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Armalite AR 7 stock question now with pics

jeffb1911jeffb1911 Member Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭
edited December 2016 in Ask the Experts
Got an Armalite AR 7, the stock is the normal brown color that i've seen on most of the Armalite models. the problem is that the compartments for the components in the stock seem to have "shrunk", or the foam expanded to where the parts will not go in without some force. Is this normal? It also has a sticker on the bottom of the stock that says "ARMALITE AR-7 EXPLORER", and the SN is in the 53000 range. Any idea of when this one was made? How can i get the components to fit in the stock or is there a way?

This is an Armalite stock, it has the Armalite markings on the bottom of the stock.

Judge is this the stock you are referring to?



Ok, here are the pics if i did this right:

http://img571.imageshack.us/i/dsc02620u.jpg/

http://img715.imageshack.us/i/dsc02621en.jpg/

http://img718.imageshack.us/i/dsc02622a.jpg/

http://img189.imageshack.us/i/dsc02623y.jpg/

Judge thank you for the info. Since this is a rare one, i'll be listing it on the auction side tonight sometime. Have WAY too much stuff here anyway. What should i put as a buy it now on the auction?


well, got it listed now. Lets see how high this can go.....or did i set the buy it now too low?


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SellerAuctions.aspx?User=62079
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Comments

  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "... the stock is the normal brown color that i've seen on most of the Armalite models."

    In my observation, the brown stocks on the original ArmaLite AR-7 (note that the "L" in "Lite" is upper case) are rare. The brown AR-7 stocks are made out of fiberglass and not out of the "swirl" plastic on most ArmaLite AR-7 production. If you are constantly seeing brown-stocked AR-7 rifles, please buy me a few out of the next batch you see. They are worth about twice what "swirl" versions are worth.

    The original ArmaLite AR-7 (designed by Eugene Stoner of AR-10/AR-15 fame) was introduced in 1959, and discontinued in 1973, when Charter Arms bought the rights to the design. Since I have never seen an original ArmaLite AR-7 with a serial number below 50,000, I SPECULATE that serial numbers began at 50,000. If yours is in the 53,000 range, and I have one in the very low 54,000 range, then we can SPECULATE that maybe about 5,000 were made. IF that speculation is close, then our rifles were probably made in the early 1960s.

    My "swirl" AR-7 rifles are all in the 70,000 range (could the "swirl AR-7 rifles have started at serial number 70,000?), so we need owners with either the brown stock or "swirl" stock original Costa Mesa ArmaLite rifles to post their serial numbers so we can better determine when the switch was made from brown fiberglass to "swirl" plastic, and maybe get an idea of how many of each were made.

    As far as the problem with the fit in the stock, how much force is represented by "... without some force?" Most parts fit a little snugly, perhaps to keep them from rattling. If yours is difficult to get the parts out, then I SPECULATE that some gun solvent used in the past has caused the foam to swell. It would seem simple enough to me to merely shave off the offending foam with a knife until you are pleased with the amount of "some force" involved.

    Hope this helps.
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  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    When His Honor puts out the call for information it is up to every Gun Broker member to do his duty!

    [img][/img]100_0624.jpg

    My Armalite AR-7 (and I am aware that the incorrect Charter Arms instruction sheet is in the photo) is #84071
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  • jeffb1911jeffb1911 Member Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Dangit, Judge you are making me have to work and post pics of this thing!
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  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a Explorer II years ago,it was made by Charter Arms. My WAG is that you have a Charter Arms Stock. This is why there is a apparent mismatch in the barrel and receiver fitting into the stock. In my experience the Charters Arms AR 7's fitting and workmanship aren't up to the standards of the original Armalite. The Explorer II that I had wouldn't function till I did a considerable amount of work on it. It appeared even though it was over 20 years old it had never functioned reliably.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    jeffb1911, that is indeed the rare fiberglass brown stock found only on early Costa Mesa ArmaLite AR-7 rifles. (The stock is definitely NOT a Charter Arms stock.)

    The stock pictured by Mr. Christian (thank you for your support!) is the more common "swirl" plastic stock. I should have noted in my first post that the "swirl" plastic stocks have no exposed foam inside the storage cavity, probably to avoid the problem you are experiencing.

    I have always been a fan of the "real" ArmaLite products since I saw the original AR-10 first pictured on the cover of "GUNS" magazine in the Mid-1950s (maybe 1957?). The AR-7 was the first "civilian" ArmaLite product released to retail sale, and got a lot of gun magazine press as a "survival" gun. I did not get one until decades later, but the one I have now is basically new-in-the-box with papers and hang tag. The AR-10 "kits" of the 1980s finally allowed me to get that AR-10 (but only with a Central Kentucky Arms semi-automatic lower receiver) I had been lusting after for decades as well.

    Now that we are about half way on our allowed posts on this thread, I doubt that we will be able to learn much about serial number ranges and the like, but one reference to s serial number far out of the known ranges would be worth another thread.

    Judge, we can open as many threads as needed. When you are sitting on the Ask The Experts bench this forum will always be in session.
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  • WarbirdogWarbirdog Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have serial number 9150x, NIB. It has the swirl stock. Made in Costa Mesa markings.
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  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 22,059 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A friend o' mine got one of those things. His is the one with a steel barrel painted black and not one of those sleeved numbers. He thinks the barrel is after market. Half listening since I don't care for them. I'm more of the Springfield M6 (boat oar/bat) grocery getter not a life preserver for a toddler [:D].

    Pretty sure it's an Armalite since he gets a * for them. Also a black stock. Not sure if it's painted? Like I said half listening [:D]. It'll make his day since I'll be ask him.
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  • gruntledgruntled Member Posts: 8,218 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    I had a Explorer II years ago,it was made by Charter Arms. My WAG is that you have a Charter Arms Stock. This is why there is a apparent mismatch in the barrel and receiver fitting into the stock. In my experience the Charters Arms AR 7's fitting and workmanship aren't up to the standards of the original Armalite. The Explorer II that I had wouldn't function till I did a considerable amount of work on it. It appeared even though it was over 20 years old it had never functioned reliably.


    I wasn't aware it was even possible to get one to work. That jam-o-matic NEVER extracted a fired cartridge.

    I was talking about the Explorer pistol. I didn't have any problems with the rifle I had but that it functioned is about the best I can say for it.
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  • 84Bravo184Bravo1 Member Posts: 10,461 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    My Charter Arms AR-7, (circa 1978 ish,) never failed to feed, fire, or extract. Never had a single issue with it while shooting it, as I recall. (And) I put a lot of rounds through it.

    It is one firearm, I wish I still had in my collection. I stupid like, sold it to an Army buddy in about 1981.
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  • bambihunterbambihunter Member Posts: 10,792 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have owned I think all the variants except the early fiberglass ones. None have fed reliably at all, with one of the older Charter Arms ones being the worst at probably 2 jams per magazine. The Armalite one was probably the most reliable of them all. I have a NIB current production Henry model but have not shot it. The fit and finish seems better than the previous ones I have had.

    If anyone does end up making a list, i would be interested in the findings as well. I am sure I don't have the Armalite SN anymore, but I believe I still have the Charter Arms SN in my records if that helps but it sounds like you are only after the original Armalite's.

    Side-note, with Ruger making their 10/22 TD (Take Down) and Marlin's re-release of their model 70PSS (Papoose), some of the pressure to find functional AR-7's to fill that "survival" role, may have went down and it may be more for collectors now. I have always thought the fact that it folds into itself like that and allegedly floats is quite clever.
    Fanatic collector of the 10mm auto.
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