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Title:	RIFLE -  ARMALITE RIFLE AR-1 PARASNIPER 7.62MM SN# 044
Maker/Manufacturer:	DORCHESTER, CHARLES & GEORGE SULLIVAN
Date of Manufacture:	1948-1962
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 4456
Measurements:	OL:116.2CM 45 3/4" BL:

Object Description:

ARMALITE RIFLE AR-1 PARASNIPER 7.62MM SN# 044
Manufactured by Armalite, Hollywood, Ca. - Experimental parasniper rifle with foam-filled fiberglass stock and aluminum alloy barrel. Bolt-action with Mauser type receiver. Chambered for the commercial version of 7.62mm NATO. Bolt missing. Complete with Bushnell Scope Chief 4x (SPAR-7185.)

Markings:
Receiver: 044.
Barrel: W 308. ARMALITE/HOLLYWOOD, CA.
Buttplate: PATENTED JUNE 6, 1922/NOSHOC/MADE IN U.S.A.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 18 April 1961. At that time weapon was appraised at $750.00.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES:
1JUL55 - 31DEC55 - "A parasniper rifle chambered for the NATO cartridge with steel lined aluminum barrel, special compensator, plastic stock and telescope sight was tested. Frequent extractor failures and poor accuracy resulted. Models of an improved military version with Mauser (FN) action were in the process of being tested."
1JAN56 - 30JUN56 - "The Parasniper Rifle was designed by Fairchild Aircraft Corp., a Armalite Division. Aberdeen Proving Ground furnished a copy of unofficial information on their tests of the two rifles furnished by the Armory and also furnished a photo print showing areas of contact and non-contact between the steel liner and the aluminium barrel."

Notes: "The Armalite division of the Fairchild Engine and Airplane Company was originally formed in 1954 to develop weapons utilizing lightweight materials like aluminum and plastic. Long before Gene Stoner arrived on the scene, Armalite had designed and was promoting a lightweight precision rifle for military use. They called it the 'Parasniper' rifle.
A number of versions of this bolt action weapon were produced for testing. They utilized various commercial and military surplus actions along with foam filled fiberglass stocks and lightweight, sleeved aluminum barrels. Some were fitted with muzzle brakes. Most were in caliber .30/06 and mounted various commercial telescopic sights. The Springfield Armory NHS collection currently contains 4 of these rifles. (The only other AR-1s known today are in a private collection).
Armalite soon moved on to other projects and the 'Parasniper' rifle was largely forgotten. It was only in retrospect, after numerous other Armalite weapons had been identified with the now familiar designation 'AR', that the 'Parasniper' was referred to as the 'AR-1.'" - Michael LaPlante

"THE AR-1 - The fledgling company's first rifle was the AR-1 (Armalite Rifle number 1), based on a design of (George) Sullivan and his brother-in-law, Charles Dorchester (who later became the plant manager for the new company). The two had actually started working on the rifle in 1947, so it was completed quickly once the new company started operation. The result was ArmaLite's Parasniper Rifle, a scoped, bolt-action sporting rifle that could double as a military sniper rifle. The rifle was chambered in .308 Winchester (7.62mm NATO) and incorporated three features that would be seen in later rifles of the series: a fiberglass stock (filled with foam), an aluminum receiver, and an aluminum with a steel lining.
Armalite's charter required that it develop prototypes and, when perfected, license the manufacturing rights to other companies for actual production. It was hoped this would generate money for the fledgling company while minimizing capital outlays. Consequently, since there were no buyers for the AR-1 design, it never got beyond the prototype stage and failed to go into production. The rifle did demonstrate the possibilities of creating a firearm with modern materials and techniques, however, and opened the way for designs that would eventually pour from the company." - Long

See, "LWDB" No. 1912.

References:
Long, Duncan. THE COMPLETE AR-15/M16 SOURCEBOOK. Paladin Press. Boulder, Co. 1992.