An excellent example of an original and very scarce fully-automatic Armalite AR-18 rifle manufactured by Armalite in Costa Mesa, California. A contemporary alternative to the M16, the AR-18 was designed to be robust and simple to produce, using a short stroke piston system and stamped receiver components. Though not accepted by the military, there are those who consider it to be a superior weapon, with several modern proposed replacements for the M16/M4 platform using a similar piston arrangement. The receiver is marked " AR-18/ARMALITE. INC./COSTA MESA. CALIF./U.S.A.". The lower trigger housing is stamped with ambidextrous, "SAFE", "SEMI" and "AUTO" fire control markings on both sides. It has the two position rear sight, adjustable for windage with the standard post front sight. It is fitted with the black plastic stock components and side-folding buttstock. It is complete with one original Armalite AR-18 marked 20 round magazine.