L96a1

If I understand correctly, the L96a1 rifle is obsolete. What are the chances these will be disposed of as surplus like other rifles in the past?

They have already been destroyed

Most have been cut up and thrown into the ocean. The survivors are rare and most in museums.

There were 13 imported by Gunsite in the late 80's or early 90's that were former NI Police rifles but that's the extent except for the odd PM, (I imported one last year). I exported one of the 13 back to the UK in 2005 so there are only 12 that i know of. These are not real British MoD issue rifles and the serial numbers reflect that. I know of two in civilian hands here in the USA and also one real military variant as pictured in Steve Houghton's new book. That happens to be the only one I've ever fired. I'm privileged to know the owner who's a friend of mine for many years.

Don't forget the other 12 that were sold from a Police Force in England to a UK dealer, these also were not MOD rifles.

Alas, they were definitely NOT thrown into the sea. That practice ceased many years ago. They were slowly guillotined in 2011/12 after they were withdrawn and reduced to commercial scrap. The obsolete value was £0.00p. There was no interest by foreign government buyers in the remaining stocks. Mind you, there wouldn't be as they were all 25+ years old and no spares had been manufactured for ages. The very last ones, 19 I believe, were withdrawn from the sniper div at Warminster where they were used for basic assessment duties and a couple of inert 'classroom trainers' followed suit

As a matter of interest, I never heard the L96 called 'The Green Meanie'. by anyone! The only one that I seem to recall that had a well deserved nick-name, used by all, from top to bottom, was 'The General'. The well respected L7 GPMG/MAG-58. It was indeed '.....the General...'

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Alas, they were definitely NOT thrown into the sea. That practice ceased many years ago. They were slowly guillotined in 2011/12 after they were withdrawn and reduced to commercial scrap. The obsolete value was £0.00p. There was no interest by foreign government buyers in the remaining stocks. Mind you, there wouldn't be as they were all 25+ years old and no spares had been manufactured for ages. The very last ones, 19 I believe, were withdrawn from the sniper div at Warminster where they were used for basic assessment duties and a couple of inert 'classroom trainers' followed suit

As a matter of interest, I never heard the L96 called 'The Green Meanie'. by anyone! The only one that I seem to recall that had a well deserved nick-name, used by all, from top to bottom, was 'The General'. The well respected L7 GPMG/MAG-58. It was indeed '.....the General...'

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Thanks Peter, never heard of the general and after firing one recently in the US i understand why Lol...............:wave:

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Originally Posted by Brian Dick

There were 13 imported by Gunsite in the late 80's or early 90's that were former NI Police rifles but that's the extent except for the odd PM, (I imported one last year). I exported one of the 13 back to the UK in 2005 so there are only 12 that i know of. These are not real British MoD issue rifles and the serial numbers reflect that. I know of two in civilian hands here in the USA and also one real military variant as pictured in Steve Houghton's new book. That happens to be the only one I've ever fired. I'm privileged to know the owner who's a friend of mine for many years.

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I've only ever fired a single example too Brian, it was a pre production example that is/was owned by an ex RM AI employee.

Lovely to shoot, you just hit what you're looking at, cloverleaf groups with ease ... almost too easy!

It's made from that rarest of materials, un-obtainium of course, so everyone wants one.

If previous wartime experiences were anything to go on, the kind of kit that should be put into a war reserve.

What became of the mounts and scopes?