ar-7 questions

[DeanW66]

So, I purchased a Henry AR-7 via an abandoned-storage auction (essentially a PPT at an FFL). The auctioneer didn't even know what the rifle was before I showed him how to assemble it. I really didn't know much more than that though.

So, I was checking it out at home before taking it out to test fire it and saw a couple of things that have me very confused.

When the rifle is fully assembled, it would not feed rounds from the magazine into the chamber at all. So, I disassembled it again and looked some more. On both ends of the barrel there are "things in the way."

Here are a couple of photos, one showing the end that threads onto the action and one showing the muzzle end. Both ends have metal that is inside the barrel and I don't understand why. Is this normal? Am I not assembling it correctly or something?

[prob]

Definitely NOT normal. Can you remove the obstruction?

[bohoki]

a new barrel wont cost much ive not seen one like that before it has a barrel hood all the ar-7 ive seen the breach is flat

[dchang0]

I wonder if you bought a disabled firearm--one whose barrel was blocked/rendered inoperable on purpose.

If you can't remove the obstructions without damaging the rifling, just get a new barrel.

[DeanW66]

I haven't tried to remove the obstructions yet.

Trying to describe some more:

photo "ar7_1" shows the muzzle end with the blade sight. The obstruction almost looks like part of the sight.

photo "ar7_2" shows the action/receiver end where the knurled ring threads onto the action. The obstruction here again appears to be part of the metal aligning tabs.

I'll have to look again tomorrow at it and get the exact designation. It did come with original box and manual (in/with japanese I think - again I'll have to look again; it's at home and I'm at work right now). I recall there are some parts that are stamped Charter Arms but I can't recall all the details right now.

[Czechsix]

Obviously some crap in the bore and chamber. There's really nothing hard about assembling it, barrel indexes into the receiver notch, thread the barrel nut onto the receiver, and you're good to go. I don't have mine handy, but if you'd like I can dig them out and take some pics to show the way it should look.

Hmmm...actually...Japanese, eh? I wonder if it's a demil?

[brassburnz]

I agree that it looks like there is something in the breech. Can't really tell from the pic of the muzzle.

The breech will have a raised section that fits into a slot on the receiver. There were also Charter Arms Explorer pistols that have a similar barrel attachment system, but the slot is such that the sight on a pistol barrel would be upside-down IIRC.

I don't really remember what my Charter Arms AR-7 looks like.

[bohoki]

please more photos of the complete item

maybe it is set up for blanks only

[DeanW66]

Ok, here are some more pics.

#3 shows how there is a set screw that holds some sort of assembly into the receiver end of the barrel (note instructions in pictures further below). Pic 4 is a closeup into that assembly (again the receiver end) - the blockage is apparently an integral part of this assembly. Pic 5 shows the other end of this assembly (where it fits into the barrel). Pic 6 shows me holding the barrel up into a light to show how there is additional blockage deep into the barrel itself.

[DeanW66]

Pic #7 is another barrel-into-light shot.
Pic #8 shows the inside of the rubber cap that fits over the end of the stock. The outside (not shown) says Charter Arms. The inside says Western Arms, Tokyo Japan
Pic #9 shows the manuals, all in japanese
Pic #10 shows a closeup of the assembly inside the receiver end of the barrel (show in pics above). Maybe somebody knows japanese and can translate?

[brassburnz]

My AR-7 definitely did not look like that. A blank firing device is a possibility. Perhaps an arrow or line firing device as well.

[Bobotheclown]

Googled Western Arms and came back mostly airsoft stuff

After more googling, http://homepage3.nifty.com/skoinuma/AR-7.htm

"Western Arms, who had been already known as a custom modelgun maker, made a modelgun AR-7 in 1982, as their fifth anniversary model. It had the same looking and mechanism as the real gun and became very popular among modelgun fans in Japan. But it has not been made for a long time since the late 1980s, it has become one of the rarest and most expensive modelguns."

Might not be real, but it seems it's a highly collectible model

[jamesob]

not a real gun. you spent more money on a transfer on a non gun than what it's worth.

[DeanW66]

Many (many and many) Thanks Bob.

Now I gotta decide what to do. Hmmmmmm

Will a standard/replacement AR-7 barrel make this a live usable gun? I don't read Japanese but it sure looks to me like that article goes on to point out differences in the action, stock, etc.

Dean

Googled Western Arms and came back mostly airsoft stuff

After more googling, http://homepage3.nifty.com/skoinuma/AR-7.htm

"Western Arms, who had been already known as a custom modelgun maker, made a modelgun AR-7 in 1982, as their fifth anniversary model. It had the same looking and mechanism as the real gun and became very popular among modelgun fans in Japan. But it has not been made for a long time since the late 1980s, it has become one of the rarest and most expensive modelguns."

Might not be real, but it seems it's a highly collectible model

[SVT-40]

In short , No a standard barrel will not help. It's a replica not a "real" firearm, and cannot be made into a firing rifle.