The AR-15 was developed in Costa Mesa.... But WHERE?

[CHS]

We all know that the AR15 was designed and developed by Eugene Stoner back at Armalite/Fairchild in the beautiful city of Costa Mesa, CA....

But the real question is WHERE in Costa Mesa? Obviously the company is no longer around, but are the original buildings? Does anyone have an old address? I've been combing the internet, but have come up empty-handed. I thought it would be cool to try and track it down and go visit, see what it's like today.

[dchang0]

I have wondered the very same thing. We should set up a shrine there!

[Regulus]

According to this old Armalite Manual, the address was:

118 East 16th Street
Costa Mesa, CA

Per Google, this is now Southern Auto Body.

[Vtec44]

Lets all bring our AR15's there!

[supermario]

WOW, thats cool, i didnt know the AR was built in Cali.. Imagine that, we cant even own entire Armalite now

[CHS]

According to this old Armalite Manual, the address was:

118 East 16th Street
Costa Mesa, CA

Per Google, this is now Southern Auto Body.

I'm wondering if that's the ORIGINAL place where it was designed. Looks large enough for the small'ish factory that it would have been.

That manual would definitely be for a REAL Armalite, not the current Eagle/Armalite.

It's the closest I've gotten so far! Didn't think to try looking up original manuals!

[dchang0]

Lets all bring our AR15's there!

Yeah, we'll start a pilgrimage like the Muslims do with Mecca--all AR owners, no matter where they are in the world, must travel at least once in their lives to Costa Mesa!

[technique]

Ask M24armorer

His Dad worked with Eugene Stoner back at Armalite/Fairchild.
The Early development....didn't even take place at the factory
as I recall.

[yellowfin]

^ And the first marketing effort was done at a picnic where Curtis Lemay noticed them being shot and wanted to try one.

[aileron]

Ask M24armorer

His Dad worked with Eugene Stoner back at Armalite/Fairchild.
The Early development....didn't even take place at the factory
as I recall.

Somewhere I read that Stoner did a lot of the design out of his home in Newport. Can't confirm that though.

[tiger222]

Actually the AR15 was designed in Hollywood, when Armalite was still part of Fairchild. Then they moved to Costa Mesa later. IIRC the early AR10's and AR15's had Hollywood CA on the recievers? They didi not make AR15's in Costa Mesa, Colt had bought the rights by then. It was the AR18 / AR180 that was being made there. The AR18 is the grandfather to many of our current assault rifles of the world today.

The british SA80 / L85, the HK G36 and the HK416. It also spawned the Leader Dynamic rifles from Australia. And gave design cues to the AUG.

AR180 was never fully developed, but was a very cool weapon. Should of bought one when they were $369 new off the shelf in the early 80's
I have eight steel 40 rounders for them still.

[shark92651]

I know for a fact that the original design was drawn on a napkin from the In-N-Out burger restaurant in Laguna Niguel and I have the napkin to prove it! I was gonna put this up on eBay but I'll let you guys bid on it first.

[fonionrings]

I know for a fact that the original design was drawn on a napkin from the In-N-Out burger restaurant in Laguna Niguel and I have the napkin to prove it! I was gonna put this up on eBay but I'll let you guys bid on it first.

:ROFL:

[GJC]

I know for a fact that the original design was drawn on a napkin from the In-N-Out burger restaurant in Laguna Niguel and I have the napkin to prove it! I was gonna put this up on eBay but I'll let you guys bid on it first.

[shark92651]

I call BS on the napkin. 5.56mm? Everyone knows the metric system wasn't invented until the Carter Administration in the 70's. The original napkin would say .223.

Carter invented the metric system? Huh, I thought he only gave us inflation, gas shortages, and a weakened military.

Actually Thomas Jefferson proposed a 10-based system in 1789 that was very similar to the metric system, but it was rejected by the first congress. That man was a genius! Just look at the clowns that pass for "leaders" in this country today.

Sorry for the thread jack - back to the bids on my napkin!