They were manufactured as semi-autos and that was the way the Army used them but it was a parts change to convert then to full auto. Before they could be sold to the public dealers had to modify them in a permanent manner as specified (and individually checked) by the Police. That involved grinding out the safety sear bent on the hammer, removing the safety sear and welding a spacer in the slot, and (initially) putting a stop pin on the safety selector. The Police system was not irreversible if you had a few clues, so I did a few mods (which they accepted) which gave a much more difficult system to convert. There were 2500 rifles put up for tender and I purchased 1000 of them. The next biggest purchase was for 400 and all the rest went out in smaller numbers. Being the biggest purchaser I got the best rifles and they arrived in my shop 31 March 1988. I had been at Trentham the day before to supervise loading the container and getting my permit signed. That was the biggest cheque I had ever written at that stage of my life!
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