MatthewVanitas
Member
I've been meaning to compile a random list of firearms-related comments that I've heard while working in Iraq. Part of my past work has involved collecting confiscated weapons for re-issue to Iraqi security units. (I'll stave off the obvious cheap-shots by pointing out that we have to trust somebody, and the bad guys will get AKs anywhere they want them anyway.) Of course, for a THR member, rifling through roomfulls of random weapons is hardly what I'd call "work". It's also given me an excuse to work some weapons-related smalltalk into my conversations with Iraqis.
The folks I mainly talked to recently have all been Bedouins. I'm still a little unclear on the subject, but as it's explained to me, the term "Bedouin" just refers to an Arab who lives in the desert and practices a traditional desert lifestyle. So it's not necessarily an ethnic designation, but more a matter of attitude. Kind of like "cowboy", one supposes.
In any case:
BEDOUINS AND PISTOLS: The overwhelming choice of the Bedouin elite appears to be the Browning Highpower. This one threw me for a loop for a little bit, since when you transcribe "Browning" into Arabic and then back into Latin letters, you get "Brounik". I've also seen a scattering of European 9mm pistols, particularly Llama and Star. I also once ran across a very slick little DA/SA .380 of Arab make called a "Tariq" or suchlike, named after the general who invaded Spain in the 700's. The cheap pistol of the middle classes and boondock beat-cops appears to be the Tokarev. The only revolver I've seen is a S&W 36 (last year in Baghdad, not in the Bedouin areas), though some Border Guards I've talked to have made reference to having old Webleys lying around somewhere. These days, lots of Iraqis are being equipped with Glocks (I believe the G19). The Bedouins I've talked to, even the more educated ones, seem very unfamiliar with Glocks, and ambivalent to the Glock reputation, aside from the simple fact that they're pleased to be issued a brand new pistol. Most aren't even quite sure what to call it: when I inquired after their new Glocks, a local mayor said "The what? Oh, you mean those Austrian pistols, or Australian, or something, right? Yeah, those are fine." Marines have repeatedly tried telling Iraqis that they would rather carry a Glock than an M9 Beretta, but I'm not sure they believe our sincerity. As previously mentioned, the Arabic word for "pistol" is "mussadas", meaning "shape of six" or "hexagon". Despite the origin, the word is used interchangeably for revolvers and automatics.
BEDOUINS AND SHOTGUNS: Seen a fair number of shotguns here, exclusively single-shot. Mostly break-actions (either Russian, H&R, or unlabeled), and one Martini falling-block. Bedouins like them for shooting wild dogs that threaten their sheep, and presumably for menacing sheep rustlers. Random linguistic fact: the Iraqi term for shotgun is "kisriya", meaning "it breaks", referring to the break-action receiver. I thought it'd be more interesting if the name referred to the dispersal of shot pellets, but our translators have overruled me.
BEDOUINS AND BOLTGUNS: Seen a few boltguns confiscated: lots of Mausers. Oddly enough, mainly German rifles with Nazi proofs, rather than the Turkish Mausers I expected. Also seen some P-14 Enfields (but oddly enough, no SMLE or No. 4 Enfields), and, astonishingly, several 1895 Steyr-Mannlicher straight-pulls. No Moisin Nagants, to my great surprise. The Bedouins I work with refer to boltguns interchangeably as "Bruno". I can only assume this is some reference to the BRNO factory in the Czech republic. I asked if they knew the name Enfield; none did, but they did say they were vaguely familiar with the "English rifle".
BEDOUINS AND AKs: Amongst those I've met, the AK-47 or AKM is the most popular firearm amoung Bedouins, nomadic and town-dweller alike. A lot of the nomads tend to remove the buttstocks. I am unclear as to whether this is for mere convenience, or to better allow them to conceal the rifle under saddle-blankets, etc. to prevent confiscation. The Iraqi policemen and soldiers recruited from the Bedouin areas deride this practice, saying that it makes the AK innaccurate. The preferred model for police and soldiers (by which I refer to the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, not the New Iraqi Army) is the metal underfolder AK. They feel it combines the portability of a stockless with the stability of a stocked rifle, which seems reasonable. The forward pistol-grip for the AK is also highly regarded. Leather slings are also favored. They call the AK "kalashnikov", and frequently refer to it as a "rashashat", the delightfully onomatopoetic term for a machinegun. However, I have heard Iraqis correct themselves and say "well, it's more a rifle than a machinegun".
BEDOUINS AND MACHINEGUNS: I've run across RPKs, RPDs (Degateryev LMG, takes linked 7.62x39mm), and PKs. For reasons unknown to me, the Iraqis call the PK "pee-kay-see". The PK is held in very high regard, with the RPK being considered a poor cousin. I am heartily sick of being asked on a regular basis "have you confiscated any pee-kay-sees to give to us?"
BEDOUINS AND OTHER AUTO-RIFLES: I've encountered some debate regarding the SKS. The Iraqis refer to these rifles (logically) as the "siminov". When I told the local police that we'd confiscated some SKS, and offered to turn them over to their armory, they rolled their eyes and exclaimed "Siminovs? Back when we rode donkeys we carried Siminovs! We'll just take the Kalashnikov, thanks". However, when I made the same offer to some border guards, their officer seemed thrilled: "Siminovs? Heck yes, bring them on down! I'd rather have a Siminov than an AK, it's more accurate". I have also seen Dragunovs and G3 ripoffs in the confiscation room, as well as a lone Czech VZ52 in 7.62x45mm (good luck finding ammo for that). I am unclear as to what opinion the Bedouins have of the M16, but they don't tend to get involved in the current struggles, so they have less oportunity for firsthand experience.
