The commander of a U.S. Army Abrams tank aims his automatic rifle towards a Shi'ite militant position in the southern Iraq (news - web sites) city of Najaf August 19, 2004. REUTERS/Ali Jasim



A U.S. Army Abrams tank crewman aims his automatic rifle towards a Shi'ite militant position in the southern Iraq (news - web sites) city of Najaf, August 19, 2004. REUTERS/Ali Jasim


An American soldier runs past a poster bearing the pictures of Muqtada al-Sadr, along with his father Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr in the besieged city of Najaf Thursday Aug. 19, 2004. Militant Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Thursday rejected a government ultimatum to disarm his militia immediately and pull them out of a revered Shiite shrine risking a massive onslaught by Iraqi forces. The news came soon after militants, presumably from his Mahdi Army militia, bombarded a Najaf police station with mortars rounds, killing seven police officers and injuring 31 others. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)


An unidentified U.S. Army soldier returns fire during an attack by numerous snipers in Najaf, Iraq (news - web sites), Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004. Explosions and gunbattles persisted Thursday through the streets of the holy city of Najaf, which has been wracked by violence since the Shiite militant uprising began two weeks ago. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan)


A U.S. Army soldier smokes a cigarette near a Shi'ite militant position in the southern Iraq (news - web sites) city of Najaf, August 19, 2004. REUTERS/Ali Jasim


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: U.S. Army Sergeant Charles Thornton (L) and Leutenant Travis Cole from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary duck under an overhang as sniper bullets rip through a window during sporadic fighting between Shiite militia and U.S. Army troops August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Fighting continued despite a supposed peace deal in which radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to disarm his militiamen and pull them out of the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ: A US soldier reloads his gun during a battle with militiamen loyal to radical Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr in Najaf's al-Jadida al-Talat neighborhood, 200m south of the shrine of Imam Ali, 19 August 2004. Mortar bombs smashed into Najaf's police headquarters, killing eight people and wounding 30 amid heavy fighting around the centre of the holy city. Police officials put the blame for the attack on Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, which is holding the holy Imam Ali shrine against US and Iraqi government forces who threatened a final assault after two weeks of clashes. AFP PHOTO/Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: A U.S. Army soldier from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary holds his weapon as he takes up a rooftop position during sporadic fighting between Shiite militia and U.S. Army troops August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. The Imam Ali Shrine is seen in the background where militia fighters have holed up. Fighting continued despite a supposed peace deal in which radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to disarm his militiamen and pull them out of the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: A U.S. Army soldier from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary takes up a rooftop position during sporadic fighting between Shiite militia and U.S. Army troops August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. The Imam Ali Shrine is seen in the background where militia fighters have holed up. Fighting continued despite a supposed peace deal in which radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to disarm his militiamen and pull them out of the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)


BAGHDAD, IRAQ: US soldiers atop a tank take position in front of the al-Mohsein mosque in Baghdad's Sadr City slum 19 August 2004. A US officer said US forces killed "slightly over 50 Iraqis" during fighting 18 August in Sadr City, Sadr's Baghdad stronghold. But the Iraqi health ministry reported 22 people killed and 106 wounded across the capital in the last 24 hours, based on statistics from hospitals. US forces pushed in to Sadr City with tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles at around noon yesterday, advancing from the south, said a pool reporter embedded with US forces. AFP PHOTO/Karim SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: U.S. Army Sergeant Charles Thornton (L) and other soldiers from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary take cover as they try to locate a sniper position during sporadic fighting between Shiite militia and U.S. Army troops August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Fighting continued despite a supposed peace deal in which radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to disarm his militiamen and pull them out of the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)


BAGHDAD, IRAQ: US soldiers search for roadside bombs on Falah street, one of the main thoroughfares of Baghdad's Sadr City slum, 19 August 2004. A US officer said US forces killed "slightly over 50 Iraqis" during fighting 18 August in Sadr City, Sadr's Baghdad stronghold. But the Iraqi health ministry reported 22 people killed and 106 wounded across the capital in the last 24 hours, based on statistics from hospitals. US forces pushed in to Sadr City with tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles at around noon yesterday, advancing from the south, said a pool reporter embedded with US forces. AFP PHOTO/Karim SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)



BAGHDAD, IRAQ: US soldiers deploy on Falah street, one of the main thoroughfares of Baghdad's Sadr City slum, 19 August 2004. A US officer said US forces killed "slightly over 50 Iraqis" during fighting 18 August in Sadr City, the Baghdad stronghold of Shiite militia leader Moqtada Sadr. But the Iraqi health ministry reported 22 people killed and 106 wounded across the capital in the last 24 hours, based on statistics from hospitals. US forces pushed in to Sadr City with tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles at around noon yesterday, advancing from the south, said a pool reporter embedded with US forces. AFP PHOTO/Karim SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary take up a rooftop position during sporadic fighting between Shiite militia and U.S. Army troops August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Fighting continued despite a supposed peace deal in which radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to disarm his militiamen and pull them out of the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)


