Magnum Research
From Free net encyclopedia
Magnum Research is a subsidiary of Israel Military Industries that manufactures very powerful, luxury- and lifestyle-oriented handguns (both pistols and revolvers) under the Magnum brand as well as smaller standard sized handguns under the trade-names Jericho and Baby Eagle
The most well known firearm made by Magnum Research is the Desert Eagle pistol. It is bulky and heavy for a pistol. The Desert Eagle has featured and been idolized in many films.
While IMI makes a cosmetically similar pistol, originally called the Jericho 941 and now marketed as the "Baby Eagle", the guns bear no functional equivalence--the Jericho/Baby Eagle design is a standard double action, short recoil design.
The Desert Eagle is available with many configuration options including finish, barrel length, grips and caliber. The finishes range from the standard blue steel to the more exotic camouflage, gold-plated and nickel-plated. Barrels are 6 or 10 inches long and have mounts available for scopes. Grip choices are rubber, rubber finger groove or wood. Calibers are .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .440 Corbon, and .50 Action Express. The magazine capacities for each of these calibers are as follows: .357(9), .41 & .44(8)and .440 & .50(7). The .440 Corbon is a .50AE case necked down to accept a .44 Magnum diameter bullet, this results in slightly less power but much greater velocity. Kits are now available to change the caliber of the gun by changing the barrel, bolt assembly and magazine. This latest incarnation of the Desert Eagle is known as the Mark XIX. The earlier Mark VIIs do not have interchangable parts.
The Desert Eagle is the pinnacle of power in an auto pistol and is outclassed only by the large 5 shot magnum revolvers of today. Although this weapon has limited practical purpose it does fill a niche for the relatively new sport of handgun hunting as well as protection for those who wander into bear country.
