Strange ar-7

[h coleman]

Hi, new guy here.
I recently bought a fairly large collection and one of the pieces has me puzzled.
It is an Armalite AR-7 but with retractable wire stock. Also has a muzzle brake.
It was re-imported by Bricklee Trading Co. from the middle east according to
the manual. Haven't been able to find too much info on it and would like to
ask if any of you have any knowledge of this piece. I believe Armalite made
the AR-7 from '59 to '73. Henry now makes it. Any info would be appreciated
as to history and possibly value. Thanks, Harry

 

[VA27]

Sweet! It's one of a batch that was issued to Israeli pilots when Amalite was still in production. I don't know how many were made, but now you have a starting point for your search. The 'flash hider' was installed to make them legal for import into the US because the original guns had 14" barrels

Did I mention that I'm extremely jealous? I've seen exactly one on an auction site and IIRC it went for over 500 bux.

 

[h coleman]

Thanks VA27 and a Montechristo to you !!!

 

[glock36]

That thing is butugly, but man I want one now. Thanks for the photos, I too am jealous

 

[newfalguy101]

I have seen one similiar to that, but, it was a homebuilt job

 

[VA27]

Keep us posted on how it shoots...and some more pix, please.

 

[Princi]

As I recall, the Henry Survivor rifle is basically the same design, but I don't know if the parts would be interchangable.

 

[h coleman]

VA-27, I don't plan on shooting it as it was in its sealed
box when I bought it. I had to open it though. They were
all used but refinished when imported from Isreal. I'll have
to send additional photos in several posts because of photo
size restrictions.
Princi, Henry was either the 4th or 5th company to mfg. this
rifle. Armalite wes the origional.

 

[h coleman]

2 more

 

[VA27]

Thanks for the extra pix!

I've got a new Henry and my son-in-law has an old Charter Arms. The mags interchange, but I don't know about the internals. Henry supposedly did a 're-design', but without a micrometer I don't know how you'd tell...well, there is one way. The Henry is a pound heavier than the Charter. I don't know if it's from thicker material or if they changed it from aluminum to pot metal. Anyone know a quick 'n dirty test for aluminum?

 

[h coleman]

2 more

 

[h coleman]

last 2

 

[mac66]

Congrats, you have a pretty desirable Armalite Ar7. As stated they were made for the Israeli air force in the 1960s. Re-imported back into the US in the mid 90's/

Armalite first made the Ar7 in 1959. Charter Arms bought the rights in 1973. They were then made by Ar7 Industries, Survival Arms and now Henry.