What is an AR-15 really? Technically speaking, AR-15 is a brand name, likeKleenex or Xerox. And, just as with Kleenexand Xerox, the brand name has been hijacked by the general public to describe a whole class of things.

Who in corporate America asks their intern to "make a photocopy of that document using theCanon copier?" Or at home, few parents tell their kids to "grab a Cottonelle nose cloth before you sneeze!" Exactly. When a brand name is successful, we regular folks tend to commoditize it.

"Hey, will you Xerox the annual report for me?" or "Connor, I'm not telling you again! Don't blow your nose on your sleeve! Grab a Kleenex!"

The AR in AR 15 Stands for ArmaLite

Before we dive into the history of the modern AR 15 Rifle, we need to look the "AR" part. AR does not stand for Assault Rifle. OrAutomatic Rearming. Or even Apoplectic Ruin. It is a product naming convention from the company that invented it, ArmaLite. In fact, there were a number of rifles with "AR" names, like the AR-1, AR-5, AR-7, AR-10, AR-16, and AR-17.

Let's do a quick review of AR15 Rifle history what got us from conception to where we are today.

1954

ArmaLite was founded as a division of Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation. While most people equate the AR 15 Rifle with military variants, the company was actually founded with the goal of developing civilian market guns using modern materials and manufacturing technologies.

The initial business plan called for establishing some success with commercial products, then using that momentum to get into the government and military business.

Eugene Stoner, a former marine and independent weapons designer, becomes Chief Engineer of ArmaLite. Stone meets George Sullivan, Chief Patent Counsel for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Sullivan has a super-sized bee in his bonnet about the possibilities of using advanced (at that time) materials like plastics and aluminum alloys in radical new weapons designs. Hold that thought…

Plans don't last long once the action starts… Upon request from the United States Air Force, ArmaLite develops the AR-5 survival rifle. The AR-5 was a modular rifle chambered in .22 Hornet with a four-round magazine and bolt action. The receiver and barrel disassemble and can be stored inside of the over-sized stock. This design not only makes the AR-5 waterproof but also allows it to float. That's handy for over water ejection scenarios, as downed Air Force pilots were not keen about scuba diving to retrieve their gear. The modern day version of this rifle is the Henry U.S. Survival Rifle made by Henry Rifles.

1955

The U.S. Army began a search for a rifle to replace the M1 Garand. While the Garand served admirably in World War II, all that combat use uncovered some areas for improvement. For example, soldiers wanted more magazine capacity than the eight rounds offered by the M1 Garand. Also, weight was an issue, with the M1 tipping the scale at ten and a half pounds. With World War II soldiers carrying their gear for (literally) years at a time, every pound counted.