A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Man With the Golden Gun


According to the fighters who captured Qadhafi, the deposed Libyan leader was wielding a golden or gold-plated handgun when caught, shown in the AFP photo at left. (Yes, that's a New York Yankees cap.) Given Qadhafi's flamboyant dress styles, a gold-plated taste in personal defense weapons may seem logical, and as this Atlantic article notes, other gold weaponry was found in his compound in Tripoli. From the latter link, a closeup shot below.



Apparently, it's as a Browning Hi-Power, a 9mm weapon based closely on the classic US Army 1911 Colt .45, but chambered for 9mm. A classic weapon even without the gold plate or the portrait on the grip, which some are saying is supposed to be Qadhafi himself. (Hairdo looks wrong, though.)

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