 2010s, AR-15 style rifles became one of the "most beloved and most vilified rifles" in the United States, according to The New York Times. Īn expanded marketplace emerged with many manufacturers producing their own version of the AR-15 design for commercial sale.
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Īfter the term modern sporting rifles was coined in 2009 by the US National Shooting Sports Foundation, a firearms industry trade association, it was quickly adopted by the trade association and some manufacturers. The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act restricted the Colt AR-15 and derivatives from 1994 to 2004, although it did not affect rifles with fewer features. After Colt's patents expired in 1977, Colt retained the trademark and is the exclusive owner of "AR-15" designation. ArmaLite sold the patent and trademarks to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959. The part shown bottom center is the lower receiver without the receiver extension, rear takedown pin, and buttstock.Īn AR-15 style rifle is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle based on the ArmaLite AR-15 design. For other uses, see AR-15 (disambiguation).ĪR-15 style rifles come in many sizes and have many options, depending on the manufacturer.