In any case, thought some folks might find some random observations amusing. It gives me a good subject to make smalltalk about when killing time and drinking tea with a 3/1 sugar ratio. If anyone else has any similar experiences, whether with Bedouins, Montagnards, Colombians, or anyone else that plays on the block, I'm always glad to hear anyone's stories. Take much care, -MV
The folks I mainly talked to recently have all been Bedouins. I'm still a little unclear on the subject, but as it's explained to me, the term "Bedouin" just refers to an Arab who lives in the desert and practices a traditional desert lifestyle. So it's not necessarily an ethnic designation, but more a matter of attitude. Kind of like "cowboy", one supposes.
In any case:
BEDOUINS AND PISTOLS: The overwhelming choice of the Bedouin elite appears to be the Browning Highpower. This one threw me for a loop for a little bit, since when you transcribe "Browning" into Arabic and then back into Latin letters, you get "Brounik". I've also seen a scattering of European 9mm pistols, particularly Llama and Star. I also once ran across a very slick little DA/SA .380 of Arab make called a "Tariq" or suchlike, named after the general who invaded Spain in the 700's. The cheap pistol of the middle classes and boondock beat-cops appears to be the Tokarev. The only revolver I've seen is a S&W 36 (last year in Baghdad, not in the Bedouin areas), though some Border Guards I've talked to have made reference to having old Webleys lying around somewhere. These days, lots of Iraqis are being equipped with Glocks (I believe the G19). The Bedouins I've talked to, even the more educated ones, seem very unfamiliar with Glocks, and ambivalent to the Glock reputation, aside from the simple fact that they're pleased to be issued a brand new pistol. Most aren't even quite sure what to call it: when I inquired after their new Glocks, a local mayor said "The what? Oh, you mean those Austrian pistols, or Australian, or something, right? Yeah, those are fine." Marines have repeatedly tried telling Iraqis that they would rather carry a Glock than an M9 Beretta, but I'm not sure they believe our sincerity. As previously mentioned, the Arabic word for "pistol" is "mussadas", meaning "shape of six" or "hexagon". Despite the origin, the word is used interchangeably for revolvers and automatics.
BEDOUINS AND SHOTGUNS: Seen a fair number of shotguns here, exclusively single-shot. Mostly break-actions (either Russian, H&R, or unlabeled), and one Martini falling-block. Bedouins like them for shooting wild dogs that threaten their sheep, and presumably for menacing sheep rustlers. Random linguistic fact: the Iraqi term for shotgun is "kisriya", meaning "it breaks", referring to the break-action receiver. I thought it'd be more interesting if the name referred to the dispersal of shot pellets, but our translators have overruled me.
BEDOUINS AND BOLTGUNS: Seen a few boltguns confiscated: lots of Mausers. Oddly enough, mainly German rifles with Nazi proofs, rather than the Turkish Mausers I expected. Also seen some P-14 Enfields (but oddly enough, no SMLE or No. 4 Enfields), and, astonishingly, several 1895 Steyr-Mannlicher straight-pulls. No Moisin Nagants, to my great surprise. The Bedouins I work with refer to boltguns interchangeably as "Bruno". I can only assume this is some reference to the BRNO factory in the Czech republic. I asked if they knew the name Enfield; none did, but they did say they were vaguely familiar with the "English rifle".
BEDOUINS AND AKs: Amongst those I've met, the AK-47 or AKM is the most popular firearm amoung Bedouins, nomadic and town-dweller alike. A lot of the nomads tend to remove the buttstocks. I am unclear as to whether this is for mere convenience, or to better allow them to conceal the rifle under saddle-blankets, etc. to prevent confiscation. The Iraqi policemen and soldiers recruited from the Bedouin areas deride this practice, saying that it makes the AK innaccurate. The preferred model for police and soldiers (by which I refer to the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, not the New Iraqi Army) is the metal underfolder AK. They feel it combines the portability of a stockless with the stability of a stocked rifle, which seems reasonable. The forward pistol-grip for the AK is also highly regarded. Leather slings are also favored. They call the AK "kalashnikov", and frequently refer to it as a "rashashat", the delightfully onomatopoetic term for a machinegun. However, I have heard Iraqis correct themselves and say "well, it's more a rifle than a machinegun".
BEDOUINS AND MACHINEGUNS: I've run across RPKs, RPDs (Degateryev LMG, takes linked 7.62x39mm), and PKs. For reasons unknown to me, the Iraqis call the PK "pee-kay-see". The PK is held in very high regard, with the RPK being considered a poor cousin. I am heartily sick of being asked on a regular basis "have you confiscated any pee-kay-sees to give to us?"
BEDOUINS AND OTHER AUTO-RIFLES: I've encountered some debate regarding the SKS. The Iraqis refer to these rifles (logically) as the "siminov". When I told the local police that we'd confiscated some SKS, and offered to turn them over to their armory, they rolled their eyes and exclaimed "Siminovs? Back when we rode donkeys we carried Siminovs! We'll just take the Kalashnikov, thanks". However, when I made the same offer to some border guards, their officer seemed thrilled: "Siminovs? Heck yes, bring them on down! I'd rather have a Siminov than an AK, it's more accurate". I have also seen Dragunovs and G3 ripoffs in the confiscation room, as well as a lone Czech VZ52 in 7.62x45mm (good luck finding ammo for that). I am unclear as to what opinion the Bedouins have of the M16, but they don't tend to get involved in the current struggles, so they have less oportunity for firsthand experience.
In any case, thought some folks might find some random observations amusing. It gives me a good subject to make smalltalk about when killing time and drinking tea with a 3/1 sugar ratio. If anyone else has any similar experiences, whether with Bedouins, Montagnards, Colombians, or anyone else that plays on the block, I'm always glad to hear anyone's stories. Take much care, -MV
