I know they are hard to find, sometimes you can get them online, but I've always wanted one. My friends tell me it is just silly and to get a full size Desert Eagle but I feel like the Baby Eagle has a legitimate chance of being a carry pistol. So what are your thoughts or experience with them? I also want to get one in 40S&W, is it a good platform for that caliber?
Baby Desert Eagle Thoughts?
- Thread starter RiponP90
- Start date
Independent George
New member
The full-size Desert Eagle is primarily a novelty gun that will likely remain in your safe for a few years, barely fired, before you decide to sell it to finance something more practical.
The Baby Eagle is a CZ-pattern pistol that looks good, is fun to shoot, can fill multiple roles, and is half the price to buy or shoot compared with the full Deagle. They're being imported again by IWI as the Jericho 941 (which I've always thought was a far better name). I have no experience with the .40, but the 9mm is a fine shooter.
The Baby Eagle is a CZ-pattern pistol that looks good, is fun to shoot, can fill multiple roles, and is half the price to buy or shoot compared with the full Deagle. They're being imported again by IWI as the Jericho 941 (which I've always thought was a far better name). I have no experience with the .40, but the 9mm is a fine shooter.
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I have a baby eagle clone that is a complete joy to shoot. 6,000 rounds down the pipe without a single misfire. Very ergonomic gun allows fast recovery for follow up shots. Its the Canik T-120 in desert tan ceracote. (Also sold as the Canik Shark.) Buds has them for under $400.
Here's the link. Price is $394.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...-120+Pistol+9mm+4.7"+17+1+Black+Polymer+Grips
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...-120+Pistol+9mm+4.7"+17+1+Black+Polymer+Grips
Independent George
New member
This gets a little confusing, so for clarification:
1. Magnum Research sells the Baby Eagle, which is a re-branded Jericho 941 (which is now imported once more by IWI). Both are patterned after the CZ-75, with some minor design changes here and there.
2. The Baby Eagle has only cosmetic similarities to the Desert Eagle. They use two completely different operating systems, as you'd expect given the rounds they are chambered for.
3. Both the Baby Eagle and the Jericho are available in polymer frames at different sizes, and can be chambered in .40.
1. Magnum Research sells the Baby Eagle, which is a re-branded Jericho 941 (which is now imported once more by IWI). Both are patterned after the CZ-75, with some minor design changes here and there.
2. The Baby Eagle has only cosmetic similarities to the Desert Eagle. They use two completely different operating systems, as you'd expect given the rounds they are chambered for.
3. Both the Baby Eagle and the Jericho are available in polymer frames at different sizes, and can be chambered in .40.
The IWI / IMI made Jericho pistols are outstanding weapons. Reliable, sturdy, accurate and with excellent ergonomics, the Jericho is a true fighting tool.
The metal frame models are heavier than the plastic frame ones. In my opinion, with the right gear and mindset both can be easily carry concealed. They are not intended for pocket carry, though.
The Jericho 941 is not a CZ75 "clone". Like the CZ 75, it has been designed based on the Charles Petter's Modèle 1935A pistol concept.
Magnum Research is curently importing the "Baby Desert Eagle III". It is made in Israel by BUL, know for its high quality products,. BUL had very little exposer to the US market. I have no idea how similar it is to the IWI made Jericho 941.
You can buy them at BUDS (http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_38/products_id/2468), Davidson's (http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?pg=mfg&mfg=Magnum+Research), and probably many other sites on line, or at your LGS.
Magnum Reserach web link: https://www.magnumresearch.com/Baby-Desert-Eagle-III.asp
IWI USA imports the "Jericho 941". It is made in Israel by IWI, former Israel Military Industry (IMI). IMI designed the original Jericho for the .41AE caliber. The Jericho 941 will withstand the .40 S&W with no problems.
You can find them at BUDS, Davidson's, etc.
Link to IWI USA webpage: https://www.iwi.us/Jericho.aspx
The metal frame models are heavier than the plastic frame ones. In my opinion, with the right gear and mindset both can be easily carry concealed. They are not intended for pocket carry, though.
The Jericho 941 is not a CZ75 "clone". Like the CZ 75, it has been designed based on the Charles Petter's Modèle 1935A pistol concept.
Magnum Research is curently importing the "Baby Desert Eagle III". It is made in Israel by BUL, know for its high quality products,. BUL had very little exposer to the US market. I have no idea how similar it is to the IWI made Jericho 941.
