Found an Iraqi licensed-built Beretta M951 this past week.  Shelled out $750 for it, but since they are as rare as hen's teeth, I think it is a relatively good investment.  Has the grips with medallions (Hamarabi?).  It is likely a GW1 bring back.  Picked it up in a town about 30 miles from Fort Hood.  Looks to have been carried a great deal but not fired often.  

I am a big milsurp guy, and "captured" stuff is my favorite.  No import marks as I understand these have never been commercially imported.  IFAIK, the factory was looted and all the equipment destroyed or scrapped.  Given the political climate, it is doubtful but not beyond the realm of possibility that surplus Tariqs will be imported.

That is the most I have ever paid for a handgun.  But it is a good representative example of what is likely the most widely distributed Beretta 9mm ever produced.

Since I'm not a member, I don't think I can post pictures.

Quoted: Found an Iraqi licensed-built Beretta M951 this past week.  Shelled out $750 for it, but since they are as rare as hen's teeth, I think it is a relatively good investment.  Has the grips with medallions (Hamarabi?).  It is likely a GW1 bring back.  Picked it up in a town about 30 miles from Fort Hood.  Looks to have been carried a great deal but not fired often.   I am a big milsurp guy, and "captured" stuff is my favorite.  No import marks as I understand these have never been commercially imported.  IFAIK, the factory was looted and all the equipment destroyed or scrapped.  Given the political climate, it is doubtful but not beyond the realm of possibility that surplus Tariqs will be imported. That is the most I have ever paid for a handgun.  But it is a good representative example of what is likely the most widely distributed Beretta 9mm ever produced. Since I'm not a member, I don't think I can post pictures.

Sure you can! You just need to get the pics from your computer to a (preferably free) photohosting site like photobucket.com, then copy/paste the "Url" label to the forum, like so (sorry, not a Beretta):


The text for the above photo was
"[IMGhttp://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/TravisM1/45newpic2.jpg[/IMG"
(last "]" bracket left off to show text, rather than showing picture again).

I have hanlded a great many Tariq pistols, none of which I would have paid $750 for.  There are literally hundreds of thousands of them floating around in Iraq.  The Iraqies dont even like them.  Tariq pistols were selling for $50- $100 when I was in Baghdad in 2004/2005 comparred to $300 and up for Browning Hi-powers and USGI issue 1911s.  Be aware, a new US military requlation for OIF III allows soldiers to bring pack pistols as war trophies.  You may have paid $750 for a pistol some soldier confiscated or bought for $50  

hey full auto AK47 RUN 75-100 BUCKS  IN IRAQUE .DPENDING ON HOW MANY YOU BUT.TARIQS ARE RARE IN THESE UNITED STATES.

If that happens, c'est la vie!


Torakan,

I've checked on some other boards and no one knows about this new rule.  Google comes up empty, too.  One person did say that officers have always been able to bring back pistols but that the paperwork chain is such that few bother to do it.

Can you provide a link to what you referenced?

I read it in the Army Times or Soldiers Magazine, both mostly available thru active or reserve US Army channels.  I'll go back and see if there is an on-line link to the info.  We had several Iraqi translators and civilians working with us that were authorized to carry weapons, and none of them wanted a Tariq.  Beretta, Browning, Star,Colt were all ok but they just shook their heads at the Tariq.  It is "the" Iraqi pistol though, as I dont think Iraq acually produced anything else but AKs and some SMG varients.  

Torakan,

Thank you for your reply.  

Every week or so I get on the gun auction sites and search for Iraqi, Tariq, etc pistols.  None have show up as current.  I have not checked any of the closed auctions, though.  I'll try to do that soon.

Ergonomically, the Tariq has some real drawbacks.  It is single action, only.  The safety is a push button mounted in the grip.  The mag release is also a push button in the grip down near the heal.  I don't consider last two of these to be good designs.  They are a throw back to the early 1951 Beretta.

I am a collector, so ease of shooting isn't a very big issue.

Regards,
W-R

Quoted: Torakan, Thank you for your reply.   Every week or so I get on the gun auction sites and search for Iraqi, Tariq, etc pistols.  None have show up as current.  I have not checked any of the closed auctions, though.  I'll try to do that soon. Ergonomically, the Tariq has some real drawbacks.  It is single action, only.  The safety is a push button mounted in the grip.  The mag release is also a push button in the grip down near the heal.  I don't consider last two of these to be good designs.  They are a throw back to the early 1951 Beretta. I am a collector, so ease of shooting isn't a very big issue. Regards, W-R

I was going to ask about that. A good friend of mine has a Helwan Brigadier that I've been trying to talk him out of.

I had an Egyptian Brigadier at one time.  It was a true milsurp and not one of the later commerical pistols.  I traded it for something else.

I have been in contact with quite a few folks about any change in the bring back regulations.  Everyone I have spoken to is adament that weapons continue to be verbotten.  Some folks might be able to sneak a few back, but the penalties for doing so are very harsh if they catch you.

Iraq may well be awash in them, but they are rare in the US.  I don't see that changing.

There has been and to my current knowledge a bring back policy regarding weapons as war trophies. Here are all the catches:
1. Must have a commander that is pro-gun.
2. Must have a commander that doesn't mind working with ATF and USPS. Gonna be alot of paper work on it.
3. Must receive permission for the importation of a weapon from the ATF for personal use as a war trophy.
4. Must make war trophy inopperable. Working with the ATF so welding the barrel isn't gonna fly.
5. Not leave country before all of the above have been completed and war trophy is sent home to U.S.A., and must have a verifiable source to sign for it when it arrives home.

Too much work for most commanders wanting to bring home their troops safely and in one piece. It not like the old days of bring backs were a commander said "OK" and you threw it in your bags. The reason I know all of this is due to inquires made to Weatherby during my deployment. I was given the oppurtunity to purchase a top line rifle for less than a $1,000.00, but would have to bring it home only as a war trophy. Bullcrap rules!

A little more info on the Tariq.  According to a regular poster on www.gunsboards.com, the Tariq moves well at $1000-1200 in some parts of the country.  Seems high, but...

According to a report, these pistols were manufactured by the Al Qadissiya Establishment. The facility is located on the road between Doura and Mussayeb in Diyala Governorate (north of Baghdad). Al Qadissiya Establishment occupies 8 square km and has 3 main entrance gates. The General Manager is (or was) General Thafer Sadiq Hussein. Other senior officials are: Brigadier Othman Al Siqar (Deputy General Manager), Brigadier (Engineers Corps) Al Hareth (Production Manager), Major (Intelligence) Mazin (Security Officer).

The primary function of the establishment are factories connected with weapons of mass destruction. However, three factories (or production lines) are engaged in production of the Tariq pistol. These factories produce 7mm (7.65mm) and 9mm pistols however, recently engineers have converted one factory for the production of a new Tariq 13mm. Production started but ceased for lack of spare parts. Currently 1000 9mm and 500 7.65mm pistols are produced daily (this is 50 percent of capacity). There is a separate carpentry factory which specialises in pistol handles (grips?) and other items.

The main product of this facility is centrifuges used in nuclear weapons production. It also contains labs for quality control testing for chemical weapons and welding factory for missiles. There are also plans to construct a factory for producing electronic circuits for missiles, however, building stopped because of a lack of equipment.