Rhodesia's First Production: Northwood Developments R76 & M77

/ forgottenweapons
Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! shop.bbtv.com/collections/forg...
In the mid to late 1970s, several different Rhodesian arms designers were basically racing to be the first to come to market with a domestically produced civilian carbine type weapon. Northwood Developments would be the first, designed by former RAF engineer Roger Mansfield and manufactured in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe). The weapon was intended to be a whole modular system, with a basic receiver unit which could accept any of four different barrels and either a collapsing wire stock or a fixed wood stock (or not stock at all). The barrels ranged from short pistol types to longer carbine barrels, either with or without a bayonet lug and clamp-on bipod.
The pistol configuration was introduced first as the R76, followed shortly thereafter by the M77 carbine. With the exception of prototypes made for military consideration, they were all semiauto-only guns, as required by Rhodesian law. The were chambered for the 9x19mm pistol cartridge, feeding from standard Browning High Power magazines, which Northwood manufactured in 13-, 20-, and 30-round sizes. The magazine catch is interchangeable with the Browning pistol.
In total, about 2,000 of these carbines were produced before the Rhodesian wars ended around 1980. Most remained in Rhodesian/Zimbabwe, with a few filtering into South Africa. Many thanks to the anonymous collector who generously allowed me access to these two to bring to you!
If you enjoy Forgotten Weapons, check out its sister channel, InRangeTV! / inrangetvshow
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85704

[@mikesharp4033]

To give a scale to cost, I was a senior electronics technician in Salisbury, Rhodesia, until mid-1975. My salary was Rh$ 400/month. Rh$1.4 = Rand(SA)1.4 = £1 Sterling. This was a better than average salary. As a conscript in the RRhAF (Sgt) I was issued with a FN FAL, which was the subject of another of your excellent presentations. We also had Browning Hi-Power and Star BM pistols. My sincere thanks for all the research and time you commit to the compilation of the content; this brought back many memories.

[@threeleafclover6003]

While they may have been officially retired from service the British army still use a fair number of hi-powers to this day which just goes to show how good those things are

[@soulfare333]

For Rhodesian and yourself. Fucking hero's.

[@Ari--d]

did you leave the country after 75'?

[@preserveourpbfs7128]

@@MegaZeta does ratzi = Rhodesian nazi?

[@jorgeeusebio8738]

The Rhodesians used portuguese g3s didn't they

[@markserrano4586]

That looks like an M3 grease gun from an 8 bit video game.

[@williamsager805]

The wire buttstock almost looks interchangeable. And the barrel if it cam in 45.acp would match as well. Though the body was closer to Ingram Mac-10. Makes me wonder if anyone produces a wooden stock to fit the M-3 grease gun.

[@jerrell1169]

William Sager I’m sure you could find one, though I’m sure it’d kinda throw off the weight and be unnecessarily expensive

[@whyjay9959]

Or a 3D game from '97 or so.

[@ToastyMozart]

It's like the model of a gun being held by an AI character in an N64 shooter. A box with a barrel on the front.

[@svampkin]

Looks like a child the grease gun and the uzi lol.

[@telumcogere]

I was in Rhodesia in 1977 and 1978, I do remember these and another gun that looked similar, it was called the LDP? or nicknamed the RHUZI as it was a local manufactured gun but used UZI magazines, I know on one occasion a farmer had one and it fired by mistake I think was supposed to be semi auto but went full auto and a burst of rounds hit his right leg, and was in plaster for months and months. I used a few on the ranges but stuck to the UZI and FN-FAL, and Colt Python I had.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

The LDP became the Kommando, and I do have a video on one of those filmed. Don't have a publication date for it yet though.

[@born_2cook]

Ian, make a 20 second video where you stuff one of those 30 round magazines into a High Power.

[@adamkilby2273]

There's something about these simple, ugly and obsolete SMG style of gun that I absolutely love. Probably because they remind me of myself.

