Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has revealed the unusual gift he received from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the recent NATO summit: a personalised .357 Magnum revolver engraved with his name and supplied with live ammunition.
Sharing the gift on Facebook, PM Péter Magyar described it as an unexpected souvenir from the gathering. According to Reuters, every participating head of state and government received the same commemorative firearm.
Rare collector’s item highlights Turkey’s defence industry
The revolver is a rare Gumusay model manufactured by Turkey’s state-owned arms producer MKE in the 1990s. Presented in a decorative box bearing both the Turkish flag and the NATO logo, the firearm is promoted as the first revolver produced in Turkey.
Reuters reported that the gifts were intended to showcase Turkey’s expanding defence industry, which has become an increasingly important export sector and a key instrument of the country’s foreign policy.
Turkish president presented personalised firearms to NATO leaders
Reactions among NATO leaders have varied widely. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever handed his revolver to police for safekeeping, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly plans to donate hers to a military museum. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer received not only the revolver but also a cleaning kit and 500 rounds of ammunition.
Today, the Gumusay is considered a rare collector’s piece, as Turkey now focuses primarily on manufacturing semi-automatic pistols.
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