Dutch Stoner 63A1

The Dutch Stoner 63A1 🇳🇱🇺🇲
The American Stoner 63 is a modular weapon system designed by Eugene Stoner (also the inventor of the AR-10 and AR-10). The Stoner 63 is chambered in 5.56 and as the name says its a modular system. The rifle can be turned into a carbine, light support weapon, squad automatic weapon or your basic assault rifle. The Stoner 63 was manufactered by Caddilac Cage (later knight armanent) and saw small usage by the U.S. military.

In 1967, NWM de Kruithoorn (Nederlandse Wapen en Munitiefabriek/Dutch weapon and munition factory, the same company that produced galils) wanted to present a new rifle to the Dutch military. They got a license to produce and export the rifles. Although they got manufactering rights, NWM only build some prototypes and modified american made stoner 63's.The Dutch Stoner 63 was designated the 63A1. It had some modifications and improvements which were later also found in the American made rifles

Early 63A1's used a MP40 and later AKS47 style of underfolding stock and later own designed side folding stocks. The variants presented to the Dutch military were the carbine, assault rifle, light support weapon, belt fed machine gun, commando machinge gun and a fixed machine gun.
History repeats itself. Stoners design gets licensed to the Netherlands. Dutch made improvements. The rifle meant for the Dutch military and it not becomming a commercial succes.

1. Dutch Stoner 63A1 underfolding stock rifles

2. Dutch gun designer Henk Visser and a Stoner 63A1 with a Dutch KRR-62 scope

3. Soldier with a Stoner 63A1