Weaponsman reports that a fully transferable prototype AR-10, serial number 1038 (that’s the thirty eighth AR-10 ever produced) is up for auction at James D. Julia, Inc. This rifle, undoubtedly one of the most important firearms of the second half of the twentieth century, represents the first “finished” iteration of the US lightweight rifle family that would beget the .22 caliber M16 and M4 service rifles, and their commercial siblings. The weapon was made in Costa Mesa, California, most likely in in 1956 or 1957, as part of the original batch of Armalite test guns.

The weapon is in incredible shape; when I first saw the article I thought it had to be a replica. If you have the bank account to do so, you could own a piece of history that most firearms museums, let alone collectors, would drool over.

It was formerly a part of the Evergreen Ventures Class III Collection, owned by Captain Michael King Smith.

…So, does anybody want to buy me a Christmas gift?