Rhodesian Enfields with cammo

[Kev G]

Maybe not everyones cup of tea but came across these imports while sorting out some other stuff.





ATB Kevin

Information

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[Amatikulu]

Can I ask how you know they're Rhodesian as opposed to Zimbabwean? I'm not trying to be funny here but I'd be suprised if that was sanctioned by the Rhodesian military, unless it was some guard force, and thought it to likely be a post 1980 paint job. I have a FN FAL with very similar camouflague work that came from Rhodesia but have always suspected it was done post 1980.

[Kev G]

Good point .........can anyone enlighten me?
Have also seen 7.62mm South African Bren conversions and GPMG's with 'new' RA prefix serial numbers in the same cammo scheme.

ATB Kevin

[Amatikulu]

I think we need to put the call out to John R a memeber with some experience in Rhodesia

[Peter Laidler]

Looks like some ZIPRA paint job to me as we have some ZIPRA AK's with an identical paint job. The No5 looks a bit, er............. well the word 'butchered' springs to mind, zipra fashion to me

[Thunderbox]

I dimly recall that the Rhodesians followed British Army practice - the SF types did spray-paint some brown stripes over their weapons (nothing like the all-over job above), but the rest of the field army kept their weapons (mostly) standard.

[infidel]

All the Rhodesian 1st line weapons-FN, G3, brens, MAG, were painted a dark blue/green & light yellow green as in the top picture. some were sprayed, most done with a paint brush-stripes or blotches. this included magazines as well. the colours used were the same as the vehicle camo. there was no standard pattern-the paint was handed out & the guys did their weapons. the lee enfields were used by farm militias, but weren't usually painted. I would be surprised if this was post 1980 work

[Kev G]

South African 7.62mm Bren conversion with RA re-serial numbered prefix with same cammo pattern.



ATB Kevin

[infidel]

I have fired a bren with a mag just like in the picture-2 FN mags brazed together. they held about 35 rounds if I remember correctly. It actually worked!

[Kev G]