Commercially Retailed L96A1 Rifle

[Strangely Brown]

Mick

I understand the UN agreement is for military weapons, not Police.

British Police adhere to what was ACPO guidance (Now National Police Chief's Council - NPCC) which says police firearms should be destroyed when no longer used.

As we know, this hasn't always been adhered to and it is guidance, not law.

I would imagine the Garda have their own rules.

Roy thanks for the confirmation on that; I had wrongly assumed it applied to all government departments in the UK and assumed Ireland was the same.

[desperatedan]

As well as any PM rifles used by the Garda, didn't the Irish Defence Forces/Army not also use the L96? (is this what they referred to as their AI92 rifle?)

There are a fair few "AI" serialled little green S&B 6x42 scopes around that are usually referenced being as ex-Irish Army so does that not indicate that the rifles to which they once belonged have been chopped up but the scopes released onto the open market?

[Roy W]

As well as any PM rifles used by the Garda, didn't the Irish Defence Forces/Army not also use the L96? (is this what they referred to as their AI92 rifle?)

There are a fair few "AI" serialled little green S&B 6x42 scopes around that are usually referenced being as ex-Irish Army so does that not indicate that the rifles to which they once belonged have been chopped up but the scopes released onto the open market?

I believe the Irish scopes were sold to the US Gunsite without scopes, that's how the 'Irish scopes' came onto the UK market.

The Irish ones have a different reticle to the UK ones, which is how to spot the difference.

[Brian Dick]

The rifles imported via Gunsite to the USA had the green scopes replaced by AI with new black ones if memory serves.

[Brian B]

The rifles imported via Gunsite to the USA had the green scopes replaced by AI with new black ones if memory serves.

Mine came with a green S&B 6x42 but I haven't really seen others to know what scope they had when they hit the market. Anyone else have one of the Gunsite import rifles?

[Micheal Doyne]

Mick

I understand the UN agreement is for military weapons, not Police.

British Police adhere to what was ACPO guidance (Now National Police Chief's Council - NPCC) which says police firearms should be destroyed when no longer used.

As we know, this hasn't always been adhered to and it is guidance, not law.

I would imagine the Garda have their own rules.

Thanks for the correction, I thought it was gov. bodies not just military.

Does any one know what markings these Irish PMs have? I believe they referred to them as the AI96. Specification wise they have early AW style single chamber muzzle breaks, but I’m not sure if this applies to all of them? Additionally I haven’t seen photos of them having L96 type irons.

[desperatedan]

I believe the Irish scopes were sold to the US Gunsite without scopes, that's how the 'Irish scopes' came onto the UK market.

The Irish ones have a different reticle to the UK ones, which is how to spot the difference.

Presumably you mean the rifles were sold without scopes.

Do we know if these were ex Irish Army rifles rather the ex Garda Police ones?

I’ve a few scopes and yes the graticle/reticle is different to the UK L13.

[Brian Dick]

I've asked the owner of the one I exported back to the UK in 2005 if it has the standard FE and green or black scope. I think it does, but it's been so long ago that I don't trust my memory. I'm sure I was told by Tom Irwin many years ago that the scopes were replaced in Portsmouth before export to the USA but could be wrong. I've only examined a couple of the Irish police rifles. I've never owned one of my own. They are way out of my budget now and probably never will have a chance to own one. I do have one of ten Australian SR98 AW rifles imported in the early 2000's when AI still had an office in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It's a lovely rifle and one of only two modern tactical rifles I own, the other being the trusty Remington M24 which is an absolute hammer too.

[Brian Dick]

I got email from my friend in France this morning along with a couple of pictures. His rifle is identical to Brian's with the green 6x S&B so I stand corrected. I know that the rifle was imported that way as it belonged to a famous gun writer over here who was the original purchaser.

[Promo]

Visiting the original importer today was quite cool - I bought all remaining AI parts he has had, two AI mounts (26mm and 30mm), a sunshield with honeycomb and an extractor. Learnt that he „invented“ the honeycomb and AI was buying those from him. Also he showed me a picture of IWA 1990 where he exhibited AI rifles. Since IWA was usually held in March and the picture he had showed me was showing two rifles (maybe he had all four there?) it could very well be my rifle was exhibited there too. Aside of the black scope visible on one rifle, note the green scope mount with large thumbscrews in the display under it.