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“See you space cowboy,” – My friend the weeb. Listen, I don’t love anime, but anime delivered me a Jericho 941 pistol through a convoluted path. Well, it helped provide the review. My friend is a fan of Cowboy Bebop, where the main character wields a Jericho pistol. He’s enough of a fan of that show — and of guns — that he purchased a Jericho pistol, and kindly let me borrow it for this review.

As a CZ 75 fan, the Jericho series of pistols have always interested me. Like many, the Israelis sought to copy the famed CZ 75 series as they produced domestic firearms. The Jericho 941 series uses the DA/SA action and utilizes CZ 75 magazines. The Jericho series serves in both police and security roles in Israel and has also been exported in significant numbers.

Made in Israel (Travis Pike for TTAG)

At the cost of some ammo, I was happy to borrow this model for test and review. This particular model comes from IWI and is an older import gun. The Jericho series of firearms is a bit odd for a number of reasons. First, there are various models of the Jericho in different configurations with a variety of different names that do not always correspond to the different configurations.

The Weird World of the Jericho 941

The Jericho 941 moniker exists because original Jericho pistols were imported in 9mm and a new caliber called 41 Action Express.

Users could convert their IWI Jericho 941 pistols to 41 Action Express with little effort. 41 Action Express came to be right around the time the 10mm and 40 S&W crazes kicked off. It was a hot little cartridge that didn’t last long. These days the conversion kits and ammo go for a premium when found. These days the Jericho pistols come in all major calibers, and mine is a 9mm variant.

It’s undoubtedly one of the finest looking pistols out there (Travis Pike for TTAG)

IWI sought to capitalize on the famed Desert Eagle name, and in the form of real-life SEO, they labeled Jericho pistols as Desert Eagles, and this model wears the Desert Eagle moniker. Other Jerichos are known as the Baby Eagle and the Uzi Eagle, but they are all the same gun. Jericho pistols come in a variety of sizes, including full size, compact, and subcompact. This is a full-sized model.

Other Jerichos feature polymer frames and the current crop of polymer frame Jerichos are made in Israel but sold by Magnum Research. Magnum Research also sells a steel frame model.

An example of the Polymer Jerichos

The Bul Storm and Cherokee are Jericho pistols by another name as well. As you can see, lots of people produce lots of Jerichos in various configurations. Heck, someone made a single 40 S&W variant that was Glock 19 size for one reason or another. If yours is different from mine, it’s to be expected.

Is Second Place Okay?

Personally, to me, this is the second-best Jericho 941 pistol on the market. The current production IWI pistols are the best models. They feature a steel frame, a rail, and a frame-mounted safety. Second best isn’t bad, and ultimately this is a rather nice pistol.

I just prefer the frame safety (Travis Pike for TTAG)

This particular model wears a rail and a slide-mounted safety, as well as its all metal frame. Original Jericho’s lacked a rail and utilized a frame-mounted safety. I think the polymer frame pistols look terrible, and the simplistic steel frame gives the gun an elegant look. That being said, the polymer frame guns reportedly perform very well.

Ergonomics

The steel frame Jericho 941 is a beast weight-wise, and according to my kitchen scale it weighs 37 ounces unloaded. The CZ 75 inspired grip is absolutely wonderful and fits my hand perfectly. The massive beavertail allows for a nice high grip, and the gun’s rather thick but comfy. The simple rubber grips don’t add much traction to the gun, but it works well enough.

The thick grip makes it quite a reach to the gun’s magazine release. My big hands make it work, but I’m betting those with average to small hands will struggle.

It’s a big, heavy gun, but heavy is good (Travis Pike for TTAG)

Like the CZ 75, the Jericho’s slide is mounted inside the frame, and therefore the slide is quite small. Like the CZ 75, this can make it tricky to rack the pistol and put it into action if you’re used to the big slides most pistols pack.

The slide-mounted safety isn’t the most ergonomic option for one-handed manipulations or small hands. This safety also doubles as a decocker and allows you to manipulate the slide with the safety on. Personally, I’d just carry safety off, hammer down if this was my gun.

Admittedly the slide-mounted safety works nicely when combined with the tiny slide. That ambidextrous safety provides wings to make working the slide a bit easier. Speaking of, the slide of the Jericho 941 glides rearward wonderfully. Like it’s on ball bearings, and it’s a very enjoyable experience.

