What do you know about a "South African Mamba" 9mm??

old_ironsights · July 1, 2009, 02:09 PM

Any of you have experience with this weapon?

Big Ugly Tall Texan · July 1, 2009, 02:21 PM

The pistol started out in Rhodesia and some were made in South Africa, but they're pretty rare.

I've never seen one live and in person.

tekarra · July 1, 2009, 07:29 PM

I remember they made a bit of a stir in the 80s, but don't recall if they were imported. Remember reading mixed reviews of them, but have never seen nor handled one, so cannot make an objective comment. This is the finest photo I have seen, thanks for posting.

varoadking · July 2, 2009, 06:39 AM

Where's MAGYAR? He's got to have at least one of these...

Steve1911 · July 2, 2009, 07:53 AM

This was a super cheap pistol made in the late 70's to the mid 80's if my memory serves me correct.

I would not shoot it. Not without a remote fire first.

If you are ok with Jennings, you would be ok with this one...

I think this is the only the 2nd or 3rd time I have seen one and this appears to be in better condition than the others...

Skans · July 2, 2009, 08:20 AM

I've seen one of those before. People say you shouldn't shoot them - I'd try it out with some low powered 9mm - I doubt that it's going to explode you you. It looks sort of like a rough copy of a Smith 659

seeker_two · July 2, 2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

It looks sort of like a rough copy of a Smith 659

...either that or a copy of the Spanish STAR 9mm's.....IMHO, I'd bypass it and find a realy STAR 9mm instead....

Dfariswheel · July 2, 2009, 08:41 PM

Here's what I could find on short notice:

The "Mamba": Manufactured by Viper Mfg. Co, a division of Sandock Austral Bloksburg South Africa.
Only about 80 were imported into the US, and the rarity makes value uncertain.

I remember a gun magazine doing a test report and they found it to be VERY lacking.

HorseSoldier · July 2, 2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

...either that or a copy of the Spanish STAR 9mm's.....IMHO, I'd bypass it and find a realy STAR 9mm instead....

If memory serves me correctly, the Rhodesians issued a lot of Star handguns, so if the design started there it would make a certain degree of sense.

July 1, 2009, 02:09 PM	#1
old_ironsights Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2004 Location: ~ OKLAHOMA CITY ~ Posts: 380	What do you know about a "South African Mamba" 9mm?? Any of you have experience with this weapon? __________________ The truth at its worst is superior to lies at their best. Last edited by old_ironsights; July 1, 2009 at 02:24 PM.

July 1, 2009, 02:21 PM	#2
Big Ugly Tall Texan Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 174	I know they're hard to find and no longer made The pistol started out in Rhodesia and some were made in South Africa, but they're pretty rare. I've never seen one live and in person. __________________ Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you! - Nikita Khrushchev Nikita K. made the prediction. Barry O. will make it come true. - Big Ugly Tall Texan "The 9mm Luger cartridge will simply not do for serious work." - Jeff Cooper "Do not throw rocks at people with guns." - Hastings' Third Law

July 1, 2009, 07:29 PM	#3
tekarra Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2007 Posts: 1,164	I remember they made a bit of a stir in the 80s, but don't recall if they were imported. Remember reading mixed reviews of them, but have never seen nor handled one, so cannot make an objective comment. This is the finest photo I have seen, thanks for posting.

July 2, 2009, 06:39 AM	#4
varoadking Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2004 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,315	Where's MAGYAR? He's got to have at least one of these...

July 2, 2009, 07:53 AM	#5
Steve1911 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Posts: 431	This was a super cheap pistol made in the late 70's to the mid 80's if my memory serves me correct. I would not shoot it. Not without a remote fire first. If you are ok with Jennings, you would be ok with this one... I think this is the only the 2nd or 3rd time I have seen one and this appears to be in better condition than the others...

July 2, 2009, 08:20 AM	#6
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I've seen one of those before. People say you shouldn't shoot them - I'd try it out with some low powered 9mm - I doubt that it's going to explode you you. It looks sort of like a rough copy of a Smith 659

July 2, 2009, 08:41 PM	#8
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Here's what I could find on short notice: The "Mamba": Manufactured by Viper Mfg. Co, a division of Sandock Austral Bloksburg South Africa. Only about 80 were imported into the US, and the rarity makes value uncertain. I remember a gun magazine doing a test report and they found it to be VERY lacking.