Not an Enfield scope but it did the put the No32 into retirement..

Just a bit about the scope, Its a Schmidt & Bender PM 6x42 off an L96 and I was offered it last year but had lost contact with the seller, so was a bit of a supprize that I received an email from him a few weeks back, the deal was done, so I,m just looking now for the rifle to go with it.....

So just a few questions, the serial No on the scope is, AI 1303, (didnt know about till it arrived) is this the rifle serial No it belonged to or just the scope number ? may sound a daft or obvious question to some but I havent a clue. I thought the L96 may come as a complete package ... rifle, mount and scope.

Second question, a thread or post from a member showed a pic of a bracket for the S&M scope on a L42, anyone info regarding that, was this a bracket made to test the scope well before the L96 arrived ?

Anyway a few pics,


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a5d7fb29-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d1aedaa3-1.jpg


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d6a88596-1.jpg


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...df6950ab-1.jpg

The scopes came separate from S&B and were matched up at AI for delivery to the Army. The scope number does not match the rifle number. The scope number didn't feature in the CES at all BUT sometimes the rifle and telescope were both numbered on the left side clamping plate of the bracket, such as R-1190 T-1034. It was on the clamping plate so that if the telescope was changed, then it was a simple job to change.replace the clamping plate. I sold an L96 bracket for this scope on that auction site a couple of weeks ago. Shame you missed it.

Your BIG hurdle now - and some say impossible hurdle - is finding an L96. Have you ever heard of rocking horse manure?

These scopes are the same as the bog standard commercial version except for the colour and the drums. But the L96 drums will fit/interchange. So on that basis, it is a very simple matter to make one of these up. In Military terms, they were called TELESCOPE, straight, sighting, L13 A1.

There was a later 4 - 12 x replacement called the L17A1. But it didn't last long and is now obsolete, along with the L96. All gone to the big furnace in the sky. The UK MoD owner the IPR to the design of the L96 and private/commercial sale was prohibited. But some Police Forces who felt the need for snipers (oh...., don't ask.....) purchased some but the MoD quickly put a stop to it. To be honest, this tele wasn't the first choice either, That went to a Bushnell telescope that was 10% of the price but......... Just a minute, I seem to recall that there was a thread about this little Bushnell a year or so ago.

Next question Big Duke

Thanks Peter,

I know there are no L96,s out there for sale, I,ve mentioned it before and only know of the ones sold by the Police (By Mistake) and the dealer I spoke to just shifted them for...(would make a man cry) anyway he never made much very little to be honest, but question regarding the bracket that was made for this and to fit the L42? any info?

(Any other brackets knocking about give me the nod)

For the record, twelve L96 units were imported into the US by Jeff Coopers Gunsite Ranch. I talked to a sales rep afterwards and he said that Accuracy International called them and said they had 12 units returned as an Irish police department was upgrading and would they be interested. One US import was exported to Switzerland. Scopes were in poor to damaged condition and were replaced with new S&B glass. They sold the damaged green painted scopes through Shotgun News ads. About a year later I was able to find one when the former owner had become tired of it.

The difference between the real McCoy L96's and the clones or lookalikes issued to the Police is in the serial numbers. L96's carry the UA85 (or 86) A xxxx-C serial number whereas the clones carry a commercial sequential number. Yep.... Rocking horse manure

Such a shame really about what happened to the L96s - and the cash strapped MoD missed out on making a few quid too.

All because (I presume) they don't want someone to potentially kill someone with an ex-'army' (or police.. sorry Peter ;) ) SNIPER rifle...

Never heard of anyone doing so with a 4t or L42 or Enforcer to date!

I did contact AI sometime back, they still have spares, but are reserved for the Police rifles, I did ask if they had enough to build a complete rifle, never did get a reply from that email....

Going back to the original post, anybody with info regarding a pic that was on the forum it was a bracket that held the S&B scope and attached to a L42 ?

United Nations regs I'm afraid Prinz! There's a big spiel and pics of the L96 CES on this forum somewhere Big Duke.

They don't have enough to make up a rifle. Best thing is to find a single shot/single loader target rifle and get it converted. Not difficult. So I'm told...

and kerry in the states just signed the UN small arms treaty that is going to be used to reinforce obama's strict no surplus arms to be imported or us made surplus arms to be re imported policy ...IE thousands of M1's from korea......

surplus arms are going to be harder to get in the future because of the US government. now it is not impossible to get arms shipped to the states. it is just going to get a lot harder.

thanks, uncle sam.....

One of the twelve in the USA was exported back to England several years ago. A feat in itself, (long story). It's a fact since I was the exporter. I'll have to be happy with my Australian SR98 which was also supposed to be exported back to England but DDTC wouldn't approve export of a current issue sniper rifle so I bought it. It's one of only ten, (sn. 10010), imported via AI when they had an office in Oak Ridge, Tennessee before their bankruptcy. It took me years to complete the CES including the original transit chest which was still in Portsmouth and had been purchased by the gent who was supposed to receive the rifle in the UK. You out there Simon?