Infantry Weapons

ArmaLite AR-7

Also known as
  • AR-7
  • AR 7
  • ArmaLite AR-7 Explorer
  • AR-7 Explorer
  • U.S. Survival AR-7
  • Henry U.S. Survival Rifle

The ArmaLite AR-7 is a .22 LR semi-automatic takedown survival rifle derived from the AR-5/MA-1 aircrew rifle concept. It retained stock storage and flotation ideas from the AR-5 while moving to a commercial rimfire configuration that later passed through several manufacturers.

ArmaLite AR-7, Semi-automatic survival rifle, Infantry Weapons
Image source: AR-7 Wikimedia Commons image
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
ArmaLite
Type
Semi-automatic survival rifle
Service note
Cold War survival-rifle design introduced in the late 1950s
Designer
Eugene Stoner
Designed
1958
Produced
Introduced in 1958-1959; ArmaLite production is described through 1973 before later producers continued the design.

Specifications

Crew
1
Cartridge
.22 Long Rifle
Action
Straight-blowback semi-automatic
Feed system
Detachable box magazine; common AR-7 descriptions list a standard eight-round magazine
Barrel length
16 in on the original AR-7; 16.125 in on Henry's current H2 U.S. Survival Rifle
Overall length
35 in
Weight
About 2.5 lb for the original AR-7; Henry lists 3.5 lb for the current H2 version
Storage
Barrel, receiver/action, and magazine components stow in the hollow stock
Intended role
Compact survival and foraging rifle for aircrew, boating, backpacking, and emergency use
Variants

The AR-7 page is kept as a relationship-only support record because the sources reviewed here support survival-rifle lineage and production history, not direct use in a named conflict.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
AR-7 ExplorerOriginal ArmaLite semi-automatic survival-rifle configuration

The original AR-7 adapted the AR-5 takedown concept to .22 LR, straight-blowback semi-automatic operation, and an eight-round detachable box magazine.

Sources: American Rifleman AR-7 Explorer, NRA Museums AR-7

Henry U.S. Survival RifleCurrent-production commercial descendant

Henry's current H2 U.S. Survival Rifle listing keeps the AR-7 concept in .22 LR with an eight-round magazine, 16.125-inch barrel, and 35-inch overall length.

Sources: Henry H2 U.S. Survival Rifle

Design Lineage

Published histories describe the AR-7 as the commercial semi-automatic rifle that followed the AR-5/MA-1 survival-rifle work.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
ArmaLite AR-5, Bolt-action aircrew survival rifle, Infantry WeaponsArmaLite AR-5Predecessor survival-rifle design

ArmaLite's own historical review and museum summaries connect the AR-7 to the earlier AR-5/MA-1 takedown aircrew survival rifle.

Sources: ArmaLite historical review, NRA Museums AR-7

Survival Rifle Layout

The AR-7 kept the AR-5 idea of a compact rifle that breaks down into a floating stock, but it changed the weapon around a commercial .22 LR semi-automatic action. The result was less an aircrew procurement item than a long-lived survival-rifle pattern for civilian, emergency, and limited military-survival contexts.

AR-5 inheritance

Museum and company histories describe the AR-7 as the civilian follow-on to the AR-5/MA-1 concept, preserving takedown storage and flotation.

Operating change

The AR-7 moved from the AR-5's .22 Hornet bolt-action layout to .22 LR blowback semi-automatic operation.

Production path

ArmaLite built the early rifle, then later manufacturers continued the design, with Henry listing current H2 U.S. Survival Rifle specifications.

Timeline

ArmaLite AR-7 Key Events

  1. AR-7 Explorer introduced

    American Rifleman describes the AR-7 Explorer as introduced in 1958 after Stoner adapted the AR-5 survival-rifle concept into a .22 LR semi-automatic rifle.

    Sources: American Rifleman AR-7 Explorer

  2. Commercial production begins

    ArmaLite's historical review identifies the AR-7 Explorer as the first commercial item put into production by Fairchild's ArmaLite division.

    Sources: ArmaLite historical review

  3. ArmaLite production gives way to Charter Arms

    NRA Museums and American Rifleman both describe ArmaLite production ending around 1973, after which Charter Arms continued the AR-7.

    Sources: NRA Museums AR-7, American Rifleman AR-7 Explorer

  4. Henry production era

    American Rifleman and Henry's current product page connect the modern U.S. Survival Rifle to Henry Repeating Arms' AR-7 production line.

    Sources: American Rifleman AR-7 Explorer, Henry H2 U.S. Survival Rifle

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Sources

ArmaLite historical reviewPublisher: ArmaLite | Note: Supports AR-5/MA-1 adoption context, the AR-7 as a commercial descendant, .22 LR chambering, eight-round magazine, stock storage, flotation, and early ArmaLite production background. | Accessed: 2026-07-13NRA Museums AR-7Publisher: NRA Museums | Note: Supports AR-7 manufacture by ArmaLite, later producer sequence, AR-5 design basis, .22 LR chambering, semi-automatic operation, and AR-5/AR-7 lineage. | Accessed: 2026-07-13American Rifleman AR-7 ExplorerPublisher: American Rifleman | Note: Supports AR-7 introduction, AR-5 lineage, original AR-7 dimensions and operation, eight-round feed system, later manufacturers, and Henry continuation. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Smithsonian AR-7 collectionPublisher: National Museum of American History | Note: Supports museum object identity for an Armalite AR-7 semiautomatic Explorer rifle, U.S. origin, rimfire semiautomatic classification, and collection measurements. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Henry H2 U.S. Survival RiflePublisher: Henry Repeating Arms | Note: Supports current H2 U.S. Survival Rifle specifications including .22 LR chambering, semi-automatic type, eight-round capacity, 16.125-inch barrel, 35-inch overall length, and 3.5-pound listed weight. | Accessed: 2026-07-13AR-7 Wikimedia Commons imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the selected AR-7 image and its reusable Creative Commons/GFDL licensing metadata. | Accessed: 2026-07-13