[jboot]

It is correct that AF General LeMay championed the AR-15. The arm was introduced into the AF in '64 and the Army in '65. I don't know off the top of my head when DoD designated the weapon M16. I have an Army Field Manual for drill and presentation dated 1966 and the rifle was by then referred to as an M16. My dad qualified on the M16 in 1970. Before that date his unit still carried the M1 carbine. ;-)

At any rate, the moniker "AR-15" is now an exclusive Colt trademark and refers ONLY to the Colt civilian product. Any copies of the Colt rifle should technically be referred to as "AR-15 type" weapons. Oddly, Aramalite is still around but no longer has the use of the AR-15 name. They still make the AR-10.

[hiredhand]

You have stated correctly indeed. Whilst “AR” does mean “Armalite Rifle”, Armalite no longer owns the rights to the term, “AR-15”. All of their 5.56mm NATO - .223 Rem rifles are named variously under their M-15 models.