BillyW
Well-known member
Just finished one of my grail pieces. This was a 1970 dated FMP G3, Rhodesian RA marked kit that I had expertly built back to life.
The kit and furniture were not painted when I received it. I wanted a painted G3, so I bought a real Rhodesian painted G3 stock/handguard/pistol grip set from Brad Washa on his website. It is 1968 FMP dated and has an interesting variation of colors in the paint (Zim perhaps?). This gave me "permission" to match the receiver components to the stock/handguard.
The real icing on the cake is the real FMP G3 semi-auto receiver I was able to source and use on this rifle.
-1970 dated receiver stub
-1969 barrel + bolt carrier
-1970 HK bolt
-1968 dated stock
-RA marked trigger housing
-RA marked buttplate
-Bolt + carrier are typical Rhodesian electro penciled double-matching, but do not have the RA prefix
-1976 Rhodesian FMP mag
Custom mixed paint by me. Interesting note about the paint on the FMP G3's vs R1 FAL's. The R1's have that deep black semi-gloss finish on the metal and stock from the factory. When paint is applied on the black surfaces, the paint is much more contrasted and pop much nicer when compared to the G3's. Factory FMP G3's had a grey parkerizing and brown stock sets. Paint applied on top of this gives a dull, dusty look when compared to the FAL's. Pay particular attention the right side of the buttstock on the G3. Extremely dull coloration, along with most of the paint on the receiver parts. The handguards appear to be spray painted, something I've seen on quite a few Rhodesian G3 rifles and kits. Unsure if this was a Zim thing, but interesting to point out.
The kit was expertly built by Parabellum Combat System. Clipped and pinned lower to accept the semi-auto components.
I would like to thank a few folks who make this possible.
@TulaAKM for selling me the kit
@EX1 for selling me a real Rhodesian FMP magazine
Brad Washa for stock set
Electro penciled RA markings on buttplate
VERY faint RA markings on trigger housing, RA515
The paint pops much more on the G3 magazine compared to the rifle due to the deep black magazine basecoat
The kit and furniture were not painted when I received it. I wanted a painted G3, so I bought a real Rhodesian painted G3 stock/handguard/pistol grip set from Brad Washa on his website. It is 1968 FMP dated and has an interesting variation of colors in the paint (Zim perhaps?). This gave me "permission" to match the receiver components to the stock/handguard.
The real icing on the cake is the real FMP G3 semi-auto receiver I was able to source and use on this rifle.
-1970 dated receiver stub
-1969 barrel + bolt carrier
-1970 HK bolt
-1968 dated stock
-RA marked trigger housing
-RA marked buttplate
-Bolt + carrier are typical Rhodesian electro penciled double-matching, but do not have the RA prefix
-1976 Rhodesian FMP mag
Custom mixed paint by me. Interesting note about the paint on the FMP G3's vs R1 FAL's. The R1's have that deep black semi-gloss finish on the metal and stock from the factory. When paint is applied on the black surfaces, the paint is much more contrasted and pop much nicer when compared to the G3's. Factory FMP G3's had a grey parkerizing and brown stock sets. Paint applied on top of this gives a dull, dusty look when compared to the FAL's. Pay particular attention the right side of the buttstock on the G3. Extremely dull coloration, along with most of the paint on the receiver parts. The handguards appear to be spray painted, something I've seen on quite a few Rhodesian G3 rifles and kits. Unsure if this was a Zim thing, but interesting to point out.
The kit was expertly built by Parabellum Combat System. Clipped and pinned lower to accept the semi-auto components.
I would like to thank a few folks who make this possible.
@TulaAKM for selling me the kit
@EX1 for selling me a real Rhodesian FMP magazine
Brad Washa for stock set
Electro penciled RA markings on buttplate
VERY faint RA markings on trigger housing, RA515
The paint pops much more on the G3 magazine compared to the rifle due to the deep black magazine basecoat
Last edited:
Wow both of those rifles are work of art. You just brought back a great peice of history. Thank you for your post.
