AR-15 was developed in the mid-20th century in the USA by Armalite under the leadership of designer Eugene Stoner. Armalite aimed to create a lightweight and reliable rifle that would be durable, easily controllable, and have a long effective range. Stoner's design included the use of an aluminum frame and polymer components, making the rifle exceptionally lightweight.
In 1958, the first prototype of the AR-15 was introduced. Later, this model was submitted to military tests, but initial military orders were limited. Armalite eventually sold the rights to manufacture the AR-15 to Colt's Manufacturing Company, which began producing this rifle for military and civilian purposes.
After Armalite sold the manufacturing rights to Colt's, the civilian version of the AR-15 entered the market. In the 1970s and 1980s, AR-15s began to be available for the civilian market, where they became popular among shooters for sporting and hunting purposes.