You can buy them at BUDS (http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_38/products_id/2468), Davidson's (http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?pg=mfg&mfg=Magnum+Research), and probably many other sites on line, or at your LGS.
Magnum Reserach web link: https://www.magnumresearch.com/Baby-Desert-Eagle-III.asp
IWI USA imports the "Jericho 941". It is made in Israel by IWI, former Israel Military Industry (IMI). IMI designed the original Jericho for the .41AE caliber. The Jericho 941 will withstand the .40 S&W with no problems.
You can find them at BUDS, Davidson's, etc.
Link to IWI USA webpage: https://www.iwi.us/Jericho.aspx
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g.willikers
New member
CZs and the popular clones do not necessarily share common parts.
Out of curiosity, a couple of friends wanted to see what parts their 9mm full sized guns had in common.
One owned a genuine CZ, and the other owned a clone
Plenty of the parts were not interchangeable.
Just a thought.
carguychris
New member
Just a minor note re: terminology...
IMHO the term "clone" implies that a gun is a true copy with all or at least most parts being interchangeable, perhaps with minor hand fitment. OTOH the term "type" implies that the guns are broadly similar in configuration, controls, and operation, but are not truly the same internally.
Just my $0.02.
This debate reminds me why I generally refer to IWIs, BULs, Caniks, SARs, Tanfoglios, etc. as "CZ 75 type" pistols rather than CZ 75 "clones".g.willikers said:
IMHO the term "clone" implies that a gun is a true copy with all or at least most parts being interchangeable, perhaps with minor hand fitment. OTOH the term "type" implies that the guns are broadly similar in configuration, controls, and operation, but are not truly the same internally.
Just my $0.02.
Walt Sherrill
New member
35HP said:
About the ONLY THING that any of the CZ-pattern guns (and the Jericho is one of them) have in common with the Modèle 1935A, is a slide riding inside the frame. Everything else about the CZ-pattern guns (which includes guns made in China, Italy, Israel, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, and Turkey) is dramatically different and far more complex than the Modèle 1935A. They're all DA/SA as opposed to SA, use double-stack mags, and have frames and slides designed to handle more-robust 9x19 rounds. The ergonomics are also quite different!
Even the SIG P-210 which was loosely based on Model 1935A features (they bought rights to the design), used a much-different fire control system design and was also built around both the 9x19 round and the 7.65x21 rounds, rather the the less powerful 7.65x20 round of the 1935A.
While IWI/IMI went to a polymer frame on the model shown), it's still basically a CZ -- but one with only a few parts that will interchange with the gun upon which its design was based. As you said, it's definitely NOT a clone, but I don't think there are any CZ clones except, perhaps, the NORINCO version, which you can't get in the U.S. If you download the Jericho manual, you'll see that most of the internal parts seem quite similar to those found in typical CZ-pattern guns. They've just added metal frame inserts; those inserts and the slide keep things locked together when the breech is closed. The Jericho also has the typical (older) CZ barrel and slide design with barrel lugs and the oval underlug.
The newer CZs (40B, 97B, P-07, P-09) and the Sphinx pistols have moved to a SIG-like lockup design (no lungs on top of the barrel) and a few have SIG-like barrel under lugs. As best I can tell, the guns based on the Tanfoglio version of the CZ pattern, thus far, have stuck with the tried-and-true original CZ design approach to barrel/slide lockup.
The metal-framed Baby Desert Eagle was originally based on the Tanfoglio version of the CZ design and used Tanfoglio-made parts. I think IWI (or IMI) then bought the right (from Tanfoglio) to make their own versions. Some claim the metal-framed Baby Eagles have better ergonomics than the CZ, upon which it was modeled. The metal ones were nice guns. I would expect the polymer-framed ones to be nice guns, too. I've shot one or two, but didn't really notice a difference.
That slide-inside-the-frame design was also used by Star for some of their models. (The Firestars and Firestar Plus models that I owned had that feature.)
I've seen no evidence that this particular technical feature does much to improve performance, arguably because Slide/Frame fit just doesn't contribute as much to a gun's overall accuracy/precision as other design features, such as consistent lockup and barrel/slide fit. A good trigger doesn't make a gun more accurate, but it can make it easier for the shooter to handle the gun well.
