Rhodesian Enfields with cammo

[Melanie_Daniels]

I only have the other side.

[Peter Laidler]

Mmmmmmmm. If it was that 'orrible R-76, a Cobra or that .303 Browning, I know which one I'd be grabbing hold of to calm the screaming hoardes....

[Kev G]

If you're going to get picky

[Kev G]

Also some ex South African FN manufactured Uzi SMG's reserial numbered with the Rhodesian RA prefix.

[infidel]

The LDP. not the finest design. bits fell off if I remember correctly.

[Peter Laidler]

Is that LDP a take on the little Czech gun Infidel? You know, the one with the overhanging bolt... a bit like an UZI.........

[infidel]

The cz24/25? I would guess that would be the inspiration-overhanging bolt & mag in pistol grip, receiver body round in cross section, big threaded cap at rear. I was given a cz25 by an employer as a self defence weapon ( a step up from the Sten issued previously ). It was probably SA made-no markings, very handy weapon, 40 round mag. I still have the mimeographed instruction pages that came with it. the Rhodesians called it the GM 15 SS. The semi-auto only version was called the GM 16, if I remember correctly. They were definitely better than the LDP.

[Melanie_Daniels]

Better pictures - and both sides. In Germany they were offered as RUZI (Rhodesian Uzi)

[bigstick61]

Bigstick61's pictures of Lee Enfields and Fal's prior to 1980 seem to be devoid of cammo paint. Perhaps the cammo painting is time or unit specific?

From what I've read the first to put camouflage paint on their weapons was the Rhodesian tracking unit in the 1960s, although they started painting them in a sort of green color (solid) before the camouflage. Eventually other front-line units began to slowly do it during the 1970s. From what I've read, the painting of weapons throughout the armed forces did not begin in earnest until things really heated up in 1977, whereupon an order was issued for pretty much all small arms in service to be so painted, not to mention the removal of carrying handles on weapons like the FAL/SLR and the prohibition against the use of slings (although I've seen pictures where these rules are all being violated, but in most pictures from this period the weapons are in compliance with such an order).

The first Lee-Enfield in the OP was most likely painted in 1977 or later, possibly even sometime after the country succumbed and became Zimbabwe (I've heard the paint may have remained in use for a little while after the end of UDI and independence from Britain). Sometime in the early or mid 1980s the camouflage paint colors for vehicles was changed to try to remove all trace of the Rhodesian contribution to the armed forces (the uniforms were changed for some time as well as part of this and efforts were made to push whites out of the military, especially more senior officers); these colors are a sort of shade of green and a khaki or tan-like color. Some of the Rhodesian FAL kits coming into the U.S. actually are in this color scheme, and quite often you can tell that that layer of paint was applied over the original Rhodesian paint, which was not removed before the rifle was repainted. The No. 5 in the OP does not have such a color scheme, so it was probably painted by rebels or by another military.

On a somewhat related note, I recall on another forum reading a post by a former Rhodesian airman that his FAL was not painted and that late in the game this was more common in the Air Force than the Army, but what caught my attention was that he stated that his FAL had been modified to accept the spike bayonet from a No. 4 Lee-Enfield, which he as issued as well, the barrel on his weapon not threaded or fitted with any sort of muzzle device. Probably an instance of making due with what one had, which was common during UDI, and is partly why the Lee-Enfield was never completely removed from service.

[roconn]

Hi John:

The old Federal Army of the 2 Rhodesias and Nyasaland had a variety of marks stamped on their equipment.

The Crowfoot with FRN,(Fed of Rodesia & Nyasaland) RNG,(Rhodesia & Nyasaland) NRG (Northern Rhodesia Gov't) SRG (Southern Rhodesia Gov't), NG (Nyasaland Gov't) to quote just a few and also used a Triangle with all that above alphabets.


After ther Federal break-up kit was still issued years later sporting the various old ownership markings.

roconn