The US Department of Defense recently shared some photographs of a shipment of M4-pattern 5.56×45mm self-loading rifles arriving at Camp Taji, a base approximately 27km (17 mi) north of Baghdad, which is home to the Qwat al Khasah, the Iraqi Special Forces. From the photographs shared by Department of Defense the M4-pattern rifles appear to have been manufactured by Remington Defense. These rifles are designated the R4 by Remington Defense and follow the basic M4 MILSPEC pattern, with an adjustable buttstock, a quad-rail forend and are select fire.
Rifles
Turkish Service Rifle Anti-Aircraft Volley Fire Techniques
A peculiar feature of recent Turkish Armed Forces (TAF, also Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri/TSK in Turkish) service rifles is a 21st century twist on the employment of small unit volley fire. To achieve this, TAF operational requirements have incorporated a rifle magazine-based schematic system that aids in low altitude anti-aircraft engagement procedures.
V21: Marwan the Iraqi Gunsmith
In the 21st episode of the Silah Report Podcast, an Iraqi gunsmith talks to us at length about his experiences in aesthetically converting a functional 7.62×39mm RPD Light Machine Gun into what could easily be mistaken for an FN Herstal Minimi, or the US-designated M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, 5.56×45mm light machine gun. He takes us on this journey of tinkering and acquiring spare parts, sometimes even carving items like the buttstock out of wood to make it appear to be a plastic one from afar.
Icon of a Movement: The Syrian ‘PKM’ Wooden Buttstock
The supply conditions of the ongoing Syrian Civil War set the stage for a necessity of improvisation and invention. Where there is low supply, there is high demand that reflects through inflated market prices for small arms and equipment. This equation lends itself to the iconic PKM-inspired YPG Kalashnikov wooden stock that can be seen in service throughout initially what was the YPG, YPJ, and later morphed into the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The stock itself comes from the Russian 7.62×54mmR general-purpose machine gun.
Ottoman Mauser 1903 Date and Serial Number Markings
Our investigation into the Ottoman Mauser 1903 began sometime after C&Rsenal shared an episode of their widely respected documentary series, which examines the small arms of the First World War, focused on the Ottoman rifle. The video explores the development history of the rifle and how the Ottoman Empire came to adopt it as their standard issue arm. It saw extensive use throughout the Italian-Turkish War (1911-12), the Balkan Wars (1912-13), the First World War (1914-18) and the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1924). In the 1930s many were rechambered to 7.92×57mm.
V20: Post Shot Show 2020 Episode
In this episode, Miles, Matthew Moss (historian, author and Silah Report’s Editor) and Nate (one of our great patrons) discussed a variety of interesting firearms and equipment they noticed in SHOT Show 2020.
V19: A Volunteer from the West in the YPG Part 1
In this amazing 19th episode of the Silah Report Podcast, we were joined by our guest Rizgar, a European who volunteered with the Kurdish YPG in 2016. He gave us some insight on his journey from being your everyday civilian in Europe to a fighter battling beside the Kurds on the frontlines against ISIS militants. He shares with us some fantastic pictures he took over there and his experience with fellow Kurdish comrades and Western volunteers.
Gun Market Trends in Iraq, Syria’s Idlib and Afrin and Yemen: mid January Browning M1919A4 and Iranian MP5
Welcome to the second instalment 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 13th January to 24th January 2020. The prices are average and are rounded up or down (for example 126=150, 124=100). If you missed our first instalment you can find it here.
V18: IDF Gear Review and Excalibur Grenade Launcher in Libya
In the 18th episode of Silah Report, our guest was IDF Gear Review, who enlightened us about small arms in Israel. He also shed light on some of the cultural aspects of the IDF. Miles spoke about his brief experience with one of the IDF units when he visited Israel recently. Finally, an extremely exotic grenade launcher found in Libya and following some research has been able to enlighten us about its origins.
V17: Smalls Arms in Kurdistan Region and the Local Laws
In the 17th episode of our podcast, we had a new guest from the Kurdistan region who was well versed in the small arms market in the region. The host for the episode was Adham and we had Miles, Daniel, Khyber Abdullah, Mick, our patron Nate and last but not least, our guest from Kurdistan, Rasty.