Reader Ken shot me an email the other day and asked some questions about his newly acquired Sterling AR180. Turns out, I had more questions for him than he had for me, and more questions remain unanswered.
His question was simple enough, “I’m trying to find info on my Sterling AR180, would you by chance know anything about this serial No. A101XX?”
If you know much about the AR18/180 platform that should raise some questions, 180 serial numbers don’t have an “A” prefix, they have an “S”.
AR18’s start with an “A”.
I asked for some pictures.
Turns out to look like a legit, unfired, Sterling AR180 Semi Auto, but the serial starts with an “A”. They even used an AR18 hammer.
Here are some pics. Let me know what you think.
Did Sterling ever make AR-18s ? Could this be leftover parts from an AR-18 that didn’t get used so they tasked them to a semi-auto Build? He would probably have to contact Sterling directly, or whoever owns them now.
It was known that some of the “left over” receivers of the AR-18 had been modified to semi autos. Those would have a fairly obvious fill and sanded area where the selector makings used to say “Auto”. In today’s world, those wouldn’t pass ATF mustard, but back in the 70’s, possibly they would. I actually owned one, but I believe it was a Howa. It makes sense that Howa may have had some left over AR-18 lowers and uppers that were forwarded on to Sterling in the process of backing out of their agreement to manufacture. They did so due to our involvement in Vietnam.
Some of those receivers even could have been forwarded from Costa Mesa to Howa, and then again from Howa to Sterling? But this is the first time I have seen an AR-18 hammer set inside a semi auto receiver. It is a rare bird indeed, with the A prefix built as a semi auto 180. With a 10xxx serial, it is a very early build by Sterling.
Sometimes it is also easy to discern where the sear was removed from the upper. Also, check with the upper receiver marking for “AR-18(0)”. It can be obvious if the “0” is slightly out of line with the 18.
Things were a little “looser” back in the day. I mean looser in firearms modifications allowed by ATF.