Saddam’s Lesser Known Commemorative Tariq Variant

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The Iraqi Tariq line of self-loading pistols, like the al-Kadessiah’s line of golden Tabuk M70-based carbines and al-Kadessiah precision presentation self-loading rifles, featured several presentation variants.


The gold-plated weapons are perhaps the best known presentation hand guns, with the 9 × 19 mm Beretta 1951-licensed production variants and the 7.65 × 17 mm Beretta Model 70-licensed variants most commonly seen. Some of these have presentation engravings on the slides instead of the standard Arabic inscription on the left side and English inscription on the right.

But beyond these presentation Tariqs, we have the “Gift/هدية” variant which to date has not been found with any gold plating and is instead a standard 9x19mm Beretta Model 1951-patterned Tariq that differs only in the elegant presentation scroll on the right side of the slide. The left side of the handgun slide features the standard Arabic roll-marked inscription of “Caliber 9mm, al-Kadessiah Establishments, Iraq”. However, on the right side of the handgun is the following inscription-

Al-waṭan sharf al-muqātil – Hadiyya al-Raʾīs al-Qāʾid Ṣaddām Ḥussayn li-man dāfaʿa ʿan waṭanihi.

الوطن شرف المقاتل – هدية الرئيس القائد صدام حسين لمن دافع عن وطنه

The nation is the honor of the warrior – A gift from the president, the leader Saddam Hussain for whoever fights for his country.

(Transliteration/Translation courtesy of MENA Symbolism)

Conversations with local sources familiar with this variant reveal that this particular handgun is well-known throughout Iraq, and is even simply referred to as a “Gift” hand gun or “Gift Tariq”. Furthermore, it is widely known that these handguns were presented to certain families and widows of Iraqi soldiers who were killed during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88). We are trying to pin down specific accounts in which these were presented that would tell us of what types of families received the handguns. As an example, it is possible that families whose husbands had been involved in certain heroic actions and were thus presented with the “Gift” Tariq as a posthumous medal of some sort.

Figure 1.1 This is a “Gift” Tariq for sale for 1600 USD on an Iraqi Telegram channel recently. Notice that the seller refers to the pistol specifically as the Presidential Gift in the text. (Source: Iraqi social media via ARES CONMAT Database)

Thus far we have managed to identify at least three different variants of the Gift Tariq. Serial numbers are harder to find on these handguns as the available photographs that do display them tend to focus on the Gift inscription rather than the left side of the hand gun which features the serial number prominently on the frame. From a cursory inspection, it appears that production of the Gift hand guns followed production of the standard hand guns in that the Gift handguns appeared to simply be standard versions left unmarked on the right side of the slide from that year’s production, that were then later roll-marked with the commemorative inscription.

Figure 1.2 Note the variations in English stampings on right side frames. From earlier (top) to later (bottom). (Source: SR Reference Database, National Museum of the Marine Corps)

In regards to the standard inscriptions, Iraqi small arms enthusiasts claim that the earlier Tariqs with a finer marking in the Diwani cursive style of script and with “Tariq 9mm Iraq- Licensed by Beretta” on the right side of the handgun were produced in Italy by Beretta for al-Kadessiah Establishments, while the rougher and blockier Kufic style of script, which lack the phrase “Licensed by Beretta”, were produced in Iraq.

Along with these standard inscriptions we also see the earlier Diwani versions with the following inscription in Arabic stamped onto the left side of the slide –

طارق – عيار 9 ملم منشأة القادسية العامة – العراق

Tariq – 9 mm Caliber – al-Kadesiah Establishments – Iraq

This changes to a different inscription in Arabic when the Kufic text is in use –

طارق- عيار 9 ملم- صنع في العراق

Tariq- Caliber 9mm – Made in Iraq

(Transliteration/Translation courtesy of MENA Symbolism)

Serial number evidence does corroborate this theory in that the earlier and late serial numbers match the Diwani and Kufic styles respectively. Here it must be noted that this Diwani and Kufic differentiation corresponds with the English markings on the reverse side, in that they are also either finer like the Diwani variants or blockier like the Kufic variants. Various representative examples can be found below.

Figure 1.3 Examples of early to late production Tariq M1951-patterned handguns. Note the progression from Diwani script to a thicker Kufic-style of script at the end, in addition to the addition of a “0” numeral preceding the serial number. All known 9 × 19 mm Tariqs begin with a 313 serial number while the 7.65 × 17 mm Tariqs begin with a 315 serial number. Tabuk and al-Kadesiah rifles are similarly configured with initial digits for series of variants. (Source: SR Reference Database, National Museum of the Marine Corps)

Fine Diwani Roll-Mark

Figure 2.1 Original caption: Unfired Tariq 9mm; President-Issued Variant. Right side slide, Diwani style. (Source: Social Media, Vintage Modern Firearms.)
Figure 2.2 Original caption: “1600 مسدس تسعة ناعمه هدية ألريس مكفول للبيع”. Right side slide, Diwani style. (Source: various Iraqi social media market accounts via ARES CONMAT Database)
Figure 2.3 -Left side slide, reverse of the previous handgun. (Source: various Iraqi social media market accounts via ARES CONMAT Database)
Figure 2.4 Right side slide, Diwani style, note missing grip handle screw. Original caption: مسدسات طارق صناعه عراقيه في عهد الركن المهيب صدام حسين الله يرحمه (Source: Social media via ARES CONMAT Database)
Figure 2.5 Right side slide, Diwani style. (Source: via forums.somethingawful.com)
Figure 2.6 Left side slide of the previous handgun, note the lack of any stamps on the right side. Also note that the serial number begins with a “0” numeral, indicative of very late production Tariq handguns. Original caption: “Older model Beretta pistols under foreign license are just awesome. This Iraqi Tariq is beat up but shoots great and was cheap even by Canadian standards. I understand these are uncommon in the United States”. (Source: via forums.somethingawful.com)

Thick Diwani Roll-Mark

Figure 3.1 Right side slide, thick Diwani style. Original caption- “تناقلت عددا من وسائل الاعلام العربية، السبت، ان الشرطة الإسرائيلية ضبطت مسدسًا أهداه الرئيس العراقي السابق صدام حسين إلى شخص مجهول، في قرية كفر قاسم العربية بإسرائيل”. Specifically mentions the status of being a gift gun. (Source: via Iraqi media outlet Alsumaria)

 

Figure 3.2 Right side slide, thick Diwani style. (Source: via forums.gunboards.com)
Figure 3.3 Right side slide, thick Diwani style. (Source: via forums.gunboards.com)

Kufic Roll-Mark

Figure 4.1 Right side slide, Kufic style. Original caption- This is a Tariq 9mm, given by the Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein as a present to the Iraqi senior officers. The slide says “The nation is the honor of the fighter. A present from the president, The Leader Saddam Hussein, to whom defended the nation.” (Source: Social media, vintage.and.modern.firearms)
Figure 4.2 Kufic style, Gift gun, (Source Armoury Blog via correspondence).

Sources:

Interviews among Iraqi small arms purchasers

Forum discussion about Tariq magazines (source)

Iraqi social media accounts

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