> Actually, "ar cq" is the classical, more compatible syntax, which dates back
> (I believe) to Original Unix.

yes, and IRIX 5.3 at least seems to require it:

ar
usage: ar [mrxtdpq][uvnbailosyzCE] archive files ...


-- 
Georg Schwarz    http://home.pages.de/~schwarz/
 geos@epost.de     +49 177 8811442