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I picked up an interesting snippet of information the other day. This batch of rifles were refurbed by Luxembourg Defence Techniques (LuxDefTec), which is common knowledge.
However, I have always wondered where mine originated from, and I was told the other day that they came from the Falkland Islands Defence Force. Anyone know if this is true?
I would love to find out as well, but I would say that if they did then we would of paid a lot more money for them (although we paid enough !!)Quote:
Originally Posted by David TS
As far as is known. All the Falkland island Defence force small arms (SLR's & L4A4 LMGs)
were imported into the UK & Deactivated. They came (Deact) with a Certificate Confiming Provenance & with spare mags, bayonets,Cleaning kits Etc. Nearly everything was in original Ordanance wrapping & in MINT condition!
I believe there were actually very few members in the FIDF.
I Knew the Dealer who had a batch of these Weapons & have handled some of the SLRs in the past.
When were were down there Tankie, we learned that just before it was invaded, there were even FEWER members of the FIDF. They left the fighting to the Marines
I never went down there Peter. I only knew the Dealer who bought the Arms from the F.I.D.F. They were ALL Mint, probably because they never fired in Anger! Ha,Ha!...........Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Ill tell you what though, I was at 27 Command up the Road from you at the time of the conflict. We had VAST amounts of Argie FN SLRS, SMG's & Pistols come in for total refurbing.
They were all duly done & looked VERY nice in the wheeled storage racks! THEN, some Bright Spark decided that as they were not a current issue BRITSH Service arm. They had to be rendered Inoccuous. So as an example, all the MINT refurbed SLRS were turned over & a run of Weld put between the breech Blocks & the inner front of the Reciever. effectively making a solid lump that could only be broken in half & the top cover removed! ARGHhhhhh!................:(
What a waste! We COULD have kept the SLR's & Browning Hi-Power Pistols going for interest shoots. With British Army spares, but no. It wasnt to be!................
Their FM? Brownings were full interchangeable. I had one at one time and a very nice M1911 copy that had cooked off in a burning unimog truck
When the SLR,s were replaced by the SA80 in the UK, were did all the SLR,s go ? I remember an advert in the Gunmart about 8-9 years ago for SLR,s in the wrap for £350, only problem was they were section 5, dont remember the dealers but it was in their advert for a long time.
They all went back to Ordnance at various Depots. The big ones were Don of course plus Thatcham and Bicester. The lebanon Army wanted them and several thousands were traken there for trial in the mid 90's but the deal never materialised so they were simply left there. We did gift several thousand brand new ones and L4A4 Brens and Bedford RL trucks to our friendly allied Armies, such as Sierra Leone but care and maintenance isn't high on their agenda or even LOW on their agenda now that I think about it! Mind you, those we gave to Kenya and Ghana seem to be OK but even so, once again care and maintenance isn't a high priority but at least in Ke and Gh, the bare minimum care and maintenance seems to have paid off - after a fashion
At that time, Ordnance stocks were handed over to an agency who decided that stockpiling stuff, like weapons, was just an expensive way of storing fresh air so they were simply guillotined, along with ........... and ............. Oh don't get me going!
Do carry on, interesting to see how many (rough idea) went for the chop etc,Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Regarding Seierra Leone Pete, I converted a load of MAG 58's to L7A2 Standard when I was with a 'Certain Company'. These were part of a deal with the Brit Government who never get invloved with exporting Arms!.......(Labour) & it was really a play on words I suppose.
The 'Company' Bought & & imported these from Portugal. I converted them on the company premises. We test Fired & finaly inspected them. Preserved Greased & packed them up & took them to Heathrow Bonded warehouse. They were thus exported by the 'Company'.
The Government never saw or laid a hand on ANY of them. They just paid 'The Company's Bill.
And then they could 'Truthfully' say, 'we dont sell arms abroad'...............:cheers:
And that's how it's done Folks!.....................:wave:
Some of the ones that went to Sierra Leone of course did end up in the hands of the notorious West Side Boys (but we did go and get them back......) ;)
Thousands of kits (everything but the receiver) were sold in the US. Most were like new.
At that time Lithgow receivers were available and I built up several.
That information has been around a long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by David TS
More interesting is who was sniffing around another batch located in the Netherlands not so long ago.......
The wholesale prices on these also make interesting reading for those spending almost £2K on the finished straight pull.
Are you trying to spoil yet another thread about the ACR SLR?Quote:
Originally Posted by OxfordAndy
The price of a (probably) non Firearms Act 1968 compliant rifle somewhere in Europe has little to do with the price of a S. 1 compliant rifle in the UK.
I paid £1,899 for my L1A1, same as everyone else. Gavin didn't put a gun (pardon pun) to my head and make me buy it, I did so of my own free will, same as everyone else that bought one.
I love my SLR, and to me it was worth every penny, and I haven't heard a bad word against them from anyone else that has bought one. For me it means I have a little bit of history in my gun cabinet, and thanks to Gavin as that wouldn't have been possible without his efforts.
The only person I know of that isn't happy is you, you had the chance to buy one but it all went wrong. I'm very sorry for you, but you have to live with that, so please do not continue to bring your negativity here every time someone mentions the words "ACR straight pull SLR" :rolleyes:
He can't help himself. Behaves like a spolit child because he had to make up some stories that were proved to be total fantasy. Illegal accessories etc...:lol:
David - not really sure what has offended your sensibilities this time....
Are you disputing that the Falkland islands info has been around for a long time? Are you saying that ACR didn't make a profit?
If you're happy - great, if ACR make money - great.
And what is your issue with the thread getting lockd? I started the thread in the first place. ;)