They were apparently built as training rifles by FN for the Israelis and the South Africans. The figure I heard was 2k completed. A batch of the Israeli ones came into the States in around 2004. Myself and my former roommate bought two, when they came available through the Old Sac Armory in California. They were priced at $300 each. My roomie had the stock redone professionally, as well as a park job, and the thing stops traffic at the range. I've left mine original, and have a hard time telling it apart from my Russian Captures in my gun safe. Because they are built on a 98k base, when you shoot it, there is no recoil, and almost no sound. I can't say enough good about the weapon.