L96A1 Purchase? or New Accuracy International AW
A little off topic, but I would love to own an L96A1 to sit next to the No 4 Mk 1 Ts, L42A1. I know that it isn't an Enfield, but I would like to continue to collect the British Military Snipers as they progress with new rifles of choice.
My questions are: Are there any L96A1s floating around to be purchased? I haven't heard of any making there way onto the market. Any idea if they may be replaced and surplused down the road?
Secondly, if there aren't any actual L96A1s to be had on the civilian market, which AI, used or new, would be the closest to the L96A1.
Thanks for the input,
Brian B
What little I know about US L96's
When I finally noted the Gunsite ad in the Shotgun News, I called but they had been sold. I was told that twelve had been brought into the US. The last one was to be exported to Switzerland (mine if the deal fell through---it didn't). Apparently AIs Malcom Cooper called them and said that a Northern Ireland police group wanted to trade them in for a later model. They had never had returns before and did not want to be bothered so GunSite cut a deal for them. When received the matching green colored S&B telescopic sights had problems and were replaced with new black colored scopes. The Greens were sold off as separate items.
I was able to buy one at a later date. Mine does not have police markings. They are true L96's lacking broad arrow and a military serial number. I would have to go dig it out to find out about the serial number thing. Herb Woodend told me that the police guns had a different non-military serial number.