The Bushmaster was originally developed as a pilot's survival weapon for use in a combat environment.
At the time, the Air Force had used the AR-7 .22LR rifle that broke down and stored in the butt stock.
This rifle is still being made by other makers.
The Air Force also used the M6, a stamped sheet steel, over and under firearm that fired the .22 Hornet and the .410 shot shell.
This was also made commercially by Springfield Inc.
These guns served the purpose as a survival gun, but were less than effective as a fighting weapon if the pilot was down in enemy territory.
The Bushmaster was intended to be more of a weapon than a survival rifle.
It was a rectangular aluminum, later sheet steel receiver, with the action and M16 magazine in a bullpup configuration.
It had no butt stock or even a butt plate, and the gun didn't really even look like a firearm.
In appearance, it looked like a long, narrow metal box with a magazine near the rear, and a pistol grip, trigger, and muzzle at the other.
The hand grip was an M16 component, with it and the trigger assembly placed forward near the front of the receiver.
The pistol grip could swivel from side to side, allowing the weapon to be fired with either hand and directing the ejected cases to either side.
The crude front and rear sights also swiveled, the rear was nothing more than a notch in a flat metal plate mounted on the rear end of the receiver.
The weapon was intended to be carried hanging under the arm by a strap, and attached to the flight suit by a snap loop.
To use, the weapon was held by the pistol grip, with the receiver laying along the forearm, and using the sling strap around the neck as a tension brace.
The other hand could press the rear of the receiver against the forearm.
The gun had no forward grip at all other than the pistol grip and trigger group.
Muzzle blast was ferocious, and accuracy was poor due to the crude sights and method of holding the gun.
After evaluating the weapon, the Air Force decided to pass because of the weight and bulk of the gun, and it's poor qualities as a true survival gun.
A semi-automatic version was made by Quality Parts Company, who later re-named themselves as the Bushmaster Company.
Here's a link showing it:
http://www.biggerhammer.net/armpistol/
The Bushy came with its origional box and owners manual. I suggested to him that the Bushmaster might be a good way to get his 2 young children through college in about 15 years. I think he agrees.
