Skip to content

Kurdish 12.7mm Zagros and 14.5mm Şer Anti-Materiel Rifles

Support Forgotten Weapons: http://www.patreon.com/ForgottenWeapons

Thanks to correspondent Ed Nash (he gave me permission to use his name after I had recorded the video), I have a number of really interesting photos and video clips of YPG (Kurdish) locally-produced anti-materiel rifles. Specifically, the Zagros 12.7mm rifle and the Şer Portative 14.5mm rifle. Both are made on a small serial production scale by the YPG using barrels from DShK and KPV machine guns. Tubular receivers and bolts are fitted to them, making effective single-shot rifles.

These photos are from the fall of 2015 and the summer of 2016. I am told that both types of gun were reliable and effective, and used substantially in combat against ISIS/Daesh, with their necessity decreasing after the YPG began receiving more air support from United States forces. These were not sniping rifles so much as anti-material rifle, used against walls, light armored vehicles (including VBIEDs), and other sorts of cover.

For more information on craft-built anti-materiel rifles, check these two posts:

http://armamentresearch.com/craft-produced-anti-materiel-rifles-and-light-cannon-in-yemen/

http://armamentresearch.com/syrian-rebels-produce-homemade-anti-materiel-rifles/

When the full ARES report on craft-produced and improvised weapons is published, it will be linked here.

Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! http://shop.bbtv.com/collections/forgotten-weapons

If you enjoy Forgotten Weapons, check out its sister channel, InRangeTV! http://www.youtube.com/InRangeTVShow

Leave a Reply