In Rock Island Auction Company’s recently ended December 2018 Premiere Firearms Auction, among a huge variety of rare and unique firearms, there were a couple of lots that should be especially interesting for the Silah Report audience. Particularly, in this article, we’ll take a brief look at the Tariq pistol that was allegedly presented to Saddam Hussein.
Here is an excerpt from the description of this lot quoted from the Rock Island Auction Company’s website:
Manufactured in Iraq under license from Beretta, the 7.65mm Tariq is patterned directly after the Beretta Model 70. Gold plated Tariq pistols have been attributed as presentation items for high-ranking officers and dignitaries; consignor-supplied notes attribute the slide inscription as “Presented to the Supreme Ruler of Iraq”. While not documented, Saddam and his family were known to have accumulated a number of firearms, including a famous set of Iraq-made gold plated AK variants. No formal commercial importation of either the 7.65mm or 9mm Tariq was ever established; the most common source for these pistols is U.S. soldiers who brought them from either Operation Desert Storm or the Global War on Terror as field-captured war trophies.
It’s important to note that it is not proven that the pistol did belong to Saddam Hussein. Rock Island Auction Company clearly points out that this information is claimed by the consignor.
The condition of this particular Tariq pistol is exceptional. It retains 98% of the original gold plating. This pistol is also functional. It was sold at Rock Island December 2018 Premiere Firearms Auction for $20,700.
Images courtesy of Rock Island Auction Company (www.rockislandauction.com)