<P> In 1956 , ArmaLite designed a lightweight assault rifle for military use and designated it the ArmaLite Rifle - 15 , or AR - 15 . Due to financial problems , and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity , ArmaLite sold the design and the AR - 15 trademark along with the ArmaLite AR - 10 to Colt 's Manufacturing Company in 1959 . In 1964 , Colt began selling its own version with an improved semi-automatic design known as the Colt AR - 15 . After Colt 's patents expired in 1977 , an active marketplace emerged for other manufacturers to produce and sell their own semi-automatic AR - 15 style rifles . Some versions of the AR - 15 were classified as `` assault weapons '' and banned under the Federal Assault Weapons Ban . </P>
<P> In 1956 , ArmaLite designed a lightweight assault rifle for military use and designated it the ArmaLite Rifle - 15 , or AR - 15 . Due to financial problems , and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity , ArmaLite sold the design and the AR - 15 trademark along with the ArmaLite AR - 10 to Colt 's Manufacturing Company in 1959 . In 1964 , Colt began selling its own version with an improved semi-automatic design known as the Colt AR - 15 . After Colt 's patents expired in 1977 , an active marketplace emerged for other manufacturers to produce and sell their own semi-automatic AR - 15 style rifles . Some versions of the AR - 15 were classified as `` assault weapons '' and banned under the Federal Assault Weapons Ban . </P>
what does the ar in ar 15 mean
what does the ar in ar 15 mean
ArmaLite Rifle
ArmaLite Rifle