AL-ZUBAYR, IRAQ: An Iraqi national guard stands atop a tanker truck as he protects it and others intercepted trying to smuggle oil out of Iraq at the guards' headquarters in the southern city of al-Zubayr, 25km southwest of Basra, 19 August 2004. World oil prices set new records as hopes of an easing of tensions in Iraq faded and Iraqi forces prepared for a new assault on the forces of Shiite militia leader Moqtada Sadr. New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for September delivery, climbed 28 cents to a new all-time peak of 47.55 dollars per barrel in pre-opening electronic trading. That topped a previous record high point of 47.50 dollars set 18 August. AFP PHOTO/Essam AL-SUDANI (Photo credit should read ESSAM AL-SUDANI/AFP/Getty Images)


AL-ZUBAYR, IRAQ: An Iraqi national guard protects tanker trucks intercepted trying to smuggle oil out of Iraq at their headquarters in the southern city of al-Zubayr, 25km southwest of Basra, 19 August 2004. World oil prices set new records as hopes of an easing of tensions in Iraq faded and Iraqi forces prepared for a new assault on the forces of Shiite militia leader Moqtada Sadr. New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for September delivery, climbed 28 cents to a new all-time peak of 47.55 dollars per barrel in pre-opening electronic trading. That topped a previous record high point of 47.50 dollars set 18 August. AFP PHOTO/Essam AL-SUDANI (Photo credit should read ESSAM AL-SUDANI/AFP/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr stands guard in the street leading to the shrine of Imam Ali, on August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. A spokesman for Moqtada al-Sadr rejected an ultimatum issued by the Iraqi government today. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images)


BAGHDAD, IRAQ - AUGUST 18: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr takes shelter during fighting, on August 18, 2004 in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq. The Iraqi Defense Minister has threatened to put an immediate end to the Shiite uprising. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images)


Mahdi fighters loyal to Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr take positions and wait during clashes near the Imam Ali shrine in the besieged city of Najaf, Iraq (news - web sites) Thursday Aug. 19, 2004. Militant Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Thursday rejected a government ultimatum to disarm his militia immediately and pull them out of a revered Shiite shrine risking a massive onslaught by Iraqi forces. The news came soon after militants, presumably from his Mahdi Army militia, bombarded a Najaf police station with mortars rounds, killing seven policemen and injuring 31 others. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr takes shelter in an alley close to the shrine of Imam Ali while US forces fire missiles, on August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. A spokesman for Moqtada al-Sadr rejected an ultimatum issued by the Iraqi government today. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: Iraqi Shiite militia men loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr take shelter in an alley close to the shrine of Imam Ali while US forces fire missiles, on August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. A spokesman for Moqtada al-Sadr rejected an ultimatum issued by the Iraqi government today. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images)


NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr takes shelter in an alley close to the shrine of Imam Ali while US forces fire missiles, on August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. A spokesman for Moqtada al-Sadr rejected an ultimatum issued by the Iraqi government today. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images)


BAGHDAD, IRAQ - AUGUST 18: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr hides behind a makeshift barricade and aims at US troops, on August 18, 2004 in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq. The Iraqi Defense Minister has threatened to put an immediate end to the Shiite uprising. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images)


An Israeli soldier guards detained Palestinian men in a school in the Al-Ein refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, August 19,2004. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini


Afghan militia loyal to Herat's governor Ismail Khan ride on a motorbike in the western city of Herat August 18, 2004. Renegade militia commanders are locked in a stand-off with the governor of Herat, and the new U.S.-trained Afghan National Army has moved in to restore order in the western province. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood


Afghan militia loyal to Herat's governor Ismail Khan guards a checkpoint in the western city of Herat, August 18, 2004. A renegade Afghan militia commander and a spokesman for the governor of the western province of Herat said on Wednesday their forces were honoring a cease-fire brokered a day earlier by the U.S. envoy to Afghanistan (news - web sites). REUTERS/Ahmad Masood


PUERTO TRIUNFO, COLOMBIA: A Colombian soldier guards 18 August 2004 the entrance of the ranch "Napoles" in Puerto Triunfo, Department of Antioquia, Colombia. The ranch, which has an area of 2,200 hectares, was built by the deceased drug trafficker Pablo Escobar in the 80's. In these days the Colombian Government announced its expropriation from Escobar's family in order to build a resort. AFP PHOTO/ Rodrigo ARANGUA (Photo credit should read RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP/Getty Images)


NAUBISE, NEPAL: Nepalese soldiers take a rest as they patrol a highway at Naubise, some 26 kms southwest of Kathmandu, 19 August 2004,on the second day of a Maoist inspired blockade. Maoist rebels cut off routes 18 August, to Nepal's capital Kathmandu in their first blockade of the city since they launched their insurgency to overthrow the constitutional monarchy eight years ago. AFP PHOTO/DEVENDRA M SINGH. (Photo credit should read DEVENDRA M SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)

Cool pics once again

Quoted: Looks like he has wrapped 550 cord in the grooves on his handguard...

Surefire M73 handguard with the nifty little rail covers.

too close for cannon! switching to guns!!

us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040819/capt.bag10408191218.iraq_bag104.jpg

damn...3 pics won't load...i can't see the old degtyarev!!!!

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Looks like he has wrapped 550 cord in the grooves on his handguard... Surefire M73 handguard with the nifty little rail covers. ... you sure? Link?

PICS OF THE M73 HANDGUARD

Note the front lock down screws.

Also, its a TA31 ACOG, not the TA55.

Id be seriously disinclined to believe that nylon paracord would not melt after a mag or two of burst fire.

Although, it does appear to have something around the rail notches.

It is an M79

BTT for the very late night crew.