After reading my last article I was contacted by Michael Vickers from Helston Forensics. He linked me a couple articles that he felt my readers and Jonathan Ferguson in particular would be interested in.
The first article is just chock full of interesting tidbits including Sterling AR-18S mods Sterling made, like a longer barrel to increase reliability, SAR-80 info as well as the connection to Mark Westrom, who went on to build the AR180B. Check it out Here.
Also mentioned in the article was the FAC-70. The Foote Automatic Carbine that Sterling considered making before taking on the AR-18/180 from Armalite. Michael sent me a second article that digs deeper into the particular weapon. The original article is Here.
I had never heard of this particular rifle before. I definitely want to learn more. It reminds me of the ARAK-21 line of rifles. I need to build a clone, don’t you think?
Awesome information! Vickers is a powerhouse in arms info and these are nice. Personally had never heard of the FAC and the MG version looks like German styling MG43/MG53 if I squint.
Rick,
I think you have me confused with Larry Vickers, which I’ll take as a complement, but I don’t want to steal any lime light from a true “been there, done that” professional operator, researcher and writer. I’m just an amateur at this. I’m also not Michael G. Vickers, former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, who also possesses a remarkable resume.
Very respectfully,
Mike Vickers
MY GRACIOUS RICK ! ! ! THIS IS ALMOST LIKE GETTING BACK TO THE B-O-O-M ! OF THE BIG BANG THEORY ! AFTER READING THE ARTICLES, I RAN TO THE CLOSET TO SEE IF EITHER OF MY RIFLES WERE IN THE LAST CASES SHIPPED TO ARMALITE … SILLY, SILLY ME,,,, 1 IS A COSTA MESA THE OTHER NODAK SPUD..LOL ! ! ! BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY INTERESTING…….. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATES AND INTERESTING INFO…