Thoughts on the Jericho 941/ Baby Eagle?

[American1776]

I have a IWI Desert Eagle / Jericho 941 Compact 9mm. It’s all steel with 3.6 inch barrel and 12 round magazine. It’s the same dimensions as a Glock 19, and a little more svelte than a SIG P229. It has polygonal rifling (which is mirror finish, and shows all the small imperfections of the bore). It’s made in Israel and appears to be solidly built.

It fits pretty well in a SIG P229 leather thumbbreak holster. About the same weight loaded as my Beretta M9, but much more compact. Here it is next to my S&W 649 for size reference.

Does anyone have an informed opinion on the reliability and long term service life of these pistols? I like the looks and ergonomics. Seems to be a good alternative to a SIG or Beretta.

 

[Alk8944]

It is basically an Israeli clone of the Czech CZ75. Doesn't get much better.

 

[ShivasIrons]

No personal experience, but IWI makes a quality product. I expect this pistol would be no different.

 

[colt_saa]

The 941 has been around for two or three decades now.

They have proven themselves to be a quality variation on the CZ75 design

Even though the 41AE ammunition is hard to find these days, 9MM is plentiful if you are not a hand loader

 

[lifesizepotato]

Decent enough but the grip always feels oddly small to me. A more standard CZ75-pattern fits my hands better.

 

[k22fan]

American1776,
Meaning no offense, why ask me to speculate on how your gun shoots for you. Instead I'll make you a deal. You tell me how tight your Jerico 941 9MM groups at a certain distance and how reliable it is the I'll tell you the same about my CZ 85. An 85 is just a 75 with ambidextrous safeties. Until them I'll only say that if you expect no parts interchangeability between CZ 75 clones from different manufacturers you will rarely be disappointed.

 

[stansdds]

As far as I know, these pistols start as parts made by Tanfoglio and receive final machining, finishing and assembly in Israel. They are basically the now discontinued FIE/EAA TA-90 pistols. I don't know if the current 941 is still based on the small frame or if they adopted the large frame version as EAA has done.

 

[bananaman]

I have 1 in .40. It has not been fired much. Was purchased as an-issued service gun. They are hard to beat. My son has 1 in 45ACP. He calls it "His Baby".

 

[Derosa]

I have had a IWI 941, semi compact, military surplus for years. It came slighty used, finish worn from being carried and little else for wear. I have fired thousands of rounds of cheap steel case, aluminum case and brass case, 9mm, with ZERO issues. It feeds and fires everything. I have had ZERO malfunctions. I bought CZ 75 mags and they function perfectly. Also, I have owned Tanfoglio and CZ pistols and find IWI easily on par or better. The only downside would be after market support, but, I am sure CZ fans here can offer locations for ways to spend your money. Go shoot and enjoy.

 

[American1776]

I have had a IWI 941, semi compact, military surplus for years. It came slighty used, finish worn from being carried and little else for wear. I have fired thousands of rounds of cheap steel case, aluminum case and brass case, 9mm, with ZERO issues. It feeds and fires everything. I have had ZERO malfunctions. I bought CZ 75 mags and they function perfectly. Also, I have owned Tanfoglio and CZ pistols and find IWI easily on par or better. The only downside would be after market support, but, I am sure CZ fans here can offer locations for ways to spend your money. Go shoot and enjoy.

Thanks for that report on your experience. Seems like it's as durable and reliable as the original CZ's. Battle worthy like a CZ, Sig, or Beretta.

 

[colt_saa]

Thanks for that report on your experience. Seems like it's as durable and reliable as the original CZ's. Battle worthy like a CZ, Sig, or Beretta.

Absolutely it is.

The 941 has been (or still is) the duty sidearm of both the IDF and IDF Special Forces

I think a couple of countries adopted it as well, I just can not recall which ones. It was in the late 1990s or early 2000s after all

 

[LVSteve]

I have the fullsize version in 9mm. After using the 16 rounds on the miscreants in your home, you can step outside and beat their horses to death with it and risk no damage. This and the Star 30M define the term "all steel 9mm beast".

 

[ISCS Yoda]

It is basically an Israeli clone of the Czech CZ75. Doesn't get much better.

A couple of years ago I took a close "quarter pistol craft" class. The instructor was from Australia, police background/counter-terrorism, etc., and he did not have a personal gun with him. I had more than one gun with me so he glommed onto my SIG SP-2022 (since sold, but that's a different story). He stated that the only guns he liked to carry were SIGs, CZs, and Jerichos.

I guess that's a pretty good recommendation.

Also, a good friend of mine, veteran of the IDF, when he became eligible as a citizen to buy a handgun, first handgun he bought was the one he knew best - a Jericho.

 

[American1776]

A couple of years ago I took a close "quarter pistol craft" class. The instructor was from Australia, police background/counter-terrorism, etc., and he did not have a personal gun with him. I had more than one gun with me so he glommed onto my SIG SP-2022 (since sold, but that's a different story). He stated that the only guns he liked to carry were SIGs, CZs, and Jerichos.

I guess that's a pretty good recommendation.

Also, a good friend of mine, veteran of the IDF, when he became eligible as a citizen to buy a handgun, first handgun he bought was the one he knew best - a Jericho.

Thanks for sharing that experience. Seems that there are plenty of pistols that aren't at all popular in the US but are very commonplace in Europe. The Jericho seems to be one of them.

I must say, the price is right too. One does not need to pay SIG or HK prices to get a combat proven, all metal, high performing pistol. These can be had, new in box, for about half the price that SIG and HK are charging these days.