Articles – Page 34 – Silah Report

Type 1, 2 Kalashnikovs Spotted

February 21, 2017 by Miles

This photograph recently appeared on the social media account of a Kalashnikov aficionado, showing both a Type 1 and Type 2 Ak47 (not AKM) featured in the photograph. The Type 1 and Type 2 are exceedingly rare today, having been taken over by the much more produced AKM and associated variants across the world.

This was taken in Helmand province, Afghanistan by a contractor based there, probably in the Kajaki district. His testimony to this photograph is as follows-

I took that pic in Helmand Province, Afghanistan while I was there between 2012-2014. We had 7 or 8 Type I’s, 6 of which were issued to local national security force members we were mentoring. There were maybe 5-6 Type II’s including one that I estimated had less than 500 rounds through it (the underside of the trigger and disconnector still had cosmoline on it, and the auto sear and other internal parts still showed 99% blued finish with ZERO signs of wear.

The Type 1 is easily recognizable by the curved trunnion, while the Type 2 is identified by the square depression above the magazine, on the receiver. The Type II is a stamped receiver, while the AKM, Type I and Hungarian AMD65 above them are stamped.

Much Thanks to Buck T. for the input on this post!

Iraq Spotlight: STG44 & MP40 Pair

February 20, 2017 by Miles

Recently coming out of Baghdad are these images of a very well worn down German STG44 and what comparatively appears to be a less used 9x19mm MP40 submachine gun. There were not any close up photographs of the internals of the small arms so it is hard to ascertain what year in WWII either was made in.

STG44s have been reported in abundance in neighboring Syria, often arming Daesh troops in Raqqa. There is even an inside report on these rifles by a source in Syria from TFB. The largest issue with them is that 7.62x33mm Kurz is extremely hard to come by, although the rifles themselves are very plentiful and in like new condition.

Notice on the MP40 the grip sleeve. These are used on a number of handguns in Iraq and is actually an Airsoft import from China. They come in a number of colors, from green to tan, to black.

Dostum’s Krinks

February 19, 2017 by Miles

The AKS74U “Krinkov” has gained a cult-like following in Afghanistan, dating back to the high status of the carbine in the Mujahideen’s fight against the Soviet Union. Because it was mostly helicopter and armored BMP crews that were issued it, capturing one from a downed helicopter gave tangible evidence to Afghan fighters that they had achieved a battlefield success. In 1981 a Krinkov could be bought for the price of four “Dhushka” heavy machine guns in the gun markets of Dharra Adam Khel.

Today we see the Krinkov alive and well, arming Uzbek General Rashid Dustom’s (now Vice President) security detail. The photographs below are a compilation of instances in which we see Dustom in public with his armed escort, in addition to some photographs of his son at the front with him. The presence of the Krinkov among his security force is both as an effective close range weapon but also is portraying an image of high status and power among all who see him.

Notice the PSD member in suit with the Krinkov, and how he appears in a number of these other photographs. Warlords, Generals, and Government figures in Afghanistan and Iraq usually have a very narrow circle with whom they can trust and depend because of the nature of their work. This circle of trust is especially small when it comes to their security detail, as these members are fully armed and have an intimate knowledge of their client. Many times in the past, assassinations of major figures have come from these men precisely because of that, dating back to ancient times as well. Whomever this man is, Dustom must have much faith in his abilities, in addition to being fully able to trust him.

This photograph is particularly interesting because it shows a modified AkS74u, with Trijicon ACOG, attached flashlight, and what appears to be a picatinny section replacing the handrails.

Iranian M9-02 Handgun Introduced

February 17, 2017 by Miles

Recent news from The Firearm Blog show Iran’s state ran small arms company introducing a new striker fired, polymer framed handgun. The name of the handgun appears to be M9-02 as marked on the slide and it is in 9x19mm NATO. It appears to be very similar to a Walther P99 in dimension and operation. Connections to the P99 might come from Turkey as we know that Iran has a strategic and business friendship with Turkey. From a small arms perspective, at the very same defense exposition these handguns were revealed at, Iran’s newest assault rifle was seen with a Turkish Safir AR magazine inserted on Silah Report. That being said, Turkish company Canik has produced a locally copied version of the P99 as the Canik 55 TP-9. This American blogger has put together an excellent comparison of a Walther P99 and the Canik 55 TP-9, showing the massive similarities.

From TFB-

It appears to be a polymer framed, striker fired, 9x19mm handgun, with much inspiration drawn from a Walter P99 through the method of disassembly and overall shape of the frame. The magazine appears to have an added capacity floor plate, leading me to assume that another magazine is available with a flush fit option. It seems to lack a manual safety, usually a requirement for military handguns, and it appears to have night sights by way of white dots embedded in them. Whether these sights light up at night through the use of tritium or another substance is unclear at this moment.

