Turkish tradition behind Erdoğan’s NATO summit revolver gifts, manufacturer explains

The Gümüşay revolver, a Turkish-made firearm presented as a diplomatic gift to NATO summit guests in Ankara by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reflects a long-standing practice in Türkiye of giving symbolic weapons to foreign leaders, according to firearms manufacturer Şevki Yasin.

Yasin said the choice of the Gümüşay model was significant because it was produced entirely in Türkiye using domestic resources, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

Manufactured in limited quantities by the Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation (MKE), Türkiye’s state-owned defence company, the Gümüşay is described as the first Turkish-made revolver. The weapon is chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and can also fire .38 Special rounds.

“A revolver is a weapon that symbolises leadership; throughout history, it has been associated with power. Türkiye has a tradition of presenting firearms to foreign leaders. The choice of the Gümüşay revolver in this case is particularly significant, as it is manufactured entirely in Türkiye using domestic resources,” Yasin said.

Earlier reports by Politico said Erdoğan presented the revolvers to NATO summit guests in cases engraved with the recipients’ names, along with live ammunition and export permits issued by Türkiye. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa were among the officials who have received the gifts.

The presentation of the firearms has prompted legal discussions in several European countries, where regulations restrict or prohibit the import and possession of certain weapons.

By Sabina Mammadli