The Tariq Semi Automatic Pistol,Originally in the 1970’s, the Iraqi Army used the Makarov pist

The Tariq Semi Automatic Pistol,Originally in the 1970’s, the Iraqi Army used the Makarov pistol, as most of their arms were supplied from the Soviet Union.  In 1980’s it was decided that the Iraqi military should switch to a 9mm Para handgun.  So in 1981 Iraq secured a contract to produce copies of the Italian Beretta Model 1951.  A quality weapon, the Beretta M1951 is a semi automatic pistol with a short recoil action, an eight round detachable magazine, and fixed sights.  The Tariq was an Iraqi made near identical copy, albeit one of significantly lower quality.  In most models, machining of the slide and barrel is sloppy.  Common problems were an offset barrel, and varying thickness in slide machining, all of which would have reduced accuracy and possibly compromised function.  Surprisingly, the right side of the slide is stamped in English “Tariq 9mm MADE IN IRAQ” while the left side is in Arabic.  Another unique feature is a nickel medallion embedded on both sides of the pistol’s grip, which depicts the bust of Tariq Ibn Ziyad, a Moorish general who conquered Spain in the 8th century.  Production of the Tariq pistol began in 1981, and became the official sidearm of the Iraqi Army and Republican Guard under Saddam Hussein. A number of gold plated presentation pieces were also made for Saddam as well as a number of other high ranking Iraqi officials. They were used extensively during Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War and later American invasion of Iraq. A number of examples were brought home as war trophies by American troops, most under legally questionable circumstances.  Production ended in 2003 after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime.  Today most sidearms of the Iraqi Army are modern European designs supplied by the United States.  Leftover Tariq pistols are now primarily used to arm Iraqi Police.  Many others are being used by Kurdish defense forces in their savage struggle against ISIS. -- source link

More pics about