[@Guhonter]

I can relate, I can fold and collapse easily as well.

[@toiletpapermerchant9310]

DEEP

[@sircamquat]

me_irl

[@PieterBreda]

Well. One of my colleagues told me that if he was twice his age, he would still be a lot younger than me. He was my apprentice five years ago. I hired my own poison.😉😉😉

[@NoName-md6fd]

You are rugged, cost effective, simple but crude, and you just work? haha I love those smg designs too

[@__qqq__]

Looks like the Grease Gun and MAC10 had a baby.

[@williamsager805]

My thoughts exactly! I'm surprised Ian didn't mention this obvious fact in his video.

[@BenzoBenny69]

Looks like a CBJ MS to me

[@blueband8114]

qqq Yes unfortunately not a pretty one.

[@FredsRandomFinds]

A few hints of the Luty guns as well?

[@StuSaville]

And dropped it on it's head...

[@fizziesclips3647]

Oh look, it's that assault rifle we drew in primary school...

[@iancornell141]

I just want some sweet Rhodesian Bush shorts

[@mphelps7919]

James from TFBTV can sort you out there bro.

[@bushguy9710]

Fireforce Ventures has them in stock every now and again

[@firefox12702]

i think we all want rhodesian shorty shorts

[@turbowolf302]

Who wears short shorts? Rhodesians wear short shorts

[@jerrell1169]

Ian Cornell It’s what gives them their immortality

[@TherealElliot]

I saw one of the R76 models in the local gun shop to my boarding school here in the UK back in the early 80s, it was (back then) considered a pistol (even with a stock), I never knew what it was till now, but it had one major difference, it was chambered in 45ACP, used 1911 magazines and had a much shorter barrel. I have no idea if the modifications from 9mm to 45ACP was from the factory or done over here in the UK.

[@TheRealKlinky]

Geez Ian, amazing that you even know what gunshop they were sold in! Amazingly, Harrisons gunshop is still going strong, went there a couple of months ago to look for some .470 ammo, alas none in stock though. Greetings from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼

[@JonathanChappell]

This looks remarkably like it was made in a garage workshop by a competent machinist. Even more so than most blowback subguns.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

It literally was. This is Rhodesia, where what little modernization that exists was in a handful of small cities spread over an area much bigger than Texas. A lot of stuff was locally sourced or simply didn't exist.

[@M4R4NTz]

Looks like something Royal Nonesuch would make

[@MrS22222]

Marantz underrated comment.

[@RUBIZEN]

Ahhhh! You beat me to it!!

[@TimaScribbles]

semi-auto was also favoured due to the scarcity of ammunition during the bush war, especially as the situation deteriorated in the late 70s

[@tangero3462]

This makes a Hi Point look like an elegant piece of engineering. I love it

[@nazarderkach9320]

I think that the full length version with the FAL stock looks much more hideous.

[@jonathanschubert9052]

Ian, youre the Mr Rodgers of the firearm community.

[@thel1355]

I don't know why I watch these videos, but I'm not gonna stop.

[@MurphyTheBandChild]

So would the 30-round magazine theoretically fit and/or work in a standard Hi-Power?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yes.

[@merlemorrison482]

not too long ago Mec-Gar offered 30 ~ 32 round mags for the High Power. in addition they offered 15 round mags that were a flush fit, and 20 round mags that were slightly extended.

[@Sube-Tube]

I got excited because I though you said hipoint, and I was just thinking about somehow buying a 30 round mag for a hipoint

[@gooieboerseun]

@@3eightiesopinion524 .....they still make 30 shot Browning Hi-Power mags in Newcastle Natal South Africa....high quality finish R1000 or $60.... Plus postage..

[@jmitchell8439]

IIRC some of the Northwood 30 rounders were trialled with Hi Power equipped INTAF mounted troopers (Latham’s Light Horse?).

[@stevenm9813]

This looks like PA Luty's submachine gun with some improvement, would love to own one.

[@CaptainKzer]

Arms produced under embargo are my favorite topic in all of firearms history, I really hope you do more! As they say necessity is the mother of invention, so the nations under embargo seem to experiment quite radically for solutions to that problem. As for the price being unwarranted, consider that the production capacity of the manufacturer of those guns was probably not very high, so the price was elevated not because all the guns were worth that much based on quality of machining or design but rather because even at the elevated price they would all be sold because firearms are artificially less available in nations under embargo, elevating the equilibrium interception of supply amd demand curves. I suspect that if the production capacity of the manufacturer was greater, the price would have been lower due to increasing supply corresponding to a less acute demand.

[@everythingviral972]

Ever heard of Boganville? They had to build their own weapons to fight against the Australian backed Papua New Guineans.

[@grubbybum3614]

But he said the guy who made it was a scam artist, and I can't find the video where he elaborates on that...

[@ShawarmaFarmer]

And thank you very much for continuing to make quality informational content

[@blainesjustchillin3509]

Something a family Guy animator would draw for Stewie

[@davidvanniedek2605]

These are the types of videos i love! Ram-shackled sub-machine guns. Keep up the great work Ian!

[@quiteindeed6809]

I'm surprised that the barrel isn't square to.

[@andrewgillis3073]

In order to bore and rifle the barrel, and turn the threads, it has to be turned on a lathe. One chucked up in a lathe, it's no big deal to make the barrel round. If you had a bandsaw, a small lathe and a milling machine, you could build this gun in your garage. ^_*

[@nazarderkach9320]

I'm pretty sure there were no Turks in ZANU.

[@Longslide7]

I remember reading an article about some of Rhodesia's "home built' security devices in SOF back in the late 70s. The car mounted frag projector was a YGTBSM of epic proportions. Any chance you could do a episode on the D-MAX? It looked like the front half of a Lancaster with a Mark V Sten grip/stock. 9mm/10mm/.45ACP www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Does_anyone_know_this_gun__DMAX_45ACP_Carbine/2-268314/

[@Daniel-tv9tb]

Excellent review as always. The pistol is very cool.

[@TotalRookie_LV]

Speaking of guns made in isolation. Would Iran fit that description or it would not, since it already had some weapon industry? Anyway, it still would be interesting to see that Iranian made bullpup version of AR15 named Khaybar KH 2002

[@Bobdd0]

If he can get his hands on them i bet we'd have videos for them, or at least planned. Lets hope he gets a chance!

[@grubbybum3614]

@@markmcelroy1872 I don't get it...

[@nazarderkach9320]

I highly doubt that anyone would be importing civilian semiauto versions of it.

[@EVROPAEAESTHETICA]

I believe he would have to be in another country who has legal trade with Iran to review it. He couldn’t bring or own Iranian arms in the US. Please correct me if I misunderstand the trade barriers.

[@diamondflaw]

I just hear AvE saying "Reverse Rhodesian Reach-Around"

[@bensmith4563]

diamondflaw I can't un hear that now

[@logankincade661]

Faaaakkk

[@notpulverman9660]

How do u do that

[@Ari--d]

AvE and forgotten Weapons crossover when lol

[@willowwonderbe3460]

Another amazing and fascinating video as always 👍

[@kenhelmers2603]

Thanks for bringing this to us :)

[@kajbyman3006]

A genious,simple construction..Thank's for the video 👍

[@myramadd6651]

That is a neat looking pair of guns. I've always thought they needed more folding stocks. Or Removable ones like those. Cool how they are interchangeable.

[@niskaa78]

Very interesting to see what a small country under pressure could develop and produce. You have to remember the country was under an embargo at the time. It reminds me of the things you saw being developed from WW2 Europe in a way.

[@xqzme7654]

Been watching you for a few years don't know why I hadn't subbed before now. Midieveil weapons is more my thing but your presentation and explanations of the guns both historical and practical are simply fascinating

[@stefanosiclari]

I love these guns - both for the idea of modularity with interchangable parts, and the general look they have

[@dakleh]

I love how you even pause to show the catches on the wire stock when you pull it out. Your work is so effective in its ability to educate.

[@RandomGuy9]

They look like these homemade submachine guns you find in South America.

[@jerrell1169]

Random Guy Well they both are sorta crude just barely functioning gun like PA luty’s guns

[@ajvanmarle]

I love the bolt handle. It works as a dustcover!

[@Watcher-21]

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!

[@Sube-Tube]

That thing looks so cool

[@firefox12702]

more rhodesian guns please

[@jerrell1169]

Only a couple guns, he’s already covered the FAL which was the primary weapon of Rhodesia

[@firefox12702]

where dem chopped rpd's tho

[@jerrell1169]

Eddie Lee Well it’s only if an auction company has em in stock

[@firefox12702]

this video wasnt from an auction. i presume it was from his trip to south africa.

[@pingun96]

Well the RPD didnt have much going about it but some simple-ish field modifications. Sadly not much to go for any longer video. They really just used whatever they could get their hands on and tried to mass produce as few items as possible (but in as large quantity as possible). Theres even pictures where ZANLA forces in the early bush war look more standardised than some Rhodesian companies, for the simple reason that they couldnt get ahold of weapons wherever.

[@sarllaccassassin9924]

have to say man love the vids keep it up

[@ArmasDeFuegoA360enMexico]

Nunca había visto esa arma. Buen tema

[@bobfish6506]

I like the integrated feed ramp

[@alexissounder1881]

Thanks for the great video. Also thanks for all your videos in general, you made some of my family from anti-gun to fine with guns.

[@jk-76]

Those guys had a style all there own. Distinct and cool...

[@TheGearhead222]

Good lord, that makes a TEC-9 look like a Weatherby rifle!-John in Texas

[@54odst]

I really don't know why but guns like this, crude garage looking guns that look like something Jeff refined in his garage, grease guns, stens, Uru's and the like.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

What an... 'interesting' design...

[@inderet4118]

Michael Berthelsen it looks like it could've been the lovechild of a M3 Greasegun and a MAC-11

[@gb6912]

reminds me of the French/Vietnamese Mat 49s

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

More like a prototype than a finished design.

[@tbthegr81]

Reminds me of the Swedish CBJ-MS, hope ya can take a look at one of those sometime!

[@jamesjross]

cool... this SA series is shaping up to be amazing

[@basichistory]

Excellent guns

[@Estinus]

Man, I bet those things have a truly bizarre recoil impulse.

[@cg8212]

Was anyone else waiting for the holy matrimony of that 30 round magazine written the Hi Power used for scale? Now find me one in full auto and now we're talking about an answer to the G18C that might not be totally unusable due to increased weight dampening recoil.

[@ahmedulalam9563]

At first you got me interested with the Rhodesian FAL But now with these Rhodesian smg's you have caught my attention Thank you Mr Mccollum

[@JenniferinIllinois]

Buy a R76, get a pair of short shorts. Buy a M77, get two pair!

[@jerrell1169]

Little Jenny You’ll look like African Master chief

[@erikm12]

That carbine looks like something you'd see henchmen in Johnny Quest carrying.

[@TheXtro101]

These firearms look like they were design & made by,"I know a guy who knows a guy at Hank's Underground Basement"

[@vncube1]

As a Zimbabwean, this video means a lot to me! I didn't know of this SMG platform before :)

[@jerrell1169]

The guns didn’t last long considering their crude nature

[@jacobboyce3205]

As a rhodesian* you mean

[@Dixielinemuzik]

As a communist?

[@BlankPicketSign]

YAY Zimbabwe!

[@mordecaieagle4240]

vncube1 How are things in Zimbabwe right now as Mugabe isn't president anymore? How have people reacted to the current situation?

[@charlesmiller6826]

Cool I love these rare odd balls

[@Gooberslot]

These make a Hi-point look good.

[@ADRay1999]

It reminds me of the Grease gun and sten gun

[@onsesejoo2605]

A ruler must have been the main tool on drawing phase. It essentially seems to be a box where everything else has been attached on or in.

[@stevegable2707]

looks like the receiver is off the shelf square tubing so cheap and easy to manufacture like a luty or "sten if cylindrical"

[@TodayLifeIsGoood]

I like them, they have character! Also, while the guns are certainly heavy for a 9mm, the weight actually helps with control, meaning that while the 9mm cartridge may not be the most powerful one, making the follow up shot is very easy with these guns^^

[@rako5865]

The shape of the body, wire stock and sights kind of remind me of the CBJ-MS. Btw, please do a video on the CBJ-MS.

[@itsconnorstime]

That looks like the Madsen M50 and the MAT 49 had a baby and it was raised by a Vietcong copy of a Sten gun.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

It looks like it comes straight out of the Fallout series. "Hey Ian, I've got some box tube. Let's use this for the reciever." "Okay, let's make everything as square as possible."

[@2ndadmendmutt]

Joe Hail sounds very interesting!

[@nutz4gunz457]

Looks like it might do well in the mud test.

[@herusolares5320]

The square casing reminds me of a rustic Mac 10

[@rognvaldrasbjrn3972]

I remember weapons called the GM15 and GM16. Roughly uzzi sized things. And the sten and the patchet

[@kezzmexx2476]

8:04 love it

[@kimrice394]

Love how this gun is built! Rear sight needs help.

[@andyd2960]

I love seeing these kinds of guns. But I can't believe that this was a production gun. It looks like something thrown together in a garage.

[@dazaspc]

Honestly if a gun could be called "Cheap and Cheerful" I believe these would be it.

[@ah6559]

Would really love to see a FN2000 and a HK P7

[@StAlchemyst]

Geez. that ejector... a marvel of engineering... lols

[@paulnash9851]

I know for a fact that some of these made it to Ireland during the “Troubles”. No idea how or how many though, but they were definitely in circulation.

[@freedomvigilant1234]

It would be great if they tested these carbines on the range with some Clem Tholet songs playing in the background.

[@Frens03]

Oh well just found out where a mistery mag I have come from! Thanks!

[@silvermikeGA]

And it also can be used as a trailer hitch

[@KmF0X]

Oh no... I wanted to see the Hi-Power with the 30 round mag, just for giggles ^^

[@sambamboram]

Spooky lighting...... LoL Another interesting video.

[@CaptainGrief66]

It's weirdly put together but it looks pretty nice to be honest.

[@terryrawlins4445]

At first sight I was reminded of the French M.A.T 49 we had in the 70's.

[@kalapuikko666]

Keep them north of the Zambezi!

[@jacksonlewis4365]

when you positively need to make a sten gun looks like the best thing ever.

[@gmirreh]

3.5 kg is 7.7 pounds, just for your info.

[@YerluvinunclePete]

Looks like something someone made in a reasonably well equipped garage.

[@on1yadam]

I kinda like these gun designs.

[@wesmitchell4369]

Every Rhodesian gun starts out as a piece of metal tubing from the local hardware store

[@QWER_-yx5hf]

Looks like something you would find at an arcade.

[@kenway2333]

Kinda looks like the love child between an M3 Grease Gun and a Mac 10

[@deamoneater357]

Reminds me of a Luty subgun.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

The full length version with the wooden stock looks like the rebels beginner weapon that shoots "pistol ammo"

[@dominicnero9256]

Nice

[@pathogen21]

The selector lever looks just like an AKM gas tube lever.

[@trainknut]

It's like a mix of a MAT-49 and an M3 Grease Gun with the production quality of a PPSh

[@richardpurves]

Reminds me of a Luty ...

[@Allurade]

That honestly looks like they started with square tubing and went from there.