In a video for TFBtv Miles tackles the mysterious ‘Baghdad’ 7.62×39mm chambered self-loading rifle – the Rasheed derivative of unclear origins that appears to have been produced from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. Our understanding of the ‘Baghdad Rifle’ is still evolving.
The Baghdad is a little known rifle that is still extremely rare to come across both in the United States and even in Iraq. We definitely have more questions than answers when it comes to what we actually know about the rifle. Largely identical in design and manufacture as the Egyptian Rasheed carbine it appears to have been built using the same machines and tooling as the Rasheed carbine production line. The ‘machine chatter’ as Scott mentions in the video. The examples of the rifle have been observed stamped with years of production ranging from 1969 to 1977.
Additionally, there are a number of Egyptian Rasheed carbines that have Baghdad safety toggle blocks (with identical markings). The differences between the Baghdad and the Rasheed are predominantly in the buttplate cleaning kit cavity and a slightly different choice of wood for the stock. Some of the stamping fonts observed have been different seemingly depending on the year of the rifle’s manufacture, and other times instead of showing an Iraqi acceptance mark there is an eagle of Saladin.
Fig.1.1. Miles firing an Iraqi ‘Baghdad’ rifle (Source: Miles Vining)
We have only observed two Baghdad rifles in the United States from online records. In Iraq, less than a dozen carbines have been observed. Iraqi-based Instagram user Vintage and Modern Firearms states a production figure of 2,000 carbines were built in the country but this has yet to be confirmed. Much more investigation into this series of rifles is needed.
Please check out Machine Gun Dad on YouTube! Scott has been a tremendous help in getting these historic firearms documented!
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