Service Weapons Seen Overseas

[country boy marksman]

In Nicaragua (Chinandega "province/state thingy") about six years ago:

Nicaraguan military and police: LOTS of regular and under-folding stock AK's (somewhere I have a picture of me holding one with a group of Corinto city police officers), 12 guage shotguns (if I remember correctly, Mossberg 500's), and a smattering of Beretta M9's, Glocks, and 1911's.

There were some other LEO's that had different uniforms (I don't know wether it was just a different agency of if they were "private security types") that had had Smith and Wesson revolvers.

I went into a gun shop there, and though smaller, it looked very similar to here, without the "assault" rifles (though I'm sure they could be had if you looked hard enough), and less handguns.

 

[Konstantin835]

In Greece I saw a ton of police (During last summers protests/riots) with MP-5s, USPs and occasionally G3s. The Evzones or honor guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier had M1 Garands.

 

[bubba15301]

honduran police - Fals and uzis

 

[TexasBill]

Rohrschach Police (Canton St. Gallen, Switzerland): SIG P210 (this was a number of years ago) in holster very similar to those used by the Germans in WWII. The holster wasn't attached to a belt: it was carried crossdraw on a strap that that went over the strongside shoulder.

Geneva Police: Browning High-Power.

Frankfort Police: Walther
Zoll (Customs) H&K

 

[NoirFan]

In Beijing, the regular police only carry a radio and sometimes a baton. Then you have the SWAT-type armored police who are sometimes deployed to guard random street corners by establishing a presence. They have tactical 870-looking shotguns (I assume a Norinco clone) and some kind of bullpup, I think the QBZ-95. I couldn't make out the sidearm because I didn't want to stare at those guys for too long. On a related note, Beijing has a LOT of little stores which sell nothing but gun accessories. Red dot sights, scopes, holsters, etc. I was surprised to find this in a country where NOBODY can own a gun. One of these shopkeepers told me that a lot of people just like to collect modern military-style stuff.

In Yunnan province in South China the police don't carry guns either, but I saw one cop walking a foot beat with an honest-to-god six-foot bo staff. It kind of makes sense that in a gunless society, a long staff trumps all other hand weapons.

In Johannesburg I think I saw a cop carrying - and this was only for a moment so I can't be sure - one of those old 'Thumper' grenade launchers from the Vietnam War. South Africa is a rough place.

 

[merlinfire]

Sorry, I know that's off topic, but this is hilarious

MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front)

 

[merlinfire]

On a related note, Beijing has a LOT of little stores which sell nothing but gun accessories. Red dot sights, scopes, holsters, etc. I was surprised to find this in a country where NOBODY can own a gun. One of these shopkeepers told me that a lot of people just like to collect modern military-style stuff.

That is not at all what I would have expected.

 

[jaysouth]

The last time I was in Bhangkok in 2001, the brown mice(municipal police) bought their own pistols. I saw everything from PPKs to s 6 inch Model 28 and everything in between.

A couple of years ago, I was in Torreon, North of Mexico city. Judgiing by the markings on the vehicles and uniforms, there were at least five police agencies patrolling this small town. The most common seen handgun was a Smith Model 64.

In Hesse in 2005, The state police(the only kind they gave in Germany) were carrying Sig p-6s in American style leather. Around town centers, the airport and the train stations, you would see a few carrying fixed stock MP-5s. The one's carrying the subguns were wearing armored vests over their uniforms. Private security at my daughter's apartment complex were carrying M-10 heavy barrel 38s.

About the same time frame cops patrolling the town center in Vienna were carrying Glock 17s. Interesting to note that each of them was wearing American style leather with a basic leatherman pouch positioned right in the middle of the back of the belt where they tell you not to wear anything to prevent spinal injury.

 

[NoirFan]

That is not at all what I would have expected.

Me too. One storekeeper got really excited when he found out I was from the US. He asked if I had ever been to SHOT Show.

