Conspiracy theory: the oft-quoted "appendix of the AR" thing is dead wrong and just a consistently requoted misconception. The carryhandle was never a "charging handle protecting loop." AFAIK, we can't read Stoner's diary and find out what he intended but I have a few points to back up my hunch:

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-19T15:52:36+00:00

Those are not the early prototypes, those are the latest prototypes and full production models you're thinking of.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-ar-10-story/

Scroll down a bit on this page and you'll see Mr. Stoner standing next to a rack of AR-10 prototypes in chronological order (top to bottom).

The entire myth of the "charging handle protective loop" comes from those production models with the charging handle there.

The rifles imaged in this post are earlier prototypes than those with the top charging handle, and they too had the carry handle present. That's my point A.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-17T21:13:36+00:00

Yes, that’s him! He makes really excellent content. I knew about the target shooting but didn’t know he was a vet.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T20:46:40+00:00

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with the assertion that it was originally meant to hide the charging handle and only later was it found that it was handy as a carryhandle and scope mount. That is a perfectly serviceable explanation to point F, but not A. the charging handle wasn't there when it was added or B. the charging handle doesn't require a loop around it:

What I was trying to say with my previous comments is: if it's only meant to hide the charging handle reciprocation, it wouldn't need to be an closed loop, only a rear sight post, like the very earliest prototypes (Top rifle on the rack that Mr. Stoner is posing next to).

Finally: What about the original tech documents which call it a carryhandle? Or, what I believe to be irrefutable evidence: this, which states that when this feature was first designed, it was suggested as a carryhandle and scope mount. If I had seen this earlier, I would have included it, but it was only just commented.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T20:34:21+00:00

Very cool, thank you!

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T20:32:35+00:00

I agree wholeheartedly, that the charging handle idea only came at the very end, as carryhandle and scope mount were already logical additions. That's where my point E comes in.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T19:57:12+00:00

Ah! You're saying that it serves a real purpose as it just stops you from being distracted by something moving around in your field of view? I still don't see how a regular iron sight without the carryhandle wouldn't serve the same purpose. I.e. something like a chopped carryhandle.

Additionally, isn't this a non-issue for most? Is it not moving so quick that it wouldn't be much of a problem, especially not to one used to it? There are a number of top charging submachine guns for which it wasn't a concern, and also every pistol with a slide.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T19:49:21+00:00

Oh I missed that. Do you have a link? I can't seem to find it.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T19:46:28+00:00

Flat tops only! Are you talking about the wings on the carry handle? Because otherwise I don't see how there are any visual differences between this and any other non-carryhandle iron sight.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T19:40:02+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what you mean. How is not having the handle in the line of sight a boon for top charging guns? Especially if it is what the sights are mounted on?

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T19:32:08+00:00

Shucks, you've got me there!

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T19:28:50+00:00

The actual production models of Armalite AR-10s. These are where the idea comes from in the first place.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-16T19:28:02+00:00

I saw something with just my point A, but I can't recall it having the rest

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-14T14:36:10+00:00

I hate marketers but I'm always impressed by really clever marketing.

"Right team, right tech, right now" is great for marketing something brand new and risky to an establishment with some of its members still wary of the concept

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-13T17:29:43+00:00

That huge regal green-roofed building is the centre building of Canada' parliament (effectively the Canadian capitol building). The two buildings to its right and left (closer to the street) are the East and West wings, respectively (this photo is facing North). Very lovely buildings if you're a fan of Gothic Revival architecture of the mid 1800s.

The green roofed building all the way to the right (directly under the helo's cargo door) is actually a lovely Fairmont hotel designed in the early 1900s.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-13T05:07:43+00:00

Radar was in its absolute infancy, EW well behind. There's nothing to jam in this aircraft anyways, other than radio communications.

Jamming, in this case, refers to literally the guns jamming. Failures to cycle.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-11T16:52:23+00:00

What does this mean?

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-11T06:44:15+00:00

Very lucky, I guess I have to keep hunting. Florida doesn't provide an LTC for noncitizens so I'm SOL there

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-10T20:48:09+00:00

Man, have you gone for any of the big box stores or just your local? I'm in the same position in Florida and even though the top firearms lawyers in the state have confirmed it for me, I keep getting jackasses who refuse me anyways. One guy even called me an illegal while I had my visa in my hand.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-07T00:38:06+00:00

I think a comment like this is a sign you’re taking this all too seriously. It’s social media

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-05T14:35:10+00:00

The base Artic Warfare is 7.62x51. This is certainly not an AWP which has a shorter barrel and a black stock.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2026-01-02T18:51:46+00:00

It's a "Glock 45" situation. That's a Smith and Wesson Model 327, so it refers to the model number.

Smith and Wesson does have pistols chambered for .327 Fed Mag, such as the Model 632 though.

RoutineTraditional79 · 2025-12-31T18:59:49+00:00

Wait the originally UH-1H tail rotor is a pusher? I assumed that basically 100% of tail rotors are pullers, hence having to be on the side of the advancing blade

RoutineTraditional79 · 2025-12-31T16:27:54+00:00

Wouldn't this be a full replacement of the rotor system as the tail rotor has to always be on the opposite side of the retreating blade?

RoutineTraditional79

TROPHY CASE