The only problem I have with this hypothesis is that the rifles sold off in the 90s by the MoD were delivered straight from the disposals unit at Donnington to places like Charnwood Ordnance in Englandicon and Navy Arms in the USAicon. Siome did go to Germanyicon but we're not talking about those here. How could someone remark them after leaving military stores? My guess, (and it's just a guess), is that they were legitimately renumbered by Armourers and the metal stamps used were also later than the old fonts that we are used to seeing on original rifles, (stamps purchase from Europe?). I was told years ago that the Armourers were also the new younger breed as the older experienced guys were mostly retired or gone to the big REME base in the sky. Some of the rifles I had were marked with the rifle serial number on the top of the wrist like some wartime Maltby produced No.4s examined over the years. The standard protocols were not adhered to. Maybe Peter can chime in with his thoughts since he was there! I do know one thing, many of the rifles I've imported and worked on that were survivors of the gas axe, had been flogged to death in class after class at the sniper schools after the L96 was adopted. The unit Armourers most likely had their hands full keeping them in spec up until they were released from service and sold off. We always guessed that at the very least, half of them were scrapped because they were just plain worn out.