Commercially Retailed L96A1 Rifle

[Promo]

I recently obtained in Germany what was not only a bit of a mystery to myself, but also to Steve, who I had consulted for verification. The weird aspect of it was that the rifle is military L96A1 marked, but has a 90 PM serial number, that Steve told me:

90 PM 0704 was supplied as part of a batch of 4 rifles titled "job 832" and sent to Mr. W. Spindler 1-3-1990

Being a bit clueless on this information I researched this name a bit, only to find a gun dealer in Germany named Wilhelm Spindler. Calling him answered the question - he was very proud in that he told me he was the very first person to get an export permit for these rifles to be retailed in Germany and had since then frequently imported AI rifles to Germany.


While this is a bit in contrast to the fact that AI never offered PM/L96 to the general public (until 2000 with the AW), it therefore indeed seems that this particular rifle must had been one of the very first ones ever sold commercially, and this one even to abroad.


I had wondered whether this rifle came with scope or without. Mr. Spindler had told me that there was no rule - either with or without scope (+ mount). Therefore I actually had considered putting the Military L96A1 scope I have (currently sitting on the Police PM rifle that I own) on this rifle, once I instead get ahold of a Police contract 2.5-10x scope on mount that I can use on my Police rifle.

Information

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[longebow]

Congrats! What an excellent and unique find!
longebow

[Promo]

I forgot to mention: on the left side of the receiver just at the very front (where the barrel begins) one can see the "SPINDLER" importer stamp.


Secondly, what I noticed when comparing it with my Police-PM rifle that is based on a L96A1 marked receiver too: the Police-PM rifle has all markings stamped inside milled out portions (I posted this rifle here: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=72831 ). Back then I was told by Steve that these were military L96A1 actions that got the [military] serial milled out and a PM serial added instead. What I didn't notice back then was the fact that basically all receiver markings, not only the L96A1 with NSN, but also the Accuracy International markings, were milled out and stamped in the milled out parts. I wonder why?



For the serials on this rifle though it is very different. None of the parts where you can find markings are applied in former milled out areas.


Edit: Steve was kind enough to let me know the total of four rifles for Spindler Arms in Germany were consecutive serials, being 90 PM 0704 to 90 PM 0707. Hence mine is the first of the four, so maybe I could now actually call it the very first commercially sold AI L96A1 marked rifle ever .

[Simon P]

Well done a great addition to the collection

[Roy W]

A lovely rare rifle

[Brian B]

Congratulations!! Beautiful rifle!!

[Brian Dick]

I've imported two to the USA along with a few earlier PM's. One is 89PMxxxx and the other 91PMxxxx. Both marked L96A1 with the commercial serial number range. There were 13 more imported many years ago by Gunsite in Arizona that were former Irish police issue of which I know one went back to the UK since I was the exporter so there are more than a dozen in the hands of American collectors. The ones you won't find on the commercial market have the military serial numbers. The vast majority of those were destroyed by the MoD.

[Gil Boyd]

Promo,
Nice one mate. ALWAYS good to get provenance if its available on a rare rifle, and that certainly is in the circumstances. Just sold my PM, probably a mistake, just got a tad boring at long range when it was ALWAYS hitting the target

[Brian B]

I've imported two to the USA along with a few earlier PM's. One is 89PMxxxx and the other 91PMxxxx. Both marked L96A1 with the commercial serial number range. There were 13 more imported many years ago by Gunsite in Arizona that were former Irish police issue of which I know one went back to the UK since I was the exporter so there are more than a dozen in the hands of American collectors. The ones you won't find on the commercial market have the military serial numbers. The vast majority of those were destroyed by the MoD.

I was lucky enough to acquire one of the 13 Irish police issue rifles that Brian references above. It appears to be a twin to your rifle Promo. It is 90 PM 0697 A and has identical markings as yours. It has the whirlybird flash hider and came with a green S&B 6x42 scope. It has the Gunsite import marking. I've had it quite a while and have been meaning to post some pictures.

I too would love to see a sub forum for the L96A1 rifles if that would be possible.

Nice rifle and a great find Promo!!

[Promo]

I was lucky enough to acquire one of the 13 Irish police issue rifles that Brian references above. It appears to be a twin to your rifle Promo. It is 90 PM 0697 A and has identical markings as yours.

Having spoken with Steve he told me that the 12 previous serials are Irish contract rifles. So yours fit perfectly in. And of course is in Police configuration.


@Brian Dick: yeah, but all of the rifles you had mentioned were Police rifles, therefore not commercial! So I still claim that mine is the first commercially sold L96A1 rifle ever made