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Rasheed / Rashid rifle (Egypt)

Rasheed rifle, left side

Caliber: 7,62x39 mm
Action: Gas operated, tilting bolt
Overall length: 1035 mm / 40,7"
Barrel length: 520 mm / 20,5"
Weight: 4,2 kg / 9,25 lbs
Magazine capacity: 10 rounds

Rasheed rifle (or, more properly, a carbine; also sometimes spelled as Rashid) is a further development of Egyptian Hakim rifle, scaled down to accept significantly less powerful 7,62x39 Soviet ammunition, and slightly modified with introduction of the separate cocking handle and integral folding bayonet. Only about 8 000 of Rasheed carbines were apparently produced in Egypt during sixties. It seems that most of these guns were later sold for export as surplus.

Rasheed carbine is gas operated, semi-automatic only, magazine fed rifle. It uses direct-impingement gas system developed in Sweden by Erik Eklund. Locking is achieved by tipping the rear of the bolt down and into the recess in receiver. Cocking of the bolt is provided by separate bolt handle which is installed on the right side of receiver and does not move when gun is fired. Manual safety is located at the rear of receiver, above the stock. Feed is from detachable box magazine that holds 10 rounds, although the rifle is fitted with bolt hold-open device and can be reloaded using stripper clips with magazine in place. Sights are of open type, with range-adjustable u-notch rear (optimistically marked up to 1000 meters) and protected front.  A non-detachable, folding-down bayonet is patterned after Soviet SKS carbine.

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