The SIG-P210 (I had a 210-6) has amazing accuracy, but it was (or is, like the X-Five series of SIGs), in effect, a factory-made custom gun, with a lot of attention given to hand-fitting parts. (My P-210-6 came with a proof target showing a 1.75" group at 50 meters [roughly 55 yards.] I don't think I could see a bullseye at 50 meters, but some can.) While the many CZs I've owned were accurate, as were the Stars and Firestars, they weren't anything like the P-210. And most bullseye guns, which are very accurate, have slides outside the frame...
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Walt
Thank you for the wealth of information you shared with us.
I agree with you that the CZ75 and the Jericho designs are very similar.
I am sorry that I have not been clear enough regarding the similarities between the CZ75 / Jericho and the Modele 1935. Yes, the slide to frame interaction concept is the feature adopted by the CZ75 and the Jericho from Modele 1935.
I like it a lot, because it helps the pistol stay low in your hand and helps (me ) a lot with the controlability during rapid fire.
The CZ75 / Jericho also borrowed from other ground breaking designs too, like the FNHP , first to have a double stack magazine and the locking mechanism seems quite similar too, Walter first with an DA/SA setup on a 9MM Parabellum, etc. Am I wrong on this statement in your opinion?
Thank you for the wealth of information you shared with us.
I agree with you that the CZ75 and the Jericho designs are very similar.
I am sorry that I have not been clear enough regarding the similarities between the CZ75 / Jericho and the Modele 1935. Yes, the slide to frame interaction concept is the feature adopted by the CZ75 and the Jericho from Modele 1935.
I like it a lot, because it helps the pistol stay low in your hand and helps (me ) a lot with the controlability during rapid fire.
The CZ75 / Jericho also borrowed from other ground breaking designs too, like the FNHP , first to have a double stack magazine and the locking mechanism seems quite similar too, Walter first with an DA/SA setup on a 9MM Parabellum, etc. Am I wrong on this statement in your opinion?
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Walt Sherrill
New member
RE: similarities of the BHP and the CZ-75.
The CZ and the BHP do look a bit alike, and in the hand, feel similar.
About the only thing they have in common is the basic Browning Short-Recoil Locked Breech design, but that feature is also used by the vast majority of modern semi-autos. Internally, though, the BHP and CZ have almost nothing else in common. (To make the CZ a SAO gun, you can just remove the disconnector; to make the BHP a DA or DA/SA gun, you'd have to .... Oh, forget about it!! When FN did develop a DA/SA gun their mechanism looked more like a S&W DA/SA design than the BHP/FN Hi-Power design.)
Both the BHP and the CZ-pattern guns use lugs on the top of the barrel to lock the slide and barrel together, but so did Browning's 1911. How the barrel is guided away from the slide and iinteracts with the frame is quite different with both guns. The recoil spring assemblies work differently as well: the rear of the BHP's guide rod is help captive by the slide stop pin, while the CZ's guide rod rests against the frame (at a position called the receiver stop.) You CAN easily install the BHP guide rod upside down, and if you do, it's a real problem to get the gun back apart. (Been there, done that -- but only once. Once was enough.) The way the trigger activates the hammers are quite different, too.
You'd have to search hard to find two hammer-fired guns that were more different yet looked so similar.
The CZ and the BHP do look a bit alike, and in the hand, feel similar.
About the only thing they have in common is the basic Browning Short-Recoil Locked Breech design, but that feature is also used by the vast majority of modern semi-autos. Internally, though, the BHP and CZ have almost nothing else in common. (To make the CZ a SAO gun, you can just remove the disconnector; to make the BHP a DA or DA/SA gun, you'd have to .... Oh, forget about it!! When FN did develop a DA/SA gun their mechanism looked more like a S&W DA/SA design than the BHP/FN Hi-Power design.)
Both the BHP and the CZ-pattern guns use lugs on the top of the barrel to lock the slide and barrel together, but so did Browning's 1911. How the barrel is guided away from the slide and iinteracts with the frame is quite different with both guns. The recoil spring assemblies work differently as well: the rear of the BHP's guide rod is help captive by the slide stop pin, while the CZ's guide rod rests against the frame (at a position called the receiver stop.) You CAN easily install the BHP guide rod upside down, and if you do, it's a real problem to get the gun back apart. (Been there, done that -- but only once. Once was enough.) The way the trigger activates the hammers are quite different, too.
You'd have to search hard to find two hammer-fired guns that were more different yet looked so similar.
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