This upcoming series of articles will look at the black markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia and track available prices. At first, only Iraq will be covered, later other countries and weapon markets will be added. These articles will be published every two weeks but we hope to expand on this and attempt to eventually publish weekly.
The time-frame of the data in this article runs from 1st January to 12th January 2020. The prices are average and are rounded up or down (example 126=150, 124=100).
Here are some of the interesting firearms for sale on the black market during this period:
This is an Iranian contract IMI-made UZI, which was made in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This was before the revolution and during the Shah’s reign (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi). It was probably either captured in the Iran-Iraq war or later supplied by Iran to Iranian-backed militias.
Here is a SIG Sauer P320 M17, which is quite rare in Iraq. It probably was imported into Iraq (although unknown if legally or illegally), as US Military M17’s are not marked ‘P320’ (so leakage via US military sources is unlikely).
This is an Egyptian Maadi-made 7.62×39mm MISR self-loading rifle, very uncommon in Iraq. It mav have been supplied to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war (between 1980-1988).
A WW1-vintage British Pattern 14 (or possibly US M1917) rifle with a PU scope (possibly from an anti-air gun e.g. ZSU-23-2) which was converted to shoot flares (about cal. 4) is for sale in Iraq. The rifle appears to have been converted to shoot 7.62×54r and use an SVD magazine. The flares are likely shot by using blanks. Also of note is the collapsible stock.
A brand-new looking Canadian NEA PDW-CCS 7.5″ in 5.56×45mm, not uncommon in Iraq, but not often seen for sale. They are in use with the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) and Peshmerga (the military forces of the autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq).
A British L85A2 bullpup self-loading rifle, chambered in 5.56×45mm, which are very, very rarely seen for sale in Iraq. This rifle has been refinished, with the standard black of its receiver now in an OD Green.
A very late plum AK-74N, which was probably produced in late 1989 to early 1990. AK-74 self-loading rifles, chambered in 5.45×39mm, are are rarely seen in Iraq, but recently more and more are appearing for sale. The source of these rifles is most likely corrupt Syrian military soldiers or fighters of militia loyal to the Syrian Government who sold them. This rifle was most likely originally supplied by the Russians to Syrian forces (SyAA or Militias), the Tiger Forces in particular have received a lot of them as military aid and it may be a Tiger Forces member(s) who sold these rifles.
A 1949-production Russian Type 1 AKS-47, which is very rare in Iraq and most likely floated over from Syria.
A very rare Iranian DIO made flare/signal pistol called LP 26.5, which fires a 26.5 mm illumination cartridge.
Common in Iraq, an S.M.L.E. MK III fitted with camouflage wrap, an SVD-style muzzle brake, bipod and bipod adapter, PU-type scope probably taken from an AA HMG and a modified SVD-style stock.
Prices, Iraq
Ammo
| 9x19mm | 7.62×39mm | 5.56×45mm |
| 1,41$ | 0,64$ | N/A |
Pistols
| Blank pistol | High Power (pat.) | Makarov | Tariq | Llama (1911 pat.) | Beretta M9 pat. | Glock 19 | HS Product |
| 400$ | 3200$ | 750$ | 1000$ | 1100$ | N/A | 1900$ | 1950$ |
Rifle
| AK-47 | AKS-47 | Type-56 (series) | AKM | AKMS | Tabuk | M4 | M16 (A2+A4) | FN FAL | G3 |
| 950$ | 1250$ | 500$ | 650$ | 850$ | 450$ | 3000$ | 2000$ | 800$ | 500$ |
Machine gun
| PK and PKM | M249 |
| 3300$ | N/A |
DMR
| PSL | Dragunov |
| N/A | 7500$ |
Anti-Tank
| RPG-7 (pat.) |
| 350$ |
Large numbers of Egyptian AKM rifles were surplused out of Croatia during the early days of the GWOT about 2004-06. They were giving them away to the US Gov’t at one point, who was also re-arming the new Iraqi Army about the same time.