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Ok, This is an unusual find, and ended up in Australian hands, ha! It was presented to our GEN Cantwell from US Forces in Baghdad, and GEN Cantwell will present this to the AWM for display in the near future sometime.
This Tabuk is Iraqi made, or parts made in Iraq anyways, but either way, its assembled in Iraq on Yugoslavian machinery. There is much Yugoslavian influence throughout the country, usually in the form of plant equipmetn and infrastructure. Prior to the fall of the regime, Yugoslavian citizens had free reign in Iraq, not even requireing a visa, adn could work/live as required.
She (the Kalashnikov) was mint, handled, but never fired, and gold plated, and I mean gold! Every single part was dipped, all except the rate reducer.
Op rod, extractor, firing pin, hammer trigger, etc! Even the mag follower and the inside of the magazine.
The furniture was unique too, with gold embossed lettering which said (transalted) 'A gift from the President, The Great Leader of the People, Saddam Hussein', then who it was presented to.
So where is this now? It is safe in Australia.
Upon departure for Australia, myself and the Army Histroy Unit rep from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra went through our captured stuff. I had every single item catalogued with its historical significance/history related to us. Everything, also what was to be destroyed too, as we had some crap also.
I had already made the cull on what would be suitsable for the AWM collection, had the tags given to me by the rep, so this along with other weapons will go to the museum, and be on display I am told within 10 months.
No, none of this stuff will be de-activated, it will all be 'goers'.
Anyways, enjoy the pics, and sorry for my feet in the pics.
More pics to follow.
Cheers,
Wes
This Tabuk is Iraqi made, or parts made in Iraq anyways, but either way, its assembled in Iraq on Yugoslavian machinery. There is much Yugoslavian influence throughout the country, usually in the form of plant equipmetn and infrastructure. Prior to the fall of the regime, Yugoslavian citizens had free reign in Iraq, not even requireing a visa, adn could work/live as required.
She (the Kalashnikov) was mint, handled, but never fired, and gold plated, and I mean gold! Every single part was dipped, all except the rate reducer.
Op rod, extractor, firing pin, hammer trigger, etc! Even the mag follower and the inside of the magazine.
The furniture was unique too, with gold embossed lettering which said (transalted) 'A gift from the President, The Great Leader of the People, Saddam Hussein', then who it was presented to.
So where is this now? It is safe in Australia.
Upon departure for Australia, myself and the Army Histroy Unit rep from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra went through our captured stuff. I had every single item catalogued with its historical significance/history related to us. Everything, also what was to be destroyed too, as we had some crap also.
I had already made the cull on what would be suitsable for the AWM collection, had the tags given to me by the rep, so this along with other weapons will go to the museum, and be on display I am told within 10 months.
No, none of this stuff will be de-activated, it will all be 'goers'.
Anyways, enjoy the pics, and sorry for my feet in the pics.
More pics to follow.
Cheers,
Wes