I forgot to mention, my father served as a munitions officer in the Taiwanese army when he was younger, and he said they carried a mix of American-donated M14s and M16s. The M14 was heavy to carry but he preferred it to the M16, because the latter would explode if you got water into the barrel (easy to do in humid Taiwan).

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

While in the Merchant Marine I was in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in the 80's. This was right at the start of the war there and there had been some bombings of buildings and an airliner.
Took a walk around and went past the presidential palace grounds where I remember seeing some nervous looking gate guards in fancy red uniforms carrying old bolt action rifles.
I thought that it was odd considering what was going on but then some movement inside the grounds caught my eye and I saw the what looked like an M-60 manned by serious looking soldiers in camo.
I guess the guys at the gate were the decoys...

 

[Mk VII]

French customs agents at Caen-Ouistreham, still with S&W Mod.10s

 

[7thCavScout]

My wife and I where in Ireland last summer and saw the The Irish Defence Forces (Army) providing security for a bank transfer. All the soldiers where armed with Steyr AUG A1. Side arm for NCO's appeared to be HK USP.

 

[Larry E]

A couple of security guys at Gatwick airport were armed with L85 bullpups, body armor, and enough spare mags for combat. Can't remember if they were carrying sidearms as well, but from the looks I got as I watched them walk by I gathered they didn't appreciate my looking.

In Rome the carabinieri and city cops were carrying pistols in fully enclosed holsters that I never got close enough so see what they were.

 

[tekarra]

Nigeria Mobile Police (Mopol) just about anything and everything you can imagine from sawed off single shot shotguns to AK47s to FALs and everything in between.

 

[kayak-man]

San Jose, Costa Rica - Two policemen buying groceries. Both had kevlar vests and holstered pistols (I want to say they were GLOCKS, but I don't really remember) One was carrying two bags of groceries, the other had an UZI.

Mexico/US Border - Mexican Marine (His Kevlar vest was in spanish, so...) M16 with an undermounted M203. I was very excited, and thought about asking to take a picture with him.

Tijuana, Mexico - Saw lots of SAWs, AKs, M4s, M16, and a couple M14s in the hands of the Police(?)

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[Ignition Override]

NoirFan:

I've read a number of stories about how dangerous it is in some South African cities. Many citizens are well-armed.

Off topic, but a guy there walked into a gun shop and the staff was destroying old Enfield and Bren rifles. He could not believe that such senseless destruction of bolt-action rifles was deemed necessary. The report was second-hand, on "Gunboards".

Maybe the money came from those UN or British/European funds to help keep any surplus guns away from warlords and potential child warriors (i.e. Monrovia etc).

kayak-man: Some of the countries' police seem to have such a mix of rifle calibers in the same towns, that this could be a serious handicap during a major firefight or other emergency?

 

[buck1032]

I pulled duty while on a port call in Lamut, Malaysia and the Malaysian Army had Styer AUG's. The sad/funny part is after about 6 hours on duty with that guy he asked if I could get him some porn and he would trade me his AUG. I didnt have anything to trade as i didnt "collect" adult rading material. LOL About the only time I wish I had a sash of the stuff. LOL

 

[bruzer]

I am under the impression that Glock supplies the WORLD with pistols. Strange that only 3 people have seen them so far. I was really expecting more Glock sightings.
On a trip around Mexico there were lots and lots of M-16's carried by Police at the Ports. Don't know what the sidearms where.
Mike

 

[25cschaefer]

My first sight of Korea was a policeman standing infront of the gate; black beret, body armour and aviators, carrying a super short Daewoo K1 and a Daewoo 51 pistol. He had mags hanging from every place you could fit one. I got a picture with a couple of them but can't for the life of me find it. They never smile, never.

 

[TexasBill]

Italian cops generally carry Berettas (surprise!): 92s for the Carabinieri, state police and some city forces, 8000, 84 or 85 for other city cops. Some special forces use Glocks. Haven't seen anything about them using the PX4 Storm though it has been adopted by Portugal's security police.