IMI Jericho 941FB help with DOB and thoughts

You bought yourself an indestructibly strong, super reliable pistol that shoots accurately with light recoil due to its chunky weight. I know they are closer to the CZ75, but I think if them kinda like the S&W 3rd gen guns.

I am a huge fan of them, although it's probably better for HD and range trips than as a carry gun due to weight and thickness.

The poly rifling ones are cool. I would love one one day.

For some reason these fit mid-sized palm very well. With steel gun the only downside is considerable gun weight.

Good, solid guns. Originally made from Tanfoglio components (which are variants of the basic CZ-75 design), I think IMI went on to get licensing rights and now builds their own.

Some folks rave about the natural fit and pointability of the CZ, and many say the Jericho (and similar Baby Eagle) are slightly better.

Nice guns. If I hadn't already tried a lot of CZs and Witnesses (with a few still in the gun safe), I'd be looking for one of the Jerichos or Bably Eagles, too.

I love mine - feels great in the hand, and very accurate. A bit heavy for a 9mm do to the all-steel construction, but that helps you keep the pistol on target.

Regarding dates, that one is an older one, as IMI became IWI in 2005 so that one predates 2005. The MRI MN. It is also an odd ball, in addition to being the vastly rarer frame-mounted safety version. This pistol was not actually manufactured for Magnum Research originally. All Jericho pistols made for importation by Magnum Research bear Baby Eagle or Desert Eagle or Baby Desert Eagle markings and the import mark is stamped on the frame BEFORE final finish. This pistol was made originally for the general market and was purchased by MRI and import-marked here. In addition to the post-finish import marking, it also retains the Jericho name, which is NOT used by MRI any more than AT-84s was used by Springfield Armory even though the P9 and AT-84s ar virtually the same pistol.

To get the date closer, the import mark looks much like the marks used by MRI back when they imported the CZ-75 in the mid 1990's. Considering that is about the time CZ-USA took over importation of the CZ-75, I would guess that this pistol came in about 1998 or so.

Yeah, you got it for about half price! I sold one a few months back for about a grand on gunbroker.

Ash said:

I sold one a few months back for about a grand on gunbroker.

Click to expand...

Interesting. I would not have expected one to go for THAT much.

Despite the relative rarity of the guns shown (frame-mounted safety, etc.) I don't view these weapons as potential collectibles. While they're quite good guns, $1000 is a lot of money and could be used to buy an arguably better weapon from a number of sources.

For example, for that money, you can pick up some ANIB 2000 series Sphinxes which are very impressive weapons. (I paid around $600 for both of the ones I owned a few years back. You have to hunt around.) Or an ASAI One Pro (had one of them, too...) But probably NOT on Gunbroker, where the prices seem strangely inflated for most guns.

Walt, I was even more surprised. But, at around the same time I sold a Webley Mk VI in 455 and original finish for $1,100.00.

A friend of mine has what appears to be an identical looking gun, and another, in full size with a nickeled slide, that he bought as a pair a few months ago at a pawn shop. He started looking for one after he shot my Tanfoglio "Mossad" compact and fullsized guns I had bought a couple of years ago. They both shoot great and the fact that they use the same mags as my guns do made a mag problem on my compact gun a simple diagnosis.

I've had a bunch of the various Tanfoglio guns in 9mm, 40S&W, and 45ACP, and havent had a single issue of any importance with any of them. I only sold them because I needed the money. To me, nothing beats a solid steel gun of the basic CZ design.

Bikemutt, my first semi auto was a 9mm Baby Eagle. I don't know if it differs at all from the Jericho 941. Mine is stamped Made in Israel and "Desert Eagle Pistol" on the slide. It definitely has a polygonal bore instead of traditional rifling. It was my go to gun for years and I recently took it to my IL CCW course qualification. Everyone who has shot this pistol has remarked on it's accuracy and consistency. The DA trigger is nothing special (maybe even poor to average) and SA is a little like breaking a dry twig, but it sure does put bullets where you want them.

After years of flawless service (best guess is ~3500 rounds) it exhibited all kinds of failures during qualification and then again at the next range visit. I still qualified 100% and was top shot in class (after not shooting for 3 years!) but everyone should be relieved that I am now taking my shooting more seriously with CCW on the horizon in Illinois.

The Baby Eagle suffered a lot of feeding problems, random ejection, stovepipes, mags not dropping free, and the slide was also slamming forward on a hard mag reload. This is 100% stock pistol with four factory Magnum Research magazines shooting 115gr WWB.

Having my #1 pistol go down really shook my mojo so I called the company and ordered a boat load of their parts along with some 10% extra power mag springs from CZ custom. All the common wear items on my pistol will be replaced. None of the parts have been installed yet but if you are concerned about your gun give Magnum Research a call and talk to them. They will sell any parts not related to the decocker. They ask a high price to service the pistol but I had no trouble getting anyone on the phone to discuss my issues.

I am not a gunsmith but small parts don't intimidate me (vintage motorcycles have taught me some hard lessons) so I am comfortable attempting the parts replacement myself.

At 3,500 rounds, things just begin to wear (springs, extractors, etc).

As to pistols, the Baby Eagle is to the Jericho as GMC trucks are to Chevy trucks: the same.

Mine is an original imi, and to be honest it's accuracy is almost boring lol, it's rediculous how good it shoots

Problem Child

I know that this is an old thread but I just had to jump in, so here goes.
I purchased a Baby Eagle in .45ACP.
Right out of the box it shot to point of aim and was a great shooter.
I noticed a small flaw in the feed ramp and ask Magnum Research about it, they asked me to send it back.
They "repaired" it with a new barrel and that is when the problems started.
It is now back for the third time. It is so unreliable now that 1 in 10 shots FTF.
I have switched magazines and ammo, no change in function. The slide was replaced the second trip (now it needs the sights adjusted), no help.
Do I have a lemon or just a bad experience with the Magnum Research gun smith?

Don't think you have a Lemon... as the original gun had what seems to be a cosmetic flaw, but performed flawlessly. Everything since then has brought on by importer-induced changes.

FTF in what way -- what is happening?

(And is the importer picking up the shipping charges? If so, let them get it right.)

Well you seem to be right Walt. Magnum Research has decided to replace the weapon even though the smith said it shot fine for him. I get the idea that there was a little bit of cya on his part. The guy in customer service took care of it and is shipping a new pistol to my ffl as soon as it comes in from Israel. I am pleased that Magnum did the right thing, finally. They paid the shipping each time.
I am excellent at clearing faults now, so I got good experience out of the situation.

Sounds as though Magnum Research is a class act.

My only experience with them was when I had an ASAI One-Pro (which I wish I still had), and when I had questions, they were quick and helpful.