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.
The Emblem of the Shiite Muqāwama: The Cold War’s Third Alternative
When designing a new flag or representative banner of any given social group, one of the most important pillars of vexillology (the study of flags) one should keep in mind is clarity. Any serious flag should at least be indicative of what it represents, and how the people brandishing it wish to be perceived by the outside world. A clueless spectator means failure in offering a sufficiently suggestive flag for the group’s representation to the public. A flag is an important attribute for any group, presenting a visual introduction and identification through colors, symbols and objects featured on the banner.
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.
Akdaş AK-40GL: Turkey’s New Underbarrel Grenade Launcher
In October 2019, the Turkish military announced that the first 500 units of the new 40×46SRmm Akdaş AK-40GL grenade launchers had completed delivery. A total of 8,000 units were ordered, with 2,500 additional launchers slated to be delivered very soon, according to the manufacturer. As with many contemporary, single-shot grenade launchers, AK-40GLs can be configured as a standalone unit with a stock and pistol grip. However, these launchers are primarily intended for use in conjunction the MPT-76 (7.62×51mm) and MPT-55 (5.56×45mm) series of self-loading rifles, produced for the Turkish military by MKEK, as an under barrel mounted system.
Notes on YPG/YPJ Precision Rifles from Ed Nash
Between June 2015 and July 2016, I volunteered with the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria, fighting against the so-called Islamic State in the first major counter-attacks against that entity which led to its defeat in 2019.
Iraqi Gun Market Trends: Early January – SIG Sauer M17 Handgun, NEA PDW-CCS
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.
A Lanchester Machine Carbine in Aleppo
Back in November, friend of Silah Report and frequent author Analyst Mick, shared some photos of a British World War Two-era submachine gun, a Lanchester Machine Carbine. The photos placed the venerable submachine for sale in the Syrian-regime held city of Aleppo. The Lanchester was Britain’s first submachine gun, with plans for its production put in place just before the development of the STEN gun.
Black Aluminum in Cloth: Syrian M16/M4 Fabric Wraps
A phenomenon that has been observed with YPG/YPJ Fighters in recent years has been the practice of wrapping service rifles with fitted fabric. The extent to which rifles have been fitted goes from small pieces that might just cover the magazine or handguard to full-length covers that can sometimes enclose the entire rifle. The reason behind these wraps range from a sort of camouflage to a purely aesthetic venture. In this part of a series of posts looking at the trend we will examine the wraps seen on M16/M4-pattern rifles. You can find part one of this series here.
‘Delta Defence Group’ Part Two: The Rifle
This is the second part of the two-part series on the firearms of the ‘Delta Defence Group’ a firearms manufacturer which has proven difficult to trace the origins off. Check out the first part about the “Delta Defence Group” Pistol.