Israel Weapon Industries' Jericho 941 40 S&W Part 1

The Jericho 941, Baby Eagle and Baby Desert Eagle are essentially the same firearm, a CZ 75 derivative autoloader, designed and manufactured in Israel by Israel Weapons Industries. The pistol has been manufactured and exported – imported around the world under various names and in various configurations since 1990.

Currently, Israel Weapons Industries markets this firearm as the Jericho 941 with a frame mounted thumb safety through its U.S. subsidiary. Kahr Arms’ Magnum Research group markets a slide mounted safety/decocker version as the Baby Desert Eagle III which is also sourced from Israel Weapons Industries.

The Jericho 941, even though sometimes marked as a Desert Eagle, does not share a design or piece parts with the large frame, gas assisted, rotating bolt Desert Eagle designed by Minnesota’s Magnum Research company. While the original Desert Eagle was initially contract manufactured by Israel Weapons Industries for Magnum Research, it is currently manufactured in Minnesota by Kahr Arms’ Magnum Research group. A case of common names, but two distinctly different firearms.

The Jericho 941 is produced in three configurations in addition to the subject pistol: Jericho PL – Full Size Polymer Frame in 9mm Luger and 40 S&W, Jericho PSL – Mid-Size Polymer in 9mm Luger and 40 S&W and the Jericho FS – Mid-Size Steel available in 9mm Luger, 40 S&W and 45 Auto. For further details regarding these models please visit the IWI US Inc. site.

Full size, steel, 40 S&W… Why? Why? Why?

An autoloader chambered for the 40 S&W was needed for ammo evaluation and for handload development, both efforts that require many shots to be fired. Some components of handload development can be done from a Ransom Rest, but not all as large quantities of shooting tend to eat up Ransom Rest inserts and clutches. Typically, we limit rest use to accuracy assessment and conduct velocity, penetration and function checking with gun in hand where a little heft is welcome. That said, the Jericho appears heavier than it scales. At 39 ounces empty it weighs no more than a full size, steel 1911 type and it is a very balanced.

In addition to recoil absorbing heft, the Jericho has a frame over slide rail system. The arrangement makes for a low profile slide that brings the gun’s bore centerline down closer to the hand which reduces muzzle climb and stress on the wrist. Finally, and perhaps my favorite attribute, the Jericho 941 has a full size grip and undercut trigger guard that places the hand closer to bore centerline and all fingers on the grip for improved control.

Left, the three dot, low profile sight system are easy to pick up against a target. Both sights are dovetail mounted to facilitate adjustment and service. Aftermarket Tritium, light pipe and adjustable sights are readily available to the extent they can be purchased even on Amazon. A Picatinny rail facilitates laser and light system mounting.

The long grip allows for increased magazine capacity without increasing grip width. Some of the pistol designs that incorporate a double or stagger stack magazine have very wide grips that put a trigger finger at an odd angle and pull the thumb far back and away from controls. Ten round magazines are also available where communist government rules.

Field stripping requires no tools and it is very easy to accomplish. Again the slide rides inside the frame rails for a very tight fit. The barrel lug cam is a closed design, a linkless connection to the slide stop. With the breech closed, the barrel is locked to the slide with two radial lug engagement. The Jericho’s trigger is double/single action for no reason I can see other than for double strike capability or for use with the slide mounted safety/decocker Baby Desert Eagle model where the hammer can be lowered and the pistol decocked over a chambered round.

I did read an article in a print magazine where the author indicted the Jericho’s stubby little hammer could be lowered to half cock or down on a loaded chamber and the pistol could be carried that way to utilize the double action feature of the pistol. While hammer down on a loaded chamber does appear in some other manufacturer’s double action pistol manuals, it does not apply to this firearm. There are no such recommendations from the manufacturer and no such reference appears in the pistol’s manual. The manufacturer states only cocked and locked with a loaded chamber or hammer down on an empty chamber and the gun’s hammer is a short stub making it less than ideal to manipulate. I may be conservative in firearm handling, but I do have all of my toes, I’ve not been party to an accidental firearm discharge and I have never had to apologize for being stupid in a firearm forum.

The Jericho 941 is either carried cocked and locked with a round in the chamber or with the hammer down on an empty chamber. In neither case is the double action trigger feature useful, which works out well as the double action pull is heavy and long, where as the single action trigger is light, short and crisp. Double action pull checked approximately 8 Lbs 2 Oz, Single action, 4 Lbs 10 Oz.. Double action stroke measured 0.750″ with the first 0.250″ take up. The active trigger travel had a good deal of creep. The single action pull measured only a bit more than 0.375″ with approximately a third of that distance being take up. The single action trigger broke cleanly.

Bottom side shows an integral Picatinny rail that serves to mount lights, pointers and grenade launchers… no, not really… maybe. Remembers CZ’s pistol bayonet accessory? Contrary to trend of the day in gun forums, the squared front trigger guard is really nice for two hand hold. The rise at the rear of the guard shifts the grip upward, into alignment with the trigger and closer to the bore centerline for better control over the firearm.

The Jericho is supplied with a hard case, two magazines, cleaning kit, lock, and a real manual. Holsters, recoil springs and rods, grips and other accessories listed for the Jericho 941 and/or Baby Desert Eagle are readily available through retail channels The Jericho 941 is backed by a 5 year, non-transferable warranty.

Shooting personality…

Several types of ammo were run through the Jericho, two defensive and three range loads. The defensive loads are typical, as are the target practice loads. For me, the choice was either 45 Auto or 40 S&W. I saw no reason to have a steel frame pistol of this type in 9mm Luger as the 40 S&W generates greater powder and I already own too many 45 Autos.

All of the ammo represented cycled the Jericho, locked it open on empty and fed properly. The pistol was really easy on wrists and hands, muzzle jump was minor and accuracy, I felt, was good. Quite a change from the too light, short gripped, muzzle climbing concealment firearms I’ve been shooting so frequently in recent times. In fact, even with subzero shooting bench temperatures, the Jericho was a pleasure to shoot. I know this is cliché, but the full size autoloader really did feel like an extension of my hand. The grip angle and size felt ideal, recoil was modest and report was lacking in “Good Grief!” muzzle blast.

There are a couple of things about the Jericho 941 I did not care for, both minor. The pistol’s  cartridge designations, barrel and slide, are stamped or laser cut with odd formatting; 40 S&W is scribed as 40S& W and there is no similar odd character spacing anywhere else on the pistol. It looks tacky on an otherwise nicely executed firearm. The Jericho’s hammer is stubby and oddly shaped, making it difficult to thumb even if the hammer is mostly cocked for disassembly. Minor.

The plan now is to work up handloads and expand the assessment of the pistol in follow on coverage. For me, the Jericho holds a lot of interest. It is all steel, it is not a striker and it is full size. It was entertaining to read gun forum scathing “reviews” of this pistol regarding its size and weight. It weights the same as any steel 1911, it is shorter than a 1911 and it is either the same height or a quarter inch taller with 12 round capacity. You know, the same 1911 that was carried in WW I and WW II, the war in Korea, the war in Vietnam and is still carried by our U.S. Marines.  Perhaps a little gym time?

Israel Weapon Industries’ Jericho 941 40 S&W Part 1
Feeding the Jericho 941 40 S&W Part II