Iran is going through a substantial rearmament and redesign of a number of weapon systems, to include the primary issue rifle, taking on an AR15 appearance. Earlier, Iran produced a Glock-like handgun called the Raa’d (Thunderbolt), but this appears to have not been adopted in any substantial numbers or at all.

This image shows the differences and similarities between the Walther P99 and the Canik 55 TP-9

AR70s in Iraq

February 17, 2017 by Miles

Images gained from Iraqi social media groups have indicated the transfer and usage of 5.56x45mm NATO Beretta AR70s. Specifically there has been one rifle spotted with the Shi’a Al-Abbas Brigade. The Al-Abbas Brigade was originally formed in Syria in 2012 but after heavy losses with Daesh moved to Iraq in 2014.

Some of these AR70s appear to have been modified with Airsoft picatinny rail handgun systems to provide a picatinny interface. The Italian rifle never received an upgrade to a picatinny system having been replaced by Beretta’s ARX-160 instead. The rail in the title photograph looks to be a very common AR Airsoft rail coming out of China with the oval vents, very similar to many handguards from UTG. However the example below might be one of the Daniel Defense fakes with the 12 o’clock gas tube vents actually installed at the 6 o’clock position. Both examples show an M16A4 handguard mounted to a rail section that covers the top portion of the rifle, leading S.R. to believe that they might originate from the same source or small arms market.

Safir AR Magazines in use by Peshmerga, Iran

February 13, 2017 by Miles

Safir Arms is a Turkish firearms company that primarily produces .410 AR clones. However, the company debuted a 5.56x45mm NATO AR magazine in 2014 along with a bullpup rifle under the name T-14 that shared a number of AR components. The rifle never seemed to have advanced past a prototype stage, but the magazine design included was turned into a manufacturing run. Currently it is listed on the company’s website and in the catalog. The listed magazine and bullpup rifle appear below along with a modular adaption of an AR rifle.

Unlike similar polymer magazines such as Magpul’s Pmag and ProMag’s signature polymer magazine, the Safir Arms version has four columns along the side of the magazine, in addition to a ribbed portion that sits below the magazine well of an AR when inserted. Observe the differences in the photographs of the Magpul and Promag-

However, recently the same magazine design has appeared in usage with certain Peshmerga forces, specifically security forces armed with NEA Arms PDWs in Kurdistan. In addition it also appeared in a recent Iranian defense weapons exposition in Tehran. Whether or not the magazine has been copied by the Iranians and being manufactured locally is unknown at this point in time.

With the Peshmerga in the ARES post-

And at the Iranian exposition-

FP’s Take on Malhama Tactical

February 10, 2017 by Miles

Malhama Tactical has been covered through numerous defense and small arms websites recently but this is the first time the print magazine Foreign Policy has ran an article on its unique guns for hire status. The group is led by an Uzbek fighter, who appears to have had some previous military training at an enlisted level.

From FP-

The group’s leader is a 24-year-old from Uzbekistan who goes by the name Abu Rofiq (an Arabic pseudonym that means father of Rofiq). Little is known about him other than that he cycles through personal social media accounts rapidly, using fake names and false information to throw off surveillance efforts. In virtually every video and photo posted online, he wears a scarf or balaclava to cover his face from the nose down, leaving visible only his narrow dark eyes and long, somewhat tangled, pitch-black hair. He speaks fluent Russian, but with a slight Uzbek accent.

Since launching in May 2016, Malhama has grown to do brisk business in Syria, having been contracted to fight, and provide training and other battlefield consulting, alongside groups like the al Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as the Nusra Front) and the Turkistan Islamic Party, a Uighur extremist group from China’s restive Xinjiang province. And despite recent rebel setbacks in Syria, including the loss of Aleppo, demand for Malhama Tactical’s services in the country is as strong as ever, Abu Rofiq told Foreign Policy in an interview conducted over the messaging app Telegram.

But he is also beginning to think about expanding elsewhere. His group is willing to take work, Abu Rofiq says, wherever Sunni Muslims are oppressed. He cites China and Myanmar as places that would benefit from jihad. He also suggests that Malhama Tactical might go back to its roots, returning to fight in the North Caucasus against the Russian government.

The group’s videos do show a certain degree of tactical proficiency, but lack the finesse that comes with being an NCO, such as this video covering casualty aid under fire. The casualty is assessed and treated, but there is very little respect to security being provided.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OxLah2rgMM