Gold plated AK104 assault rifle

Gold-plated AK104 assault rifle with magazine and folding stock. It has a black plastic pistol grip. The wooden hand guard has arabic writing on the lower right side which is believed to translate as, 'A GIFT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, MR SADDAM HUSSEIN'. Adjacent is a gold-plated disc showing the national emblem of Iraq which features an eagle and shield. The right-hand side of the receiver is stamped with safety and select-fire markings. The barrel is considerably shorter than a full size AKM style weapon and has with the fore sight directly attached to the gas piston housing, rather than to the barrel. The receiver cover is stamped, '6000347'.

This rifle, an Iraqi manufactured version of the Kalashnikov AKM, was part of a cache of gold-plated weapons uncovered by personnel of the 101st Air Assault Division in operations in the city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq. The rifles were believed to have been issued to units responsible for the personal protection of Saddam Hussein. This rifle was presented to the Australian Army by the American forces. It may have been used at public events by Saddam Hussein's palace guards, and up to 200 of the rifles are thought to have been manufactured.