Iraq, Idlib, Afrin and Yemen: Late January – Early February Market Highlights

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Welcome to another installment of our series examining gun market trends across the MENA region. At the moment we are focusing on Iraq, Idlib and Afrin and Yemen. The time-frame of the data in this article runs from 25th January to 7th February 2020. The prices are average and are rounded up or down (for example 126=150, 124=100). If you missed our first installment you can find it here.

Here are some of the interesting firearms for sale on the black market during this period:

Golden Makarov

Figure 1.1. Golden Makarov for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

 

Figure 1.2. Makarov for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

A gold coated Makarov PM self-loading pistol, originating from the USSR – with the serial number beginning 197X, the rest of the number is not visible because of the golden coating. The pistol was seen for sale in Iraq in late January. The coating of pistols with silver or gold is uncommon in Iraq, more common are silver or gold coated AK-pattern self-loading rifles. 

Converted Type 56

Figure 1.3. Type-56 converted to look like an Zastava M92 for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.4. Type-56 comverted to look like an Zastava M92 for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

A Chinese Type-56 converted to visually resemble a Zastava M92 for sale in Iraq for $1200 on 3rd February. Some conversions made in Iraq are quite nicely done but most are AKM-pattern rifles fitted with low-quality Chinese airsoft parts and rather crudely shortened barrels.

FN Mod 2. Para CAL

Figure 1.5. FN Mod 2. Para CAL for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.6. FN Mod 2. Para CAL for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

An extremely rare FN Mod 2. Para CAL for sale in Iraq on 31st January. The only known country in MENA which used the FN CAL is Lebanon, as reported in this ARES article, from where it was likely smuggled to Iraq. There is a weapons flow between Lebanon and Iraq, in early October 2019, the IDF seized weapons from smugglers who attempted to smuggle these weapons into Israel (source 1/source 2). Mainly Glock 19 Gen3 pistols were seized which most likely originated from Iraq, as Iraq received large shipments of Glock 19 Gen3s in 2005-6 (source).

Figure 1.7. Colt model 634 for sale in Yemen. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.8. Colt model 634 for sale in Yemen. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

An incredibly rare Colt Model 634 also surface for sale in Yemen, on 26th January. It is a semi-automatic only version and an early variant of the Colt SMG. It appears to be a very early version with an SP1 lower receiver, lacking the brass-deflector seen on later versions. It is currently unknown how it ended up in Yemen.

Rebarrelled Lee-Enfield

Figure 1.9. Lee-Enfield pattern rifle for sale in Maysan, Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.10. Lee-Enfield pattern rifle for sale in Maysan, Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

A Lee-Enfield-pattern rifle (likely an SMLE MkI or MkIII from the cocking piece) which has been rebarreled with an PKM light machine gun barrel and fitted an custom stock taken and adapted from a Turkish shotgun. It also has an M16 Picatinny quad-rail handguard. Seen on sale in Maysan, Iraq on 30th January.

Mauser C96

Figure 1.11. Pre-1918 Mauser C96 for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.12. Pre-1918 Mauser C96 for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.13. Pre-1918 Mauser C96 for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

A rare pre-1918 Mauser C96 commercial pistol, seen available for sale in Iraq on 2nd February.

Australian F88

Figure 1.14. Australian F88 Austeyr for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.15. Australian F88 Austeyr for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)
Figure 1.16. Australian F88 Austeyr for sale in Iraq. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

An very rare Australian F88 Austeyr (a self-loading rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm produced under license from Steyr by the Australian Defence Industries (ADI)), seen for sale in late January 2020 in Iraq. The origins of the rifle and how it came to be in Iraq are currently unknown. 

Bullpup AKM

Figure 1.17. Bullpup AKM for sale in Idlib, Syria. (ARES CONMAT via AnalystMick)

Bullpup AKM-pattern self-loading rifle fitted a Chinese PSO-1 scope and an kryptek-style paint job for sale in Idlib on 4th February. The conversion was made locally in Idlib and is popular with foreign fighters.

Average Small Arms Prices in Iraq 25th Jan to 7th Feb 2020:

 

Figure 2.1. Average small arms prices in Iraq 25th Jan to 7th Feb 2020
Figure 2.2. Percentage share of the weapons for sale in Iraq
Figure 2.3. Average small arms prices in Idlib and Afrin
Figure 2.4. Percentage share of the weapons for sale in Idlib and Afrin
Figure 2.5. Comparison of prices between Iraq (blue) and Idlib and Afrin (red)

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