L. James Sullivan

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For other people named James Sullivan, see James Sullivan (disambiguation).
Leroy James Sullivan
Born (1933-06-27) June 27, 1933 (age 88)[1]
Nome, Alaska[1]
NationalityUnited States
Other namesJim Sullivan
Alma materUniversity of Washington[2]
OccupationSmall arms designer
Known forM16 rifle

Ruger Mini-14

Ultimax 100

Leroy James Sullivan (born June 27, 1933) is an American firearms inventor. Going by Jim Sullivan, he has designed several "scaled-down" versions of larger firearms.

Early life[]

Sullivan was born on June 27, 1933 in Nome, Alaska.[1] Sullivan lived in Nome until he was seven years old, concerned that World War II would spread to Alaska, Sullivan's family moved to Seattle, Washington.[1]

Education[]

Sullivan attended the public schools of Seattle, and later in Kennewick, Washington.[2] Sullivan went on to study engineering, for two years, at the University of Washington in Seattle. Aware that he was about to be drafted to fight in the Korean War Sullivan wanted to become an Army diver, so he left the University of Washington to attend the Sparling School of Deep Sea Diving in Long Beach, California.[2]

Military service[]

Sullivan served in the US Army, from 1953 to 1955,[1] although he was trained by the Army to be a telephone installer and repairman.[1] Due to his civilian training he went overseas to Korea in 1954, where he was assigned by the Army to be a diver to repair oil pipelines and other facilities damaged during the US invasion of Inchon Harbor.[1][2]

Small arms designer[]

Sullivan is largely responsible for the Ultimax 100 light machine gun and the Surefire MGX. He also contributed to the Ruger M77 rifle, M16,[3] Stoner 63, and Ruger Mini-14 rifles (scaled from the AR-10, Stoner 62, and M14 rifle respectively).[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Shea, Dan (February 2008), The Interview: L. James Sullivan Part I, The Small Arms Review, Vol. 11, No. 5, Henderson, Nevada: Chipotle Publishing, LLC
  2. ^ a b c d Ezell, Virginia Hart (February 2001), The Evolution of Invention: An Interview with L. James Sullivan Gun Designer, The Small Arms Review, Vol. 4 No. 5., Henderson, Nevada: Chipotle Publishing, LLC, p. 78
  3. ^ Ezell, Virginia Hart (November 2001). "Focus on Basics, Urges Small Arms Designer". National Defense. National Defense Industrial Association. Archived from the original on 8 October 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Defense Department Sticks With M-16s Despite Problems" (Transcript). Public Broadcasting Service. 2007-09-24.


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