Infantry Soldier at Fort Ord California during Field Trials of the Experimental E13R9 Field Protective Mask, he seems to be holding a later Prototype of the ArmaLite AR-15
Posted by AntiqueRomania@reddit | ForgottenWeapons | View on Reddit | 29 comments
Chuj_Domana@reddit
When was this taken?
AntiqueRomania@reddit (OP)
I believe its from the Combat Development Experimentation Center, it was taken in 1959, which makes it weird for it to be a full E13R9 and not an early E13R10 kit (E13R9 facepiece with updated filter caps)
556_Timeline@reddit
FWIW: Here's a link to CDEC's 30 May 1959 test report comparing the ArmaLite, Winchester, and M14 rifles:
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0815040.pdf
xanax__bar@reddit
🐶
Jon_fosseti@reddit
Ah yes, the Armalite Armalite rifle 15
GaegeSGuns@reddit
Yeah. Naming schemes like that happen all the time. Leupold LCO: Leupold Leupold Carbine Optic. Colt CMG-3: Colt Colt Machine Gun 3.
Kegalodon@reddit
Looks like an Early AR-15 to me, the super pencil barrel, bare muzzle, top charging handle.
AntiqueRomania@reddit (OP)
The reason I said later Prototype was the painted on number on the side, but I suppose that could just be a Pre-Colt Era thing on early AR-15
CSBD001@reddit
It’s absolutely pre Colt
GaegeSGuns@reddit
The majority of them were retrofitted with different parts later on so its very likely this particular rifle looks almost nothing like that now.
FeedbackOther5215@reddit
Inventory marks are commonplace in any armory and aren’t indicative of anything other than someone wanted to track an object with their own index. That’s an early AR-15, and I’d assume this soldier is a member of the USAF as they had the earliest procurements.
AdeptusKapekus2025@reddit
yea and no forward assist!
CannonFodder58@reddit
The front sight block and muzzle are distinctive. It looks like rifle 000006, which was tested in 1958.
BobThePigeon1337@reddit
Plus the one piece handguard
Kegalodon@reddit
You right, how silly of me not to notice.
snoman72@reddit
That mask would go on to become the M17 and would last into the early 90s, when it was replaced by the M40 (Army/MC) and MCU-2P (USAF/USN).
AntiqueRomania@reddit (OP)
I wrote the Wiki article on the M17 lmao
SLN583@reddit
I so hated the M17🤬
AntiqueRomania@reddit (OP)
I can understand why, for me it's because none of the sizes fit my weird head, not even the Extra Small M17A2
SLN583@reddit
The Patriot Unit I was in, we used to go to the field in MOPP 2 and once everything was set up, we would transition to MOPP 4 for a week. It sucked.
GunSoup@reddit
That helmet looks a bit funky too with that ridge…
AntiqueRomania@reddit (OP)
I have heard it was also a prototype or sorts, this image is from 1959 or so
Ok_Fan_946@reddit
It’s an AN/PRC-34 (X1) integrated communications helmet prototype from the late 1950s. It has a radio in the crown of the helmet, which was absolutely state of the art at the time.
Ok_Fan_946@reddit
It’s an AN/PRC-34 (X1) integrated communications helmet prototype from the late 1950s. It has a radio in the crown of the helmet, which was absolutely state of the art at the time.
MFOslave@reddit
Looks like a 25 round magazine as well.
boringxadult@reddit
I grew up in Monterey. Fort ord was long mostly abandoned. We heard to sneak into it and do graffiti and skateboard. And then later sneak on the beaches and camp out in the bunkers on the beach and make out with girls.
FuggaliciousV@reddit
Incredibly hard
doodgedly-done@reddit
Man, look how thin that barrel is.
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