Larry Vickers & Forgotten Weapons take a look at a Rhodesian FAL

Matthew Moss
by Matthew Moss
Larry Vickers lights up his Rhodesian FAL (Vickers Tactical)

For many of us, the first things that spring to mind about the Rhodesian Bush War are bush shorts and FN FALs. Thankfully, only the latter is covered in two videos recently posted by the Vickers Tactical channel and Forgotten Weapons.

In the videos, Ian McCollom and Larry Vickers take a look at Larry’s own, an original FN-made Rhodesian FAL. Vickers walks Ian through the distinguishing features of the rifle. South Africa side-stepped an international embargo and secretly provided Rhodesia with weapons throughout the Bush War but in order to do so sanitised them to disguise their origins.

In the first video posted by the Vickers Tactical channel on the 5th January, quickly runs through the distinguishing features of the rifle including the removal of the South African state crest by cutting a circular hole in the magazine housing and the so-called ‘baby-poop’ camouflage paint finish. Larry then fires a few rounds through the rifle, check out the video below:

In a follow-up Forgotten Weapons video Larry takes Ian through the distinguishing features of the rifle in more detail. He points out the various ground off markings, the rifle grenade sight and the ingenious Rhodesian-made Halbek muzzle brake:

Sources:

Rhodesian FN FAL 4K, Vickers Tactical, (5th Jan. 2018). Retrieved from source

Rhodesian FAL, Forgotten Weapons, (8th Jan. 2018). Retrieved from source

Matthew Moss
Matthew Moss

Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com

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  • John John on Jan 10, 2018

    So what's the best FAL to get? The Belgium, the British, this Rhodesian, or a DSA one?

    • Peter Peter on Jan 11, 2018

      @John The British one. The least expensive, sand cuts in the bolt and an extended safety lever are pluses IMHO, you can also mount a SUIT sight Original to the gun, also relatively inexpensive and still very decent despite its age.

  • SLM SLM on Jan 11, 2018

    I want to see the Fayetteville Gun Slut (LAV) in a pair of Bush Shorts...That'd be sexy...Even better, have LAV and James Reeves have a dance-off in said shorts with their t-shirts tied off in the front!! Hell yeah! After the dance-off, while still in dance attire, the two of them can conduct a charity car wash, I'd bring both of my cars to that...HAHAHAHA!!!

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