Thanks, Lee. That helps.

Chud333, I have learned that a 1968 law prohibited sale of any military firearms deemed surplus materiel. With no way to sell the guns legally to the private sector, surplused guns were simply consigned to routine destruction. What a waste.

I believe it is also the case that there were NO commercial units produced in the Model 56 class, though of course the Model 15-2 (which met many of the M56 design specs) eventually filled the space that a commercial 56 might have served.

Minor differences between the 56 and the 15-2 include barrel weight (56: heavy) and whether the rear sight foot is smooth (56) or grooved (15-2). There is also a smooth/grooved distinction for the ramp of the front sight.

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David Wilson