Gaddafi's golden Browning
 

Whereabouts apparently known.

Interesting that when the end came that's what Gaddafi was carrying.
Seems like he would had access to plenty of other weapons.

A cliche ending for a cliche dictator.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35466077

A great article...Does anyone have any knowledge of what happened to the pistol that was carried by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein at the time of his capture?

I have heard stories that it was brought back to the USA and presented to President George W. Bush by the commander of the unit that made the capture, but have never had any confirmation of that story... :confused:

The man had good taste in TYPE of handgun......the gold is a bit much for me. Nice engraving. A true pimp gun, but likely worth a ton!!

There is a very good change that it actually isn't an FN Hipower, but a Hungarian made FEG copy. FN was not allowed to deliver to Libya for a long time, due to the status as a 'Rogue state'.

A Glock? Practical sure, but hardly memorable. :)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sadda...ry?id=12567141


Do the FEG's have an ambi safety? Looks like a MKIII to me.

Probably not factory engraved either way.

I'm pretty sure the President of Libya could have obtained a Browning High Power, should he have so desired. I agree that it is a MKIII, with the ambi safety. FEGs do not have ambi safeties, that I have seen.
The sad part is that the pistol will eventually be lost to history, as the recent photos show much wear from being carried often. Someone of the profile of the owner will eventually be bumped off and the pistol will disappear into the sands.

Here are a left and right view of the Mauser Model 80 SA, which was also made by FEG and a straight copy of the FN.

FEG even produced FN clones with the FN trademarks on the slide for sales in the Middle East. This took place before 1991, in the old Eastern-Block years.

I have owned several FEGs over the years, including a Mauser marked example. I always found the moving parts a bit gritty and the fit and finish somewhat lacking, compared to the FN examples. Still, since I paid a fraction of what an FN HP costs, I could not complain.

Neat, I didn't know FEG made a Mauser-branded model.

Article with photo:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2...-power-pistol/

http://www.thewire.com/global/2011/1...en-guns/43938/

http://cdn.theatlanticwire.com/img/u...20PM_thumb.png

That thing sure looks like a Browning product. It even has old John Moses face in it. And also has lhe late safety.

Sadam had a series of AK-47s plated in gold. He would give them as gifts to special friends. At least one made it back to the US and belongs to the military's collection, probably Army. It was on display at DIA after the war. And I bet it ends up in the new US Army museum now under construction.
http://www.wired.com/2007/10/best-war-booty/