Cavalry Arms CAV-15 Polymer AR-15 mold and IP for sale
Cavalry Arms used to make a unique polymer AR-15 lower receiver until they were shutdown by the BATFE for failing to comply with some regulations. The current owner of the molds used to produce the lowers is putting them, along with all the associated IP, up for sale. He sale price is about $60,000. The buyer will need a press and nylon welding machine before production could start. These cost about $90,000.
CAV-15 Lower
I really liked the CAV-15 lowers with their integrated pistol grips and A2-style stocks. I hope someone purchases the mold and starts up production.
[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]
Hah. That’s Oleg’s photo of my rifle. Glad to see it’s popular.
Michael, its my go-to photo of the CAV-15
Well, thanks. I’m flattered in part, and I hope Oleg is, too.
I bought a lower from them when I suspected the ATF was going to try to shut them down back in ’09. While I like supporting the industry, I wouldn’t buy a CavArms lower again- too out of spec, difficult to assemble, and required too much custom fitting of parts. The lower is wider than spec, so hammer/trigger pins don’t sit flush and are recessed, leaving you to give your best guess if they’re even or retaining. And I had to break out the Dremel and grind down the bolt catch buffer because the channel in the receiver wasn’t deep enough. It’s an interesting gun and concept, but nothing I’d ever want to run through a carbine class or stake my life on.
I have two Sabre Defence lightweight rifles each with the Cavalry Arms composite stocks. I’m satified with them and prefer their light weight and tight fit. The only problem I have is with the triggers. I tried to use a drop in replacement but sent them back the the manufacturer because they would not work. I suspect it was because of the closed flat bottom of the stock at the point. I was reluctant to do any milling of the stock and had contacted Sabre for assistance but their troubles were occurring about that time and didn’t hear back from them and soon after I forgot about it. Does anyone out there have any input or advice as to a fix and can they recommend a drop in trigger assembly that would be an improvement. I use one of the rifles for deer hunting with a 6.5 Grendel upper.
Looks alright. I’d rather not have it in Power Tool Yellow, but hey, whatever works.
i bought my cav arms lower for $125 from DSGArms a while back, not sure on the price now
I definitely hope someone buys them and produces polymer lowers. They’re an idea whose time has come, and it’d be good to see polymer lowers for the AR-15 platform, especially high-quality ones.
PT I have a Cav lower and it was $180 for a complete lower when I bought it back in Feburary of 2008. Compare that with $250 or more for a complete lower in aluminium and it is a bit cheaper. It’s also a full pound lighter than the standard M4 configuration lower so if you are trying to build the ultimate light weight gun it was best option.
Before they went under they were building a version with a shorter stock that I was eager to receive. I hope whoever buys the IP goes ahead and makes that new shorter stock. I’d love to have one.
Cav did not “go under”. They manufactured parts and stocks as well as a line of medical supply rigs. They do not produce firearms any more.
Hope they make a durable cheap lower in A1 specs.
What is the price differential between a CNC mill and buying cast lowers vs CAV arms approach? It might be cheaper to stick with aluminium.
Knowing the guys at Cav personally… As for their ATF issues; I would say it was more of an ATF lead witch-hunt and fishing expedition lead by an over-zealous field office, that later lead to Project “Gun Runner to the mexi cartels” err… I mean “Fast and Furious”…
I guess it was called Cavalry Arms (not Calvary).
Feel free not to post this comment.
Thanks guys for the spelling correction. I have been pronouncing the name wrong as well as typing it wrong
I’m getting a 502 Error on the link…
Calvary: Crucifixion site outside Jerusalem.
Cavalry: Mounted soldiers.
Left as an exercise for the reader which one CAV-15 is intended to refer to.
It’s CAValry, not Calvary. The former is the reconnaisance branch of the US Army, where the latter is where Jesus died.
A1-type stock dude.