SOLD - Rare, Boxed South African Mamba Pistol

Description

10/11/24 - The Mamba is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Rhodesia and later produced in South Africa, intended for military and police duty. Named for the venomous snake indigenous to southern Africa, the Mamba was the first semi-automatic pistol to be manufactured wholly out of stainless steel components. The Mamba was designed in Rhodesia in 1976 and was initially intended to be manufactured there, in anticipation of a domestic military or police contract. The Rhodesian Security Forces were then fighting a long and bitter counter-insurgency campaign against two rival insurgent armies; however, much of their small arms were well-worn and obsolete due to an arms embargo imposed on the country by the United Nations. The embargo had severely limited Rhodesia's ability to acquire new weapons, forcing the country to source most of its material from a sympathetic South Africa and from international arms dealers willing to violate the embargo. This one is in excellent condition and shows some minor casting flaws along the slide. There is a "Navy Arms" import mark on the right side of the slide, and it comes with its matching-numbered Navy Arms import box. Fitted with black plastic grips and comes with one magazine. Mint bore.