Home made .50 inch smoothbore longarm used by Mau Mau forces, Kenya, 1952 (c)

This extremely crude weapon is typical of the Mau Mau. Although of .5 inch calibre it is still a smoothbore and would have little value except at very short range. Security forces would sometimes leave ammunition for the guerrillas to find laced with dynamite. Any attempt to use such rounds would lead to serious consequences for the firer. The weapon was found in the offices of the 70th Supply Department of the East African Army Service Corps which was disbanded in 1956.