Rasheed Carbine

Factory 54 (Maadi Company for Engineering Industries) · Carbine · Discontinued · 1960

Also known as: Rasheed, Rashid, Rashid Carbine

Overview

The Rasheed is an Egyptian semi-automatic carbine chambered in 7.62x39mm. A scaled-down development of the Hakim rifle, itself a license-built derivative of the Swedish Ljungman AG-42, the Rasheed adopted the Soviet intermediate cartridge and a 10-round detachable box magazine. It uses a direct gas impingement, gas-operated action and features a folding AK-pattern bayonet. Roughly 8,000 were produced at Egypt's state factories around 1960 before more modern designs superseded it.

Specifications

Weight (empty)4190 g (147.8 oz)
Overall Length1035 mm (40.75")
Barrel Length520 mm (20.47")
Action TypeGas Operated Direct Impingement
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Stage
Magazine Capacity10 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Muzzle Velocity710 m/s (2329 fps)
Muzzle Energy2010 J (1482 ft·lbf)
Effective Range300 m (328 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Service history

Operators

Production

Estimated total produced: 8,000 · Production years: 1960-1961

Produced in small numbers at Egyptian state factories; superseded by more modern designs

Origin

Country of origin: Egypt

Discontinued: 1961

Notes

Production was very limited, with only about 8,000 examples made, making the Rasheed a sought-after collector's item. It is mechanically simpler and lighter than the Hakim from which it was derived.

Background

The Rasheed was the third in a family of Egyptian Ljungman-derived self-loaders, following the full-power Hakim. By chambering the Soviet 7.62x39mm cartridge it bridged Egypt's transition from Swedish-pattern battle rifles toward Soviet-bloc small arms such as the AK-pattern Maadi rifles.