To The Range With the Jericho 941

Since it takes CZ 75 magazines, it’s easy to find compatible options. From 26 round extended to the more tame 15, 17, and 19 rounders. The gun came with a 15 round magazine, but every CZ 75 option I had fit and functioned fine. At the range, I started with some slow fire to familiarize myself.

Recoil on the Jericho 941 is extremely pleasant. It barely moves rearward with minimal muzzle rise. The smaller slide means less mass racing back at you, so this creates less felt recoil. Also, the over two pounds of steel helps take some bite out of the 124 grain 9mm we were blasting off with. This particular model had a well-worn trigger that was also best described as pleasant.

A smooth trigger made the gun ultra comfortable, however, the Florida sun makes everything miserable. (Travis Pike for TTAG)

The double-action trigger was surprisingly light. It’s not custom good, but close to it, almost like the Ruger LCR type trigger. It’s better than my CZ 75.

Oh man, the single action is brilliant. Super light, really touchy, but ultimately very nice. It’s 1911-like with the main difference being a slightly longer reset.

As you’d imagine, the light trigger and low recoil made this gun very pleasant to fire rapidly and also very easy to fire rapidly and accurately. Accuracy wise we were initially concerned the gun kept hitting far to the left, too far to be a slight skill mistake at ten yards. After an examination, we realized the previous owner drove the rear sight quite far to the left.

You can trace the Kentucky Windage applied as we shot (Travis Pike for TTAG)

With a little Kentucky windage, we figured it out, and I dropped a nice headshot group at 25 yards. It’s plenty accurate, and it makes me want to get a Jericho 941 and mill it for an optic.

Hmm, maybe this is the problem (Travis Pike for TTAG)

Ticking Away

Between the two of us, we dumped 600 rounds through the gun as we baked in the hot Florida sun. It was all FMJ. He brought an ammo can that was a bit of a hodgepodge of ammo, and I brought 124 grain Browning value packs. The gun and both of us got nice and hot, but it never mattered. Even with ProMag brand CZ 75 magazines, it ran fine.

The only issue came from a round clearly seated too far into the case. We took it out of the ammo can and knew it might be an issue. As you’d imagine, it didn’t feed, so we moved on. Ultimately my friend was quite pleased with his Jericho 941 purchase, and now it’s driven me to want my own. However, I plan to get the latest production model and wear that trigger in myself.

Pew, pew it was a fun and reliable gun to shoot. (Travis Pike for TTAG)

It’s a fantastic pistol that’s sadly underrated in a polymer frame marketplace. If you like the CZ 75 style pistol, then you’ll like the Jericho 941 series of pistols. If you’re a DA/SA fan, then you’ll like these guns. If you’re a striker-fired fella or gal, then it’s not gonna be the pistol to convince you to fix yourself.

Specifications: 

Caliber – 9mm
Weight – 37 ounces
Length – 8.2 inches
Barrel Length – 4.4 inches
Capacity – 16 rounds
MSRP – $655.00 (New models form IWI)

Ratings (Out of Five Stars)

Accuracy * * * * 
It’s an easy shooting gun, and it’s easy to get rounds where you want them to be consistently and with speed. It’s no Czechmate, but for a duty-grade pistol, the Jericho 941 provides plenty in the accuracy department. (Although my friend needs a sight pusher.)

Ergonomics * * * 
For me, the ergonomics are perfectly suitable. I have big hands, though, and even then, some of the controls feel a little far to reach. Also, not a huge fan of slide-mounted safety.

Reliability * * * * *
Not a single reason to hate on it. Even with a variety of mags from a variety of companies, it fed, fired, and functioned without issue.

Overall * * * * 
I really enjoyed this pistol. I’m the “gun guy” in my friend group, so I handle a variety of pistols purchased by friends. This has been the first time one has driven me to go on the prowl for my own variant. Now I just gotta navigate the weird world of Jericho pistols.

 

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32 COMMENTS

  1. I thought these were the “baby eagles.” That said I thought I’ve also seen em surplus at a time for good prices. Always wanted one (and a Hi Power) but haven’t ever gotten there. Other purchases and all that. Only got 2 hands, so a few dozen handguns doesn’t do much for me. Maybe one will walk in the door one day…..

    • Depends on when you got them. Mine is a “Desert Eagle.” Others are marked “Baby Eagle” or “Uzi Eagle.”

  2. My memory sure ain’t what it used to be, but I’d swear when I was in the business back in the 90’s the Jericho and Magnum Research Eagle pistols were made by Israeli Military Industries (IMI)- I don’t recall it being IWI. Is my memory… upside down?

    • Someone else’s comment on another site: “IWI was formerly the small arms division of IMI. It is now it’s own separate company.”

  3. I really want a Jericho for a lot of reasons.
    Sadly I live in Kommifornia
    The Comrades don’t like freedom.

  4. You’re gonna carry that weight…literally 🙂 Bebop’s IMFDB page is a pretty fun read…the attention to detail in that show was amazing.

    Thanks for the review. I hate slide safeties, but those are still sharp pistols.

  5. Interesting walk this evening. My neighborhood sits between two Liberal Arts colleges. The campuses are about one mile apart. Our house is surrounded by the homes of college professors, instructors, Deans, students, and other college critters. It is a beautiful neighborhood, with tree-lined streets and several well-kept parks.

    Recently, I have been open carrying rather than concealed. Just because.

    This evening, as we walked opposite Muhlenberg College, a guy talking to his neighbor pointed to me and said loudly “Open carry! I love it”.

    A little while later, a guy in a shiney, brown F-150 pulled along side us, stopped, and said “I am glad to see you are not taking chances”. He gave us the ‘thumbs-up’ and drove off.

    Like I said, sandwiched between two liberal arts colleges and surrounded by college critters. Yet, the Pennsylvania still shows through.

    • About ten days ago I had a pizza delivered (Papa John’s) and the young delivery guy was open carrying. Looked like a k-frame revolver on a nearly full cop-style duty belt with speed loader pouches and everything.vThis is Western North Carolina, so no one bats an eye, but still….

  6. I’ve been very close to buying a Jericho many times. I think it’s the steel frame that gets my attention. I just find myself gravitating more toward Berettas and CZ’s.

    Maybe one day…

    • nice. the compact variant is steel, the p-01 alloy framed. good carry 9’s. the full size is sorta large to tote.
      how’s geoff doin’ with that 2075rami?

      • P-01 is same size as g 19 but to me is much more pleasant to shoot. Bought it new about 5ish years ago, never kept a round count but the only malfs have been totally ammo related. All were reloads that weren’t resized properly. My guess is 3500-4000 rds. Eats all hollow points no problem.

  7. Like it. Other than the slide safety. I prefer the cz75 clones with a frame safety like the one depicted on the polymer pistol you have shown. Like a BUL storm, or EAA witness/tanfoglio. Or even a tristar p120 or Canik.

  8. Looks to me a hell of a lot more like a 1980s Tanfoglio TZ-75 than anything else.

    But what the hell do I know.

    That thing is not more made in Israel than my cat is. That thing is made by some guy named Vito.

  9. Noice! Not sure which variant it was, but I had the opportunity to shoot a Jericho pistol in .45 acp a few years back, and it was a sweet shooter indeed. If I had the $ to amass a collection instead of sticking to a limited, CCW-driven pistol inventory, one of these in 9mm would be near the top of the list.

  10. I’ve got a 941F I picked up as a surplus Israeli Police trade-in. Cleaned a considerable amount of schmutz out of it, removed the lanyard loop, and replaced the grips with some Hogue G10. Shoots great, and accepts Mec-Gar aftermarket CZ 75B mags. It might not quite have the looks of the slide-mounted ambi-safety, but I much prefer the frame placement.

  11. Have owned a 45 for years best ever ,will eat everything it’s fed , can not say this about other
    pistols. I HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAL. FROM A 32, to 44mg. the 941 my favorite.
    shooting from 12yr, 78, what a sport Dems want as fer back as I can remember,but
    we have to stop this communists agenda to destruction of AMERICAN .
    IF you like to shoot 941 is the one to get..

  12. FYI, the models with the frame mounted safety do not have a decocker. The models with the slide mounted safety do have a decocker.

  13. I have an IWI 941. Super fine gun. Frame mounted safety.
    I dont use the safety, I carry it on the half cock.
    A real joy to shoot.

  14. Trying to determine whether mine is the ML-19593 or the ML-19595 due to wanting some after market sights. Lost my bill of sale years ago and don’t know how else to find out. Anyone have any insight?

  15. Your article is wrong.
    First the Jericho is a copy of a Tanfoglio model (with parts, and design/build support from Italy), which in turn is a copy of the CZ-75.

    Second, the sizes are Full Size, Mid-Size, and Compact, not Full-Size, Compact, and Sub-Compact.

    You should probably do a little research before blathering out an article for the world to see.

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