The Arab Republic of Egypt, located on the northeastern corner of Africa, has an area of 385,229 sq. mi. (1,1001,450 sq. km.) and a population of 62.4 million. Capital: Cairo. Although Egypt is an almost rainless expanse of desert, its economy is predominantly agricultural. Cotton, rice and petroleum are exported. Other main sources of income are revenues from the Suez Canal, remittances of Egyptian workers abroad and tourism.
Egyptian history dates back to about 3000 B.C. when the empire was established by uniting the upper and lower kingdoms. Following its ‘Golden Age’ (16th to 13th centuries B.C.), Egypt was conquered by Persia (525 B.C.) and Alexander the Great (332 B.C.). The Ptolemies, descended from one of Alexander’s generals, ruled until the suicide of Cleopatra (30 B.C.) when Egypt became the private domain of the Roman emperor, and subsequently part of the Byzantine world. Various Muslim dynasties ruled Egypt from 641 on, including Ayyubid Sultans to 1250 and Mamluks to 1517, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, interrupted by the occupation of Napoleon (1798-1801). A semi-independent dynasty was founded by Muhammad Ali in 1805 which lasted until 1952. Turkish rule became increasingly casual, permitting Great Britain to inject its influence by purchasing shares in the Suez Canal. British troops occupied Egypt in 1882, becoming the de facto rulers. On Dec. 14, 1914, Egypt was made a protectorate of Britain. British occupation ended on Feb. 28, 1922, when Egypt became a sovereign, independent kingdom. The monarchy was abolished and a republic proclaimed on June 18, 1953.
On Feb. 1, 1958, Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic. Yemen joined on March 8 in an association known as the United Arab States. Syria withdrew from the United Arab Republic on Sept. 29, 1961, and on Dec. 26 Egypt dissolved its ties with Yemen in the United Arab States. On Sept. 2, 1971, Egypt finally shed the name United Arab Republic in favor of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Helwan
Egyptian made copy of the Beretta Model 1951. Chambered for 9mm. 4.5-inch barrel. 8-round magazine. Fixed sights. Weight is about 31 oz. Many Helwans have been imported commercially to the U.S. See Italy, Beretta 1951.
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
300 |
250 |
175 |
125 |
Port Said
This is a copy of the Swedish K. Chambered for 9mm Parabellum. The barrel is 8.25 inches in length. Weight is about 8 lbs. Rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute.
Pre-1968
Exc. |
V.G. |
Fair |
12500 |
8000 |
5000 |
Pre-1986 manufacture with new receiver
Exc. |
V.G. |
Fair |
7500 |
5000 |
3500 |
Remington Rolling Block Model 1870
Made by Remington for Egypt. 60,000 were purchased between 1870-1876. Chambered for 11.43×50Rmm. Identified by the Farsi markings on the barrel and rear sight. Many have been imported to the U.S. Some were used as training rifles and had the firing pins and extractors missing. Usually found in Fair-Poor condition.
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
700 |
550 |
300 |
175 |
Fabrique National Model 1949 or SAFN 49
A gas-operated semi-automatic rifle chambered for 7.92mm. It has a 23-inch barrel and military-type sights. The fixed magazine holds 10 rounds. Egyptian crest on top of receiver.
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
850 |
650 |
450 |
300 |
NOTE: Many Egyptian FN 1949s were restocked and reblued by Century Arms in the early 1990s. The new stock is a light colored wood that is stained to resemble walnut. Brass or plastic buttplate. Deduct 25 percent for a restocked rifle.
Bayonet for Egyptian FN 1949
FN made bayonet with Farsi numbers on the pommel. See listing in Belgium, Fabrique National for information and image. Price range 75 – 40.
Hakim
A semi-automatic rifle chambered in 8×57mm Mauser. It has a 24-inch barrel that ends with a large recoil compensator. 10-round detachable magazine. This is a copy of the Swedish AG-42b rifle and was designed with the help of Swedish engineers. Made at the Maadi factory. Many were imported in the late 1980s.
Bayonet for Hakim
Egyptian-made Hakim rifle
Rashid
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
550 |
450 |
400 |
300 |
Hakim Training Rifle .22LR
A semi-automatic rifle chambered in .22LR that is patterned after the Hakim. Marked “Made in Italy.” A few came in with the regular Hakims.
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
600 |
500 |
400 |
300 |
Bayonet for Hakim
Wood handle. Muzzle ring. 8.25-inch double edge blade. A close copy of the Swedish 1896 Mauser bayonet except for the wood handle. Steel scabbard. Price range 80 – 40.
Rashid
This is a native Egyptian design, basically a scaled-down Hakim chambered in 7.62×39mm. It uses a 10-round detachable magazine. A folding bayonet is attached to the barrel, similar to the Soviet SKS. About 8000 were made in the 1960s. Some were imported to the U.S. in the 1990s.
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
850 |
650 |
450 |
350 |
AKM
Maadi semi-automatic, pre-1994
A close copy of the Soviet AKM series. Chambered in 7.62×39mm. Two semi-automatic versions have been imported to the U.S. One was the first semi-automatic Kalashnikov offered on the U.S. market. These appeared in the early 1980s and were imported by Steyr.
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
1500 |
1250 |
1000 |
— |
Maadi semi-automatic, sporter
The second was imported after passage of the 1994 “assault weapons” law and had a thumbhole sporter type stock installed to comply with the terms of that law. The importer called these the MISR (Maadi Industries Sporting Rifle).
Exc. |
V.G. |
Good |
Fair |
850 |
600 |
500 |
— |
Maadi semi-automatic, sporter