Editing Colt Canada C7 and C8 (section)

== History ==
[[File:Cpl-bill-aitken-a-canadian-paratrooper-from-the-2nd-commando-canadian-airborne-767ea2.jpg|thumb|A Canadian paratrooper with a C7 rifle, 1992]]

The development of the C7 assault rifle paralleled that of the [[M16 rifle|M16A2]] by [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]]. A Canadian Forces [[liaison officer]] worked with the [[United States Marine Corps]] in the M16A1 Product Improvement Program and relayed information to Canada's Rifle Replacement Program Office. The C7 is more akin to the prototype M16A1E1, rather than the final [[M16 rifle#M16A2|M16A2]]s. The earliest C7s were manufactured by Colt for the Canadian Forces as the Colt Model 715. The C7 series of firearms is driven by the same [[Direct impingement#Stoner bolt and carrier piston system|Stoner bolt and carrier gas system]] as the M16 series. Like the [[M16 rifle#XM16E1 and M16A1 (Colt Model 603)|M16A1]] and [[M16 rifle#M16A3|M16A3]], the C7 has both semi-automatic and fully automatic fire modes. The C7 also features the structural strengthening, spent case deflector, improved handguards, and longer stock developed for the M16A2.<ref name="Operator’s Manual: C7 family of com"/><ref name="Maintenance Instructions: